Business Development Specialist

Northwest Playground•Issaquah, WA

4d•$85,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Northwest Playground Equipment, Inc. (NPEI) is seeking a Business Development Specialist to join their team. This is a new, permanent role focused on building relationships with landscape architects, architects, engineers, planners, agencies, and owners to get NPEI's products specified in public space projects. The role involves identifying projects early, creating qualified opportunities, and handing them off to territory Park Consultants. This position will initially focus on the Seattle and Tacoma markets with potential for expansion. The role is measured by relationships, specifications, and pipeline built, not sales quotas.

Requirements

1–4 years in sales, business development, or account-based outreach, ideally in B2B, design, or public-sector settings.
Specification of sales experience with a manufacturer or manufacturer’s rep firm is a strong plus.
Credible, outgoing, organized, and curious demeanor.
Comfortable initiating conversations with designers, owners, and agencies.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Ability to lead CEU and Lunch & Learn sessions.
Strong emotional intelligence and ability to work independently while partnering closely with the sales team.
Strategic thinker who proposes and follows through on new ways to engage design professionals.
Salesforce or similar CRM experience strongly preferred.
Proficient with Microsoft Office.
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Regular local travel across the Seattle–Tacoma area, with occasional overnight trips.
Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and a reliable vehicle.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with parks, playgrounds, landscape architecture, or public-sector procurement is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Map the market by researching and categorizing design firms, civil engineers, general contractors, public agencies, school districts, and parks departments.
Build designer relationships through an engagement plan including meetings and reviving inactive accounts.
Promote priority manufacturer lines and provide designers and owners with budget guidance, basis-of-design language, and design detail support.
Gather project and bid intelligence before the quote stage and create qualified opportunities in Salesforce.
Plan outreach timing and approach with Park Consultants and support them with presentations and resources.
Identify and develop outreach to new market segments.
Deliver continuing education (CEU) courses and Lunch & Learns, and earn CEU accreditation for manufacturer coursework.
Create content for blog posts, white papers, LinkedIn, and grant/fundraising guides with the Marketing team.
Attend regional ASLA chapter events, industry events, and trade shows.
Share monthly reporting on activity and results with the Chief Revenue Officer.