Manager, Business Development

Sanders Industries Holdings•Long Beach, CA

8d•$100,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Business Development Manager (BDM) role is a newly created and highly impactful position at Rubbercraft, critical to the company’s continued growth and success. Rubbercraft is seeking a motivated “hunter” who thrives on identifying, pursuing, and securing new business opportunities within a highly technical Aerospace & Defense environment. The BDM will take urgent ownership of proposals and bids for new business opportunities with small to mid-sized customers, driving opportunity capture and increasing win rates. Because new opportunities arise daily, the successful candidate must demonstrate strong learning agility, exceptional organization, and the ability to manage multiple customer engagements simultaneously. Rubbercraft will also assign strategic target accounts for the BDM to assess, develop, and expand. The ideal candidate brings an established network of Aerospace & Defense customer relationships and a proven track record of growing market share and capturing new business. The BDM will work closely with Inside Sales, Customer Service, Engineering, and Program Management teams. All customer activities and pipeline management are maintained within a state-of-the-art Salesforce CRM environment. This role offers strong visibility and significant career growth potential for candidates who consistently deliver results. About Rubbercraft (RCC): Rubbercraft is a trusted leader in engineered elastomer solutions serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Our team designs and manufactures precision-molded seals, gaskets, and custom rubber components that perform in the most demanding environments. We take pride in craftsmanship, collaboration, and a culture built on innovation and reliability. Our Mission: Become a premier partner for design and manufacture of low-mid volume, high mix of engineered seals, gaskets and rubber components to the aerospace, space, defense and energy industries by providing a world-class performance to our customers.

Requirements

5+ years of new business development experience within the Aerospace & Defense industry, with demonstrated success in business capture and market share growth
Established relationships and strong contacts within Aerospace & Defense customer organizations
Knowledge of rubber seals and gaskets preferred
Strong learning agility and ability to quickly adapt in a fast-paced environment
High-energy, positive personality with a strong “hunter” mentality
Proven ability to prepare for and lead effective customer meetings with clear agendas and objectives
Analytical and data-driven approach to decision-making
5+ years of experience in pricing proposals, including understanding of pricing strategies, margins, EOQ concepts, and related financial drivers
Ability to manage multiple customer interactions and priorities simultaneously with strong attention to detail
Advanced Salesforce CRM proficiency
Highly organized, structured, and process-oriented
Strong preparation and planning skills for customer engagement activities
Demonstrated problem-solving capabilities and experience managing complex workflows and reporting processes
Strong focus on results, customer service, teamwork, planning, and decision-making
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, and other PC-based office tools, including advanced Excel formulas and dynamic tables
Excellent negotiation, facilitation, and consensus-building skills
Resilient, assertive, and positive communication style
Strong listening skills with the ability to actively incorporate customer feedback
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong stakeholder engagement capabilities
Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related field required
This position requires access to information subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Employment is contingent upon the applicant being a “U.S. person” as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15), which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees, as required by U.S. export control laws.

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred

Responsibilities

Proactively and urgently follow up on proposals and bids for new business opportunities, positioning Rubbercraft to improve win rates and capture additional business
Evaluate customer “share of wallet” opportunities and recommend strategies to expand Rubbercraft’s portion of customer spend
Drive long-term growth within assigned accounts and target customers
Introduce and communicate Rubbercraft’s value proposition to both existing and prospective customers
Develop and manage lead capture plans and customer engagement strategies within Salesforce CRM
Continuously identify and cultivate new customer relationships and business opportunities
Support proposal and bid development, including recommendations to improve competitiveness and increase win probability
Lead customer negotiations with support from internal teams
Collaborate with Inside Sales and Customer Service to ensure exceptional responsiveness and communication throughout the sales cycle
Represent the voice of the customer internally while maintaining Rubbercraft’s business interests
Develop deep knowledge of customer organizations, including decision makers, relationships, performance metrics, and industry recognition
Recommend and participate in trade shows and industry events
Support development of marketing materials and customer-facing content
Maintain accurate opportunity tracking, pipeline management, and capture activities within Salesforce CRM
Perform additional responsibilities as assigned