Account Executive

Gradel Professional Search; South Bend (IN); Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gradel Pro Search seeks an Account Executive to drive profitable new business growth for a metal fabrication client. You will own the sales cycle from prospecting through program launch, build executive-levelrelationships, and expand existing accounts across laser cutting, stamping, welding, and assembly.

Preference for candidates in IN/IL/OH/IA/WI or remote across the US. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in B2B or technical sales in manufacturing, strong RFQ and pricing skills, CRM proficiency,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of B2B development or technical sales in metal fabrication, stamping, or contract manufacturing.
• 3+ years selling laser cutting, forming, stamping, welding, or assembly.
• Beating new-business revenue and gross-margin quotas.
• Experience managing complex sales opportunities from prospecting through production launch.
• CRM, pipeline management, forecasting; Dynamics 365 experience preferred.
• Remote-ready, self-directed; Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and exceed annual new-business revenue and gross-margin quotas.
• Develop and execute account, territory, and market strategies for growth.
• Build a qualified pipeline via prospecting, referrals, and outreach.
• Manage full sales cycle from discovery to launch.
• Develop relationships with executives, engineering, sourcing, and ops leaders.
• Expand existing accounts with additional programs and opportunities.
• Position capabilities in laser cutting, forming, stamping, welding, assembly.
• Collaborate with estimating, engineering, operations, and finance on pricing.
• Use value-based selling to improve manufacturability, pricing, and total cost.
• Maintain CRM activity, pipeline stages, forecasts, and next steps.
• Provide market, customer, and competitive intelligence for decisions.

Skills

B2B sales

Technical sales

RFQ knowledge

CRM systems

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

Our client is an established metal stamping and fabrication manufacturer seeking a proven, quota-beating Account Executive to drive profitable new business growth. This individual contributor will develop the sales pipeline, build relationships with OEM and Tier customers, and manage opportunities from initial prospecting through program launch. Candidates based in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, or Wisconsin are preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and exceed annual new-business revenue and gross-margin quotas.
• Develop and execute account, territory, and market strategies that support profitable growth.
• Build a qualified pipeline through prospecting, networking, referrals, and targeted outreach.
• Identify new projects and capital investments early in the decision-making process.
• Manage the full sales cycle, including discovery, RFQs, proposals, negotiations, awards, and launches.
• Develop relationships with customer executives, engineering teams, sourcing leaders, and key decision-makers.
• Expand existing accounts by identifying additional programs and manufacturing opportunities.
• Position capabilities in laser cutting, press brake forming, stamping, welding, assembly, and related services.
• Partner with estimating, engineering, operations, and finance to develop competitive pricing and practical manufacturing solutions.
• Use value-based selling to help customers improve manufacturability, material selection, processing, inventory, and total cost.
• Maintain accurate CRM activity, pipeline stages, forecasts, and next steps.
• Provide market, customer, and competitive intelligence to support business decisions.

Requirements

• 5+ years of B2B business development or technical sales experience in metal fabrication, stamping, or contract manufacturing.
• 3+ years of experience selling manufacturing capabilities such as laser cutting, forming, stamping, welding, or assembly.
• Consistent record of beating new-business revenue and gross-margin quotas.
• Experience managing complex sales opportunities from prospecting through production launch.
• Strong understanding of RFQs, manufacturing costs, pricing, margins, and commercial negotiations.
• Ability to build relationships with executive, engineering, procurement, and operations stakeholders.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, pipeline management, and forecasting; Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience preferred.
• Self-directed, action-oriented approach with the ability to succeed in a remote individual contributor role.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.

Gradel Pro Search (GPS) is an Industrial Search and Recruiting Services firm partnering with manufacturing, aerospace & defense, engineered products, chemicals, and industrial organizations to identify and align talent with critical business objectives.

Relationships. Guidance. Success.

We work with Fortune 500 companies, global enterprises, private equity-backed organizations, and growth-oriented manufacturers, navigating hiring across complex operational and technical environments.