Executive Director, New Business Development

American Battery Solutions•Lake Orion, MI

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, New Business Development is responsible for leading the growth of American Battery Solutions’ (“ABS”) revenue and market presence across all Lithium-ion battery product lines. This role is responsible for outside commercial and technical sales activities for new customer opportunities through overseeing sales and applications engineering teams. As the Executive Director, New Business Development this role will combine strategic sales leadership and deep industry expertise and network to develop and execute comprehensive strategies that align with ABS goals and customer needs. This position will be responsible for developing and executing strategic sales initiatives to drive revenue growth, and margin achievement. This role requires strong technical knowledge of lithium-ion batteries, the electric vehicle (EV), and industrial market segments, and relationships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), integrators, and distributors in these markets.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, or an equivalent field.
Minimum of twelve (12) years of experience in Lithium-ion battery sales or business development role.
Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience.
Must be highly self-motivated and proactive.
Consultative selling skills, with the ability to understand customer needs and develop a winning solution.
Demonstrated success influencing senior-level stakeholders.
Ability to communicate, present and influence all levels of the organization, including executive and C-level.
Demonstrable and proven experience as head of sales or director of sales, developing client-focused, differentiated, and achievable solutions, meeting, or exceeding targets.
Ability to work in a dynamic start-up environment where initiative and ownership is required.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite & Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
Excellent analytical, communication, and presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Master of Business Administration (MBA) or advanced technical degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy for the North American region aligned with company goals.
Identify target market segments (e.g., commercial EVs, off-highway vehicles, specialty vehicles) and prioritize go-to market efforts.
Establish sales targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), ensuring performance against revenue and profitability goals.
Develop and execute a unified go-to-market strategy across product lines and verticals, driving growth in both new and established markets.
Build and manage a robust pipeline of OEMs, fleet operators, and integrators.
Lead the identification and pursuit of new strategic accounts and partnerships.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholders within target accounts.
Implement a systematic approach to prospecting, qualifying, and closing new business opportunities.
Drive sales growth through effective account management and customer retention strategies.
Develop and implement account plans to maximize revenue and customer satisfaction.
Conduct regular business reviews with key accounts to ensure alignment with customer needs and identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling.
Address and resolve customer issues promptly to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Lead the sales team to achieve and exceed sales targets.
Recruit, train, and mentor a high-performing sales team.
Set clear performance expectations and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
Foster a culture of accountability, performance, and continuous improvement within the sales team.
Serve as the commercial lead during Request for Quotation (RFQ) and Request for Information (RFI) processes.
Collaborate with engineering, finance, and legal teams to develop competitive and compelling proposals.
Ensure timely and accurate responses to RFQs and RFIs, positioning ABS as the preferred supplier.
Report regularly to executive leadership on KPIs, wins/losses, risks, and market feedback.
Provide insights and recommendations to inform strategic decision-making.
Monitor market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities and threats.
Support brand strategy, product marketing, and communications to strengthen marketing positioning and customer engagement.
Collaborate with product management and engineering to provide customer feedback and influence product roadmap.
Foster a culture of accountability, performance, and technical excellence.
Adhere to federal and state regulations.
Adhere to all company policies, processes, and procedures.
Performs other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.
Predictable and reliable attendance.

Benefits

Comprehensive 100% employer paid benefit plans
Competitive salary
Retirement program
Paid time off includes 3 weeks vacation, up to 72 hours sick, 15 holidays, and parental leave.
100% company-paid medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) offerings.
Company provided 401K savings plan with immediately vested matching contributions to help you save for retirement.
Voluntary benefits offerings.
Tuition assistance.
Employee Referral Program.
Employee development and career growth opportunities.