Business Development Specialist

Sauder Manufacturing • Stryker, OH

35d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Business Development Specialist supports sales leadership, customer service, and Territory Managers in driving market growth across assigned territories. This role is responsible for coordinating business development initiatives, supporting sales rep development and ensuring consistency in sales tools, processes and territory transitions. Key responsibilities include: delivering product and sales training (new hires and in-field), supporting adoption of sales tools, managing open territory contracts and projects to support a seamless territory transition.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 2–4 years of experience, preferably in field sales or a sales support role with exposure to customer buying processes and competitive landscape.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Experience with CRM systems.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Analytical mindset with solid business and math skills.
• Ability to travel up to 35% (3–4 days at a time).
• Ability to obtain forklift certification.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables.
• Ability to solve problems in stressful situations.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Self-starting, goal-oriented individual who takes personal accountability for performance.
• Communicates effectively in both oral and written forms.
• Demonstrated previous success in excellent organizational, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Computer skills to help with communication and quoting.
• Ability to organize information to support territory, project, and account management.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Sauder Education product and the higher education market preferred.
• Aptitude for understanding and effectively communicating furniture construction techniques.

Responsibilities

• Deliver product and sales training for internal staff and new reps.
• Conduct field visits to reps for training or account development assistance.
• Perform in-field product evaluations for existing and potential customers.
• Update and maintain sales tools and resources.
• Manage account database for transitioning territories, including contacts, open quotes, orders, deliveries, and installations.
• Cover open territories opportunistically by quoting opportunities, traveling as needed for sales calls, product evaluations, inside deliveries, and ensuring smooth transitions to the new Territory Manager.
• Support quoting questions as needed.
• Review key quotes against competition.
• Collect and disseminate competitive information.
• Provide training and support for new quoting tools.
• Quote opportunities for open territories.
• Execute delivery and setup of mock-ups and shows (5-8 events per year).
• Support the warranty team with in-field repairs and evaluations.
• Assist in the execution of sales meetings.
• Collect and summarize feedback from surveys or forms.
• Assist with product selection for RFPs and bids.
• Assist reps and customer service with technical phone support on product questions.
• Act as the go-to for Infor CRM Sales Support.
• Work with customer service to collect incomplete order information.
• Support customer service to facilitate order placement and fulfillment.
• Support product managers during product launches.
• Assist in research for new product development.
• Assist Marketing with lead generation and execution.
• Partner with Customer Service, Marketing, and Logistics to execute the in-stock sample program.
• Update spec sheets for mock-ups and bids, per engineering and marketing’s direction.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level