Vice President of Business Development - Industrial/Manufacturin

Bennett & Pless Inc•Chattanooga, TN

51d

About The Position

Bennett & Pless is seeking a Vice President of Business Development (Industrial and Manufacturing) to join our growing team. This is a key leadership role focused on driving revenue growth, expanding strategic partnerships, and strengthening the firm’s market position in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer (CGO), this role is responsible for identifying and securing new business opportunities while fostering relationships with key industry partners, including architects, contractors, design-builders, developers, MEP firms, and owners. The VP will work closely with Market Sector Leaders (MSLs), technical teams, and marketing professionals to execute business development strategies that align with the firm’s long-term growth objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Marketing, or a related field
10+ years of experience in business development, sales, or client relationship management within the industrial and manufacturing / AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) sectors.
Proven track record of securing and growing major industrial and manufacturing client accounts.
Strong understanding of industrial and manufacturing design, construction, and structural engineering principles.
Exceptional negotiation, presentation, and communication skills.
Experience developing and managing partner networks.
Familiarity with CRM systems, market intelligence tools, and generative AI applications to optimize business development efforts.

Nice To Haves

Established network of contacts within the industrial and manufacturing industries, including owners, developers, architects, other design firms and contractors.
Highly motivated, results-oriented, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment.
Ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on execution, driving both short-term wins and long-term growth.
A collaborative leader, skilled at influencing internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a strategic business development plan to grow the firm's presence in the industrial and manufacturing sectors.
Identify target owner / developer opportunities and position the firm to secure engineering projects, either directly or through partners.
Identify and cultivate relationships with key decision-makers, including architects, contractors, design-builders, developers, MEP firms, and owners.
Monitor market trends, competitive positioning, and industry demand to inform business strategies.
Represent the firm at industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to enhance visibility and credibility.
Generate leads and identify proposal opportunities that lead to the firm securing new projects.
Ensure that business development efforts align with the firm’s overall growth strategy and revenue objectives.
Build and strengthen the firm’s network of partner firms and other key industry collaborators.
Identify strategic alliance opportunities that enhance the firm’s competitive position in the market.
Facilitate introductions and collaboration between internal project teams and external partners to pursue and secure projects.
Lead client engagement efforts, ensuring proactive and consistent communication with new and existing clients.
Support technical teams in translating client needs into project opportunities.
Maintain and track client interactions, opportunities, proposals, and similar business development efforts in CRM tools.
Collaborate with marketing, project management, and technical teams to develop sector-specific sales enablement materials.
Support the proposal process by working with internal teams to secure new projects through targeted, value priced proposals.
Conduct ongoing research to identify market trends, investment patterns, and emerging technologies.
Analyze competitors’ strategies and help position the firm’s services to differentiate in the market.
Provide leadership with data-driven insights to refine strategies.
Partner with Market Sector Leaders (MSLs) and technical teams to align business development initiatives with operational capabilities.
Serve as a mentor and resource for junior business development professionals and seller-doers, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Work closely with the marketing team to develop thought leadership initiatives, sector-specific campaigns, and client outreach strategies.