North American Business Development Manager - Babbini

Kadant Black Clawson•Lebanon, OH

About The Position

KADANT BLACK CLAWSON LLC is an established leader in equipment and systems for the international pulp and paper process industries. For 150 years, we’ve helped our customers reduce their input costs and improve efficiency through innovative products and technologies. Our sustainability efforts have been nationally recognized, and Kadant is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange (KAI). Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is located in Lebanon, OH, where we design and manufacture our products for customers across the globe. We are currently looking for a North American Business Development Manager (BDM) for Babbini, a Kadant company located in Civitella di Romagna, Italy. The BDM will report to mangement at Babbini, with a dotted line of support from Kadant Black Clawson in Lebanon, OH. The North American Business Development Manager will lead and manage the sales and business development activities for Babbini in North America with the objective of meeting or exceeding annual budget requirements, which includes developing equipment sales and solution processes for new projects. Ideal candidates will be located in the Midwest area, near Kadant's offices in Lebanon, OH.

Requirements

Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills, including cross-cultural communication.
Proven ability to manage global relationships and work effectively with international teams.
Proven track record in business development, contract negotiation, and closing complex deals.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
This position requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, chemical, industrial) or a related field.
Ten or more years of experience in technical sales of industrial process equipment is also required.
Hands-on experience with plant operations, process flow, and equipment commissioning is a must.
Must be able to handle prolonged and frequent travel. Travel could be national and international. Approx. 50-70%

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in sugar beet processing and/or rendering industries is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

With support from Italian headquarters, develops and executes a national sales strategy to achieve revenue and growth targets in North America.
Identifies and pursues new business opportunities in industrial markets, with a focus on sugar beet processing, rendering, and related sectors.
With support from Italian headquarters, serves as a technical consultant to customers, providing solutions for process optimization, equipment selection, and integration.
Builds and maintains strong relationships with plant managers, engineers, procurement teams, and global counterparts.
Acts as a liaison between Italian headquarters and North American customers, ensuring alignment on technical specifications, pricing, and delivery schedules.
Navigates cultural and business differences to foster strong international partnerships.
Conducts site visits to understand operational challenges and recommends appropriate equipment solutions.
Prepares and delivers technical presentations, proposals, and ROI analyses in collaboration with Italian headquarters.
Collaborates with internal teams (engineering, operations, marketing) across multiple geographies to ensure successful project execution.
Monitors industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to maintain market leadership.
Represents the Company at trade shows, conferences, and industry events.