Director of Business Development

Lake Air Products•Minneapolis, MN

4h•$145,000 - $189,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Business Development is a hunter responsible for driving new business growth for Lake Air Products across three target markets: aerospace and defense, medical device, and data centers. This role identifies, develops, and secures new OEM partnerships for precision metal fabrication, stamping, welding, and complex assemblies. The person in this role will not specialize in one vertical. This individual translates customer requirements into manufacturable solutions, leads the commercial side of new program launches, and stays the primary point of contact from first conversation through production handoff.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
7+ years of business development, strategic sales, or technical sales experience in contract manufacturing
Proven track record selling into at least two of the following: aerospace and defense, medical device, or data center/electronics manufacturing
Strong presentation, negotiation, communication, and relationship building skills
Able to build credibility and working relationships across diverse teams, functions, and industries
Self-motivated and resilient, able to work through setbacks and keep momentum until the deal closes
Able to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related technical field strongly preferred.
Existing network of contacts across OEMs and program managers in aerospace and defense, medical device, or data center infrastructure preferred

Responsibilities

Build and run a business development plan that generates new OEM opportunities across aerospace and defense, medical device, and data center accounts
Build a full pipeline through prospecting, networking, and targeted outreach to engineers, project managers, sourcing leads, and program managers in each of the three markets
Learn the company's manufacturing capabilities in depth and position them against the specific design, quality, and production requirements of each vertical, including ITAR controlled work, ISO 13485 medical device requirements, and data center enclosure and thermal management needs
Lead customer engagements from first contact through quotation, negotiation, and program award
Build project proposals, cost estimates, and account strategies aimed at winning new business in each target market
Work with executive leadership to sharpen market strategy, build relationships with key accounts, and close new opportunities