Business Development Manager – Engineered Sheet Materials

The Shann Group; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Shann Group is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager – Engineered Sheet Materials to drive a new product category across Australia. You will lead commercial development, identify opportunities, and foster relationships with manufacturers and key decision-makers in signage, caravans and building industries.

You will collaborate with our China partner on product development and market opportunities, travel nationally, and build a strong pipeline for sustainable sales growth.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development, sales or product management within manufacturing, building products, caravans, signage, materials or a related industry.
• Strong understanding of B2B sales and how manufacturers make purchasing decisions.
• Ability to identify opportunities and develop them from an initial conversation through to commercial adoption.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• Confidence to deal directly with owners, procurement managers, production managers, engineers and other senior decision-makers.
• Strong commercial acumen and an understanding of margin, pricing and profitability.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating with a national sales team.
• A willingness to travel nationally and internationally when required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a national business development strategy for the engineered materials category.
• Identify and target key manufacturers, fabricators, contractors, specifiers and other potential customers.
• Build strong relationships with decision-makers across the caravan, signage and building industries.
• Identify applications where our materials can replace existing products or provide a better-performing, more cost-effective solution.
• Manage product trials, samples and technical evaluations with customers.
• Work closely with our Chinese manufacturing partner on product development, specifications, quality and new opportunities.
• Develop new applications and markets for the product range.
• Build a strong pipeline of opportunities and convert projects into ongoing sales.
• Work with our sales teams nationally to identify opportunities and support major accounts.
• Monitor competitor products, pricing, market trends and emerging technologies.
• Develop sales forecasts and contribute to inventory and purchasing decisions.
• Attend industry trade shows, customer events and industry meetings throughout Australia.
• Work with marketing to develop product positioning, technical information and sales tools.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Relationships building

Communication skills

Willingness to travel

Job description

Company Description

The Shann Group is Australasia’s leading distributor of textiles and specialty engineered sheet materials, representing high-quality products from established manufacturers worldwide. With offices and distribution centers across Australia and New Zealand, the company provides reliable local supply and responsive customer service. Team members are recognized experts in their fields, offering deep technical knowledge to support diverse customer applications. The Shann Group fosters a professional environment where industry expertise, product innovation, and strong client relationships are central to success.

About the role:

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Business Development Manager – Engineered Sheet Materials to develop and grow a new and exciting product category across the Australian market.

Working closely with our world leading international manufacturing partner in China, you will take ownership of the commercial development of a range of engineered sheet materials and identify opportunities across three key markets:

• Corporate identity & signage

This is an opportunity to build on an established base and enter new markets. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities, developing relationships with manufacturers and key decision-makers, introducing products into new applications and converting opportunities into long-term sales.

What you will do:

• Develop and execute a national business development strategy for the engineered materials category.
• Identify and target key manufacturers, fabricators, contractors, specifiers and other potential customers.
• Build strong relationships with decision-makers across the caravan, signage and building industries.
• Identify applications where our materials can replace existing products or provide a better-performing, more cost-effective solution.
• Manage product trials, samples and technical evaluations with customers.
• Work closely with our Chinese manufacturing partner on product development, specifications, quality and new opportunities.
• Develop new applications and markets for the product range.
• Build a strong pipeline of opportunities and convert projects into ongoing sales.
• Work with our sales teams nationally to identify opportunities and support major accounts.
• Monitor competitor products, pricing, market trends and emerging technologies.
• Develop sales forecasts and contribute to inventory and purchasing decisions.
• Attend industry trade shows, customer events and industry meetings throughout Australia.
• Work with marketing to develop product positioning, technical information and sales tools.

About you:

We are looking for someone who is commercially minded, technically curious and driven to win new business .

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience in business development, sales or product management within manufacturing, building products, caravans, signage, materials or a related industry.
• A strong understanding of B2B sales and how manufacturers make purchasing decisions.
• The ability to identify opportunities and develop them from an initial conversation through to commercial adoption.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• The confidence to deal directly with owners, procurement managers, production managers, engineers, designers and other senior decision-makers.
• Strong commercial acumen and an understanding of margin, pricing and profitability.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating with a national sales team.
• A willingness to travel nationally and internationally when required.

Experience working with sheet materials, aluminium products, plastics, composites, façades, caravans, signage or other engineered materials will be highly regarded

You will be supported by an established national sales and distribution business, while having the autonomy to build the market and make the category your own.

The opportunity

If you are an ambitious business development professional who enjoys finding opportunities, opening doors and turning products into successful businesses, we’d like to hear from you.