Business Development Manager
About The Position
KNF is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive strategic growth in the Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) market. This remote role focuses on identifying and developing new business opportunities, building customer relationships, introducing pump solutions, and contributing to the company’s expansion. The role is suited to a sales professional who is comfortable prospecting, addressing complex customer challenges, and closing high-value opportunities. The ideal candidate lives in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, or a surrounding region, near a major airport, and is able to travel to customers approximately 50% of the time. The Business Development Manager assesses the assigned region and develops strategies to penetrate new customers and applications. The role manages new opportunities through the sales process, collaborates with Account Management to expand existing accounts, and coordinates with internal teams and product centers. It also requires understanding customer technical and commercial needs, maintaining OEM relationships, sharing market insights, providing accurate forecasts and pipeline updates, and keeping detailed CRM records. KNF is a technology leader in diaphragm pumps, providing OEM, process, and laboratory solutions for gas, liquid, and vacuum applications. Founded in Germany in 1946, the family-owned group employs around 900 people at 24 locations worldwide.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering required; a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is preferred.
- At least 5 years of experience in account management or business development.
- Strong prospecting skills and ability to close complex, high-value sales.
- Excellent communication skills, including onsite presentations, written proposals, and effective email, phone, and face-to-face communication.
- Valid driver’s license required.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office required.
- Ability to travel to customer locations, with approximately 50% travel expected.
- Ideal candidate lives in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, or a surrounding area and is close to a major airport.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in the manufacturing sector selling value-engineered products.
- Professional experience with an industrial manufacturing company providing electro-mechanical devices, fluidics, vacuum or pressure equipment, and/or small motors.
- In-depth technical knowledge of the company’s products, markets, applications, and customers; experience performing similar functions for a company in the same field is suggested.
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
- Experience with SAP and Salesforce.
Responsibilities
- Assess the assigned region and develop and execute strategies to penetrate new customers and applications for the company’s products.
- Collaborate with the Account Management team to identify upselling and cross-selling opportunities within existing customer accounts.
- Manage the full sales process for new opportunities, from initial prospecting through closing, including initial price negotiations.
- Provide accurate and timely pipeline updates and serve as the primary communicator to product centers regarding Key Potential Projects lists.
- Travel as required to meet potential clients; approximately 50% customer travel is expected.
- Understand customers’ technical and commercial challenges, establish credibility as a subject matter expert, present solutions, secure bid opportunities, and gain customer commitments.
- Use customer interactions to identify emerging market trends, unmet needs, and potential new product development opportunities.
- Provide internal teams with informal feedback on evolving requirements and industry shifts to inform innovation and future product strategies.
- Build relationships with OEM decision-makers and communicate with technical, purchasing, service, quality, and management stakeholders to secure projects.
- Coordinate with customer service, production, and engineering teams to support customers and set clear expectations for success.
- Assist the Account Management team with opportunity-specific forecasts and share real-time changes with stakeholders outside general forecasting timelines.
- Maintain detailed CRM records of account activities, pipeline updates, and tasks.
- Continually develop technical knowledge of the company’s products, processes, and capabilities to present proprietary customer solutions.
Benefits
- Sales Incentive Reward Program in addition to base salary.
- Comprehensive onboarding and training program.
- Low-cost medical and dental insurance.
- Company-paid life insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
- Stable, collaborative culture with long-term career growth opportunities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
