Business Development Manager-Lighting Specialist

Richelieu Hardware•Chicago, IL

7d•Remote

About The Position

Richelieu is seeking a Business Development Manager-Lighting Specialist for the Midwest and Western U.S. Region. This role is responsible for growing the lighting business segment with kitchen and bath dealers, retailers, distributors, and buying groups. The position serves as the primary commercial link between Head Office and the Midwest sales organization, focusing on regional execution, adoption, and growth across assigned product classes. This is a field-execution role aimed at translating national product and segment strategies into consistent regional results through sales support, training, and customer engagement. The scope includes leading execution strategy across high-priority product categories, driving adoption and specification, partnering with sales reps, participating in joint customer visits, supporting strategic accounts, conducting showroom visits, and attending regional QBRs. The role also involves delivering product and category training, leading new product introductions, supporting customer-facing demonstrations, and coordinating with Product Champions. Additionally, the Business Development Manager will support sales tools, merchandising standards, and catalogs, serve as a regional interface with suppliers and product managers, promote CRM usage, and provide monthly updates. Success will be measured by increased adoption and sales growth, strong alignment between national strategy and field execution, improved effectiveness of sales reps, and consistent execution across the region.

Requirements

Successful business development experience with retailers in the home improvement segment (building materials, construction, etc.).
Ability to be both a "hunter" of new relationships and a "farmer" to develop existing retail customers.
Self-starter, able to work independently.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to travel as required.
College degree is preferred but not required; a combination of education and experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Drive adoption and specification across assigned super classes for our lighting business segment.
Partner with sales reps on call planning, territory strategy, and customer development.
Participate in joint customer visits and specification meetings.
Support strategic accounts with pricing, quoting, and inventory alignment.
Conduct showroom visits and customer site engagement.
Attend regional QBRs and provide feedback on execution, competitive dynamics, and market opportunities.
Deliver product and category training across the region.
Lead new product introductions and rollout support.
Support customer-facing demonstrations and technical discussions.
Coordinate with Product Champions to ensure consistent messaging and execution.
Support adoption of sales tools, merchandising standards, and catalogs.
Serve as a regional interface with key suppliers and product managers.
Promote consistent CRM usage and pipeline visibility.
Provide concise monthly updates on activity, pipeline, and key initiatives.