Business Development Internship

Butlerbros; Lewiston (ME); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Full time

Job summary

A family-owned industrial distributor in Lewiston, ME, is offering an exciting Business Development Internship for those pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, or Sales. The intern will engage in shaping the business's marketing strategy, generate leads, and develop workflows for CRM management. The role emphasizes practical hands-on experience that combines research and communication skills in a collaborative environment. This is an excellent opportunity for self-starters looking to gain insight into B2B sales operations.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience with CRM software is a plus.
• Self-starter with strong organizational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Research and document best practices for business development and lead generation.
• Assist in developing process documentation for prospecting and outreach.
• Develop and test outreach email and LinkedIn messaging templates.
• Work with the sales team to implement a systematic follow-up cadence.
• Coordinate with the Outside Sales team to refine lead hand-off processes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Project management skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

CRM software (HubSpot, Salesforce, or similar)

Job description

All Jobs > Business Development Internship

Butler Bros. is a family‑owned and operated Industrial Distributor based in Lewiston, ME, with branches in New London, NH, East Syracuse, NY, and Greensboro, NC, and Huntingdon, PA. We are a full‑line distributor of cutting tools, abrasives, safety, MROP, and packaging products. Since 1952, Butler Bros. has built a reputation for delivering exceptional value to customers through innovative solutions, extraordinary service, and competitive pricing. As we expand our inside sales team, we are offering an exciting internship opportunity for a motivated individual to help design, document, implement, and operationalize an end‑to‑end business development program.

Internship Overview

This internship is designed to provide hands‑on experience in business development, marketing strategy, and sales operations. The selected intern will assist in developing Butler Bros.' "top‑of‑funnel" marketing strategy, focusing on generating, qualifying, and converting leads into customers. The intern will work closely with customer service, sales, and operations teams, gaining insights into customer acquisition, CRM management, and lead generation strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development & Documentation

• Research and document best practices for business development and lead generation.
• Develop process documentation for prospecting, outreach, and customer engagement.
• Assist in designing workflows for managing leads and sales activities in the CRM.

Lead Generation & Qualification

• Research and compile target customer lists using industry databases.
• Assist in the development of lead scoring models to prioritize high‑potential customers.
• Create a structured process for logging new leads and contacts into the CRM.

Marketing & Outreach Strategy

• Develop and test outreach email and LinkedIn messaging templates.
• Assist in crafting scripts for phone outreach and follow‑ups.
• Support A/B testing of different messaging strategies to optimize conversion rates.

Operational Implementation

• Work with the sales team to implement and refine a systematic follow‑up cadence.
• Establish and track KPIs related to lead generation, customer engagement, and outreach effectiveness.
• Develop reporting templates and dashboards to monitor performance.
• Coordinate with the Outside Sales team to refine lead hand‑off processes.
• Provide insights and recommendations based on research and performance data.
• Document training materials for future Inside Sales hires.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the internship, the intern will:

• Understand the fundamentals of B2B business development and inside sales.
• Gain hands‑on experience with CRM systems and data management.
• Learn how to craft and implement an outreach and lead qualification strategy.
• Develop analytical skills through tracking and interpreting sales performance data.
• Experience working cross‑functionally with sales and marketing teams.

Required and Preferred Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience with CRM software (HubSpot, Salesforce, or similar) is a plus.
• Self‑starter with strong organizational and project management skills.