Business Development Manager

G.A. Richards Group; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

PTO after 30 days

Job summary

G.A. Richards Group in Grand Rapids, MI seeks an experienced sales professional to drive growth across the Midwest and global markets, serving as the bridge between engineering excellence and OEM/Tier 1 needs.

You will identify and capture new opportunities, lead current accounts, and collaborate with engineering to review RFQs and ensure manufacturability from award through production. Travel to customer sites and industry events will be required.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of outside sales or business development experience in manufacturing.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related technical field preferred.
• Proven experience with various manufacturing processes.
• Strong familiarity with APQP and PPAP processes.

Responsibilities

• Identify and capture new business opportunities within OEM and Tier 1 ecosystems.
• Act as the dedicated lead for existing accounts, identifying "land and expand" opportunities to increase wallet share through additional product lines or service offerings.
• Collaborate with internal engineering teams to review RFQs and provide "Design for Manufacturability" (DFM) feedback, ensuring projects align with machine capabilities from award through production.
• Cultivate deep-rooted relationships with procurement, engineering, and commodity managers to ensure G.A. Richards Group remains the "first call" for both new programs and current production issues.
• Lead long-term agreement (LTA) negotiations and annual price reviews, ensuring favorable terms while navigating fluctuating raw materials markets.
• Serve as the internal voice of the customer to ensure quality, delivery, and engineering support meet or exceed customer-specific requirements.
• Maintain a high-touch presence through a minimum of 30% travel to visit customer sites and industry trade shows, with frequency varying week-to-week based on project demands.

Skills

Outside sales

Account management

Customer relations

Market development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Engineering

Job description

Pay:

Competitive base salary with a generous commission structure!

Benefits:

Medical, dental, vision, and PTO after 30 days!

Summary

Spearhead growth across the Midwest and global markets. Serve as the bridge between engineering excellence and the needs of OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and other diverse manufacturing sectors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Identify and capture new business opportunities within OEM and Tier 1 ecosystems.
• Act as the dedicated lead for existing accounts, identifying "land and expand" opportunities to increase wallet share through additional product lines or service offerings.
• Collaborate with internal engineering teams to review RFQs and provide "Design for Manufacturability" (DFM) feedback, ensuring projects align with machine capabilities from award through production.
• Cultivate deep-rooted relationships with procurement, engineering, and commodity managers to ensure G.A. Richards Group remains the "first call" for both new programs and current production issues.
• Lead long-term agreement (LTA) negotiations and annual price reviews, ensuring favorable terms while navigating fluctuating raw materials markets.
• Serve as the internal voice of the customer to ensure quality, delivery, and engineering support meet or exceed customer-specific requirements.
• Maintain a high-touch presence through a minimum of 30% travel to visit customer sites and industry trade shows, with frequency varying week-to-week based on project demands.

Requirements

Education and/or Experience:

• 5–10 years of outside sales or business development experience in manufacturing sectors
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred
• Proven experience with various manufacturing processes
• Strong familiarity with APQP, and the PPAP process.