Sector Sales Manager- Sustainability

DQS•Schaumburg, IL

10d•Remote

About The Position

A driven and commercially sharp Business Development Manager / Sustainability Sales Manager to help grow our sustainability assurance, verification, and audit services across the United States. This is a hunter role. The right person will know how to create opportunities, open doors, build pipeline, and turn sustainability market demand into real revenue. We are looking for someone who understands ESG and sustainability from an audit, verification, certification, and assurance perspective, not just broad ESG consulting language. You will work closely with the VP of Sales, Head of Sustainability, marketing, lead generation support, and technical service teams to identify prospects, develop qualified opportunities, and close new business across a broad range of industries. This role is ideal for someone who is self-starting, persistent, commercially disciplined, and comfortable selling both high-volume transactional services and larger strategic opportunities.

Requirements

University degree (Equivalent to a U.S Bachelor’s degree) in Business, Marketing, Technical, or related field plus three years of outside sales experience.
Experience selling sustainability, ESG, audit, certification, verification, assurance, or related professional services.
Proven ability to generate new business through prospecting, relationship building, lead follow-up, and strategic account development.
Strong understanding of sustainability market drivers, including carbon reporting, emissions verification, responsible sourcing, supply chain compliance, social compliance, and sustainability disclosures.
Experience selling to mid-market and enterprise clients.
Ability to engage with senior-level stakeholders, including C-level and executive decision makers.
Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and proposal development skills.
Self-starter with strong follow-through and comfort working in a remote environment.
Ability to manage a sales pipeline using CRM tools.

Nice To Haves

Willingness to travel 20–30%.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a U.S. sales strategy for DQS sustainability services, with a focus on new business generation.
Build and manage a strong pipeline of sustainability audit, verification, and assurance opportunities.
Identify, pursue, and close new clients across industries including manufacturing, consumer goods, medical equipment, electronics, packaging, chemicals, automotive, food, logistics, and other sectors.
Sell DQS sustainability services including: GHG emissions verification ISO 14064 verification ISO 14067 product carbon footprint verification CSRD / ESRS-related assurance and report verification AA1000 assurance ISCC Plus certification Social compliance audits, including SMETA, RBA, SA8000, and customized code of conduct audits CDP and EcoVadis support services ISO 50001 energy management certification
Engage with senior decision makers, including sustainability, quality, procurement, compliance, operations, supply chain, legal, and executive leaders.
Convert marketing-generated leads, qualified opportunities, referrals, cold outreach, and strategic account targets into active sales opportunities.
Work with technical experts to scope client needs and develop commercially sound proposals.
Manage opportunities, pipeline activity, and client communication through HubSpot.
Represent DQS at conferences, webinars, industry events, and client meetings.
Track market trends, regulatory drivers, competitor activity, and customer needs related to sustainability assurance and verification.
Collaborate with internal teams to refine sales messaging, service positioning, and go-to-market campaigns.
Meet or exceed sales activity, pipeline, and revenue targets.