Director of Business Development

Regal Ware Inc•West Bend, WI

10d

About The Position

The West Bend Company, a member of the Regal Holdings family, has over 100 years of experience providing high-quality cookware products. They specialize in drawing and finishing high-performance stainless steel and believe the kitchen is the hub of the home. The company aims to be the top choice for US-manufactured cookware, positively impacting over 1,000,000 lives annually through innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, while fostering an environment where employees can do their best work. The Director of Business Development will lead, manage, and drive accountability within the Account Supervisor team, set performance expectations, conduct coaching and reviews, and develop team capabilities. This role involves developing and executing a systematic prospecting strategy targeting cookware brands, private label programs, and retailers seeking U.S.-made OEM manufacturing, building and maintaining a qualified pipeline, and driving consistent outbound activity. The Director will own the full business development lifecycle, lead commercial negotiations, translate manufacturing capabilities into customer value propositions, and meet or exceed targets for new accounts, pipeline generation, and revenue. They will also leverage market insights for targeting, assist with customer data collection, support customer presentations, and manage product lifecycles. Collaboration with operations, production planning, and R&D is crucial for validating technical fit and delivery feasibility. The role requires ensuring a smooth transition from sales to execution, serving as the voice of the customer to inform internal decisions, and collaborating with the President on go-to-market strategy. Additionally, the Director will represent the company at industry events, build WBC's reputation, and maintain senior-level relationships. Performance management and reporting discipline, including weekly pipeline updates and monthly reports, are essential, along with maintaining CRM integrity and forecasting accuracy.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive experience in business development, sales, or commercial leadership within B2B and/or manufacturing environments with a minimum of 7 years of selling in the cookware industry
Proven track record of driving new business acquisition, revenue growth, and expanding account portfolios
Demonstrated experience managing and developing high-performing sales or account management teams, including coaching, performance management, and accountability systems
Strong background in prospecting and pipeline development, with consistent success generating qualified opportunities through outbound and relationship-based strategies
Expertise in leading complex commercial negotiations, including pricing, contracts, capacity planning, and delivery timelines
Experience managing full sales lifecycle from initial engagement through deal close and handoff to execution
Proficiency with CRM systems, pipeline management, forecasting, and data-driven performance reporting
Ability to translate technical or manufacturing capabilities into clear, compelling customer value propositions
Experience collaborating cross-functionally with operations, production, engineering/R&D, and leadership teams to ensure feasibility and successful execution
Strong executive presence with the ability to build and maintain senior-level client relationships
Experience representing organizations at industry events, trade shows, and customer engagements

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and hold accountable (LMA) the Account Supervisor team
Set clear performance expectations and measurable goals
Conduct regular coaching, one-on-ones, and performance reviews
Develop team capability to strengthen overall commercial effectiveness
Develop and execute a systematic prospecting strategy targeting cookware brands, private label programs, and retailers seeking U.S.-made OEM manufacturing
Build and maintain a qualified pipeline sufficient to support ~90% capacity utilization across 25+ active target accounts
Drive consistent outbound activity (cold calls, introductions, trade shows, LinkedIn) to generate new conversations daily
Maintain a disciplined, accurate pipeline within the CRM
Own the full business development lifecycle from initial contact through signed agreement
Lead commercial negotiations across pricing, capacity, contract terms, and lead times
Translate WBC’s manufacturing capabilities into compelling customer value propositions
Meet or exceed quarterly and annual targets for new accounts, pipeline generation, and revenue closed
Leverage marketing insights and industry connections to create initial targets
Assist with customer data collection to determine best approach
Support customer presentations to align products to customers position and customer demographics
Assist in product differentiation for manufacturing efficiencies yet meeting needs of the customer
Lifecycle management for all products and customers
Partner with operations, production planning, and R&D to validate technical fit and delivery feasibility during customer qualification
Ensure smooth transition from sales to execution through strong internal coordination
Serve as the voice of the customer, informing internal decisions on capacity planning and capability investment
Collaborate with the President on go-to-market strategy and key opportunity prioritization
Represent WBC at key industry events, trade shows, and customer engagements
Build and reinforce WBC’s reputation as a leading U.S.-based cookware manufacturing partner
Establish and maintain senior-level relationships across target accounts
Provide accurate weekly pipeline updates and monthly business development reports
Maintain CRM integrity, forecasting accuracy, and adherence to reporting expectations
Operate with a high degree of accountability, transparency, and data-driven decision making