[Hiring] Business Developer @DuraTech Industries

Role Description

The Business Developer is responsible for generating profitable growth within an assigned territory through three primary areas of focus:

• Developing new customers and new projects.
• Strengthening and expanding relationships within selected strategic accounts.
• Building effective independent sales representative coverage where appropriate.

This position works closely with customers and DuraTech’s Engineering, Operations, Estimating, Quality, and Customer Service teams to identify opportunities, develop solutions, and move projects from concept through production. Success in this role requires a self-motivated, relationship-driven business developer who can actively pursue new opportunities, build strong customer relationships, and create a sustainable pipeline of long-term business for DuraTech.

This role will work out of the Minneapolis, Minnesota area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education, technical knowledge, and demonstrated business development or manufacturing sales experience will be considered.
• Previous experience in business development, technical sales, account development, or complex B2B manufacturing sales preferred.
• Experience selling engineered, custom-manufactured, or application-specific products is strongly preferred.
• Experience working directly with engineers, product designers, sourcing professionals, purchasing organizations, and manufacturing customers is preferred.
• Experience developing new accounts and opportunities from initial prospecting through quotation, development, and production is highly desirable.
• Experience working with or supporting independent manufacturers’ representatives is beneficial.
• Familiarity with printed electronics, graphic overlays, labels, membrane switches, functional printing, in-mold technologies, or related markets is beneficial but not required.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability and desire to develop new business rather than relying solely on established accounts or inbound opportunities.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to develop credibility at multiple levels within customer organizations.
• Ability to understand technical products, manufacturing processes, customer applications, drawings, specifications, and engineering requirements.
• Ability to translate customer needs into clearly defined opportunities that can be effectively communicated to DuraTech’s technical and operational teams.
• Strong business acumen with an understanding of pricing, profitability, annual usage, opportunity value, competitive positioning, and the economics of manufacturing.
• Strong prospecting, questioning, listening, presentation, negotiation, and closing skills.
• Ability to recognize opportunities that may not be immediately apparent and connect customer challenges with DuraTech capabilities.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to work through complex technical and commercial opportunities.
• Self-directed and disciplined with the ability to effectively manage a remote territory, travel schedule, customer relationships, projects, and sales pipeline.
• Comfortable initiating contact and developing relationships with individuals and organizations where no previous DuraTech relationship exists.
• Ability to manage multiple opportunities and projects at various stages of development while maintaining appropriate follow-up and urgency.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Estimating, Customer Service, Program Management, and senior leadership.
• Ability to professionally lead and influence independent sales representatives without direct supervisory authority.
• Proficient in the use of CRM systems and capable of maintaining accurate account, contact, activity, project, and opportunity information.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office, Teams, digital prospecting tools, and other technology necessary to effectively operate in a remote sales environment.
• Willing and able to travel throughout the assigned region as necessary to develop customers, advance projects, support strategic accounts, and work with independent representatives.

Company Description

DuraTech Industries is a growing global Printing Manufacturer located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. We have been manufacturing labels, overlays and metal nameplates for a variety of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive, computer, electronics, industrial and medical markets for the past 45 years.

We work hard at making a positive, challenging and engaging environment. We respect and value our people and recognize their diversity as a source of creativity. We value loyalty, dedication, hard work and pride in workmanship. We dedicate ourselves to provide a safe and fun work environment; one that promotes open communication, teamwork, learning and community involvement. Our Team Members are our greatest asset; our leadership in the industries we serve has been achieved because our people are the best.