Business Development Manager
About The Position
At KI Industries, Inc. , an employee-owned (ESOP) manufacturer of decorative plastic injection-molded and die-cast components, we believe culture and performance go hand in hand. Our workplace is built on ownership, trust, respect and accountability—where employees are empowered to do meaningful work and win together. Being named Plastics News Best Places to Work nine years in a row isn’t luck—it’s the result of how we show up for our people and our customers. The Opportunity This role is not account management . This is a true hunter position . If you thrive on opening doors, chasing new opportunities, and closing business that didn’t exist yesterday, you’ll feel right at home here. We’re looking for a Business Development Manager to aggressively grow new business in the Automotive and Appliance markets , expanding KI’s footprint with customers that align with our manufacturing capabilities and long-term growth strategy. Candidates in the Chicagoland area will work a hybrid schedule; outside of Chicago, the position is remote.
Requirements
- A proven hunter mindset —self-driven, resilient, and motivated by the chase (plastic industry experience is a must)
- 5+ years of business development or sales experience in manufacturing or industrial B2B
- Demonstrated success landing new accounts and attaining new-business goals
- Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
- Ability to sell technical solutions by collaborating cross-functionally
- Comfort with CRM tools and metrics-driven sales processes
- Willingness to travel for prospecting, presentations, and industry events
- Experience in the Automotive industry (appliance industry experience a plus)
- Bachelors or Masters degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering or a similar field
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word, PowerPoint, Excel & Outlook
- Willingness to travel 25-50% depending on location
Nice To Haves
- Technical background in manufacturing, engineering, or industrial products
- Experience selling to OEMs or Tier 1 / Tier 2 suppliers
- Established industry relationships and regional market knowledge
Responsibilities
- Hunt for new business —identify, pursue, and close new accounts in targeted industries and regions
- Build a pipeline from scratch through cold calling, prospecting, networking, and strategic outreach
- Develop and execute go-to-market strategies to penetrate new markets and customer segments
- Consistently meet or exceed new-business-focused sales targets
- Partner closely with engineering, production, and marketing to deliver solutions that win
- Create compelling proposals, presentations, and pricing strategies tailored to each prospect
- Build trusted relationships with decision-makers across procurement, operations, and executive leadership
- Monitor market trends, competitors, and customer needs to stay ahead
- Maintain accurate CRM data, forecasts, and pipeline updates for leadership
Benefits
- Competitive compensation with uncapped earning potential
- Employee ownership (ESOP) so your contributions build long-term valu
- Comprehensive benefits package
- A high-accountability, low-politics environment where results are recognize
- A people-first culture with meaningful engagement programs—not gimmick
- Stability, support, and the freedom to build and grow your book of business
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
