Business Development Manager, Fire Suppression, East Coast
About The Position
Johnson Controls is hiring a Business Development Manager to drive demand and specification activity for its Fire Suppression solutions across the Eastern United States. This strategic, consultative sales role focuses on influencing design decisions early in the project lifecycle and helping move qualified opportunities from specification through project award. The position builds relationships with consultants, architects, engineers, end users, contractors, developers, and strategic partners while growing the company’s market presence across targeted vertical markets. The role combines technical fire suppression expertise, relationship management, territory planning, and project opportunity development. The manager serves as a subject matter expert, provides application guidance and code-compliant recommendations, supports end-user initiatives, and collaborates with regional sales, product management, engineering, training, and technical support. The position also includes technical presentations and demonstrations, industry representation, and ongoing opportunity tracking and forecasting using approved CRM systems. Extensive travel throughout the Eastern United States is required.
Requirements
- At least 7 years of experience in fire suppression systems, special hazards suppression, sprinkler systems, clean agent systems, water mist systems, life safety systems, or related technical sales/business development roles.
- Strong knowledge of fire suppression systems, suppression technologies, and applicable industry codes and standards.
- Experience influencing specifications and working with consultants, architects, engineers, contractors, and end users.
- Proven success in business development, demand creation, and strategic account management.
- Excellent presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to engage engineering teams and executive leadership.
- Strong technical aptitude and ability to represent Johnson Controls Fire Suppression technologies at a high level.
- Ability to travel extensively throughout the Eastern United States territory.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, Fire Protection Engineering, or a related field; equivalent industry experience will be considered.
- Knowledge of NFPA 13, NFPA 15, NFPA 16, NFPA 17, NFPA 17A, NFPA 20, NFPA 2001, and other applicable fire protection and life safety standards.
- Experience supporting critical infrastructure, healthcare, higher education, data centers, airports, manufacturing facilities, energy, or other complex vertical markets.
- Established network within the consulting engineer and fire protection engineering community.
- Experience with specification-driven sales processes and major project pursuits.
Responsibilities
- Drive business development activities to increase demand for Johnson Controls Fire Suppression solutions across the Eastern United States.
- Serve as a primary subject matter expert on fire suppression solutions for consultants, architects, engineers, developers, and strategic end users.
- Identify, develop, and track large project opportunities from early specification through project award.
- Develop and execute territory strategies to expand specification influence and grow market share in targeted vertical markets.
- Deliver technical seminars, lunch-and-learns, product demonstrations, and industry presentations.
- Build and maintain relationships with consulting engineers, fire protection engineers, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), and other industry influencers.
- Influence project design by providing application guidance, code-compliant solutions, and fire suppression expertise.
- Support end-user initiatives by promoting integrated fire and life safety solutions aligned with operational and business objectives.
- Partner with product management, engineering, training, and technical support to address customer needs and communicate market trends.
- Collaborate with regional sales teams to develop account strategies, secure specifications, and improve project conversion.
- Maintain opportunity pipelines, project tracking, forecasting, and customer engagement activity in company-approved CRM systems.
- Represent Johnson Controls at industry associations, conferences, and trade events.
- Engage consultants, AHJs, end users, and contractors early to remove obstacles and support project outcomes.
- Use market feedback, disciplined follow-through, and problem-solving to improve specification strategies and customer engagement.
- Translate technical fire suppression knowledge into clear recommendations for practical, code-compliant solutions.
- Track activity in approved CRM tools to keep forecasting, pipeline management, and next-step actions current.
- Use presentations, seminars, and product demonstrations to create demand, strengthen trust, and move stakeholders toward specification.
- Balance strategic territory planning with responsive support for active opportunities.
Benefits
- Competitive Sales Incentive Plan based on project volume and margin, quarterly and annual performance.
- Competitive benefits package.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
