Business Development (Valves and Pumps)

GEA Group; Missouri; On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

136 hours of PTO

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) employer match

Wellness incentive program

Wellness incentive

Employee Assistance Program

Health Savings Account

Job summary

A leading global engineering solutions provider is seeking a Sales Professional in Missouri to drive territory equipment sales activities, support local strategies, and build relationships within the food and beverage industries. The ideal candidate will have an associates or university degree, and 3-5 years of relevant experience with strong negotiation and sales skills. The role offers competitive compensation and ample opportunities for growth and development, which includes some travel (60-70%).

Qualifications

• 3 - 5 years relevant experience in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.
• Strong knowledge of the customer base and product competitive landscape.
• Proven superior skills in international negotiation & contracting.
• Proven track record in leading sales organizations and achieving targets
• Experienced with sales processes, pricing, CRM tools, and contract negotiations
• Willingness to travel 60–70% across territories

Responsibilities

• Drive territory equipment sales activities for revenue targets.
• Support local equipment and service sales strategies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers.
• Resolve complex issues during start-ups ensuring smooth installation of equipment/services.
• Grow sales by expanding market reach and strengthening customer relationships.
• Meet order and margin targets while focusing on profitability and pricing strategy.
• Coordinate field trials at customer sites to demonstrate equipment capabilities.
• Position offerings to beat local competition using market insights and feedback.
• Foster a One Face to the Client culture, maintaining professional customer interactions.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Sales experience

Customer orientation

Problem-solving skills

Networking ability

Product knowledge

Travel readiness

Education

Associates Degree or University Degree in Engineering/Business Administration

Tools

CRM tools

Job description

GEA Group, founded in Germany in 1881, is a global leader in engineering solutions, serving industries such as food and beverage, pharma, dairy, and more. With over 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA combines the heritage of a well-established company with the innovation of a forward-thinking industry leader. At GEA, we’re not just building equipment, we’re building lasting careers with an average employee tenure range from 5 to over 11+ years, reflecting the strong culture, growth opportunities, and support we provide.

• Start strong – Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day
• Recharge and refresh – Enjoy 12 paid holidays, including a flexible floating holiday, and 136 hours of PTO to relax or explore
• Invest in your future – A 7% 401(k) employer match helps grow your retirement savings faster
• Keep learning – Take advantage of tuition reimbursement to further your education or skillset
• Live well – Our wellness incentive program rewards healthy habits
• Get support when you need it – Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program for personal or professional guidance
• Save smart – Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts to manage out-of-pocket expenses

What You’ll Do

• Coordinate and drive territory equipment sales activities, including prospecting, lead generation, and closing sales deals to achieve revenue targets.
• Allocate resources effectively and prioritize initiatives to maximize sales opportunities and market coverage within the territory.
• Support the implementation of local equipment and service sales strategies, ensuring alignment with overall company objectives and market dynamics.
• Identify and organize resolution for more complex issues associated with start-ups, ensuring seamless implementation of equipment and services for clients.
• Achieve sales growth objectives by expanding market reach and coverage through proactive sales efforts and relationship-building activities.
• Achieve order and margin intake targets, while maintaining a strong focus on profitability and margin contribution.
• Coordinate field trials at customer sites to demonstrate equipment capabilities and validate performance against customer requirements.
• Position product offerings effectively to maximize success against the local competitive landscape, leveraging market insights and customer feedback.
• Facilitate a key account management role, ensuring that customers are informed of all company products and services available to meet their needs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers and internal GEA stakeholders, fostering collaboration and customer loyalty.
• Develop quotations and proposals in line with customer requirements, ensuring accuracy and competitiveness.
• Assist in defining pricing strategies and understanding margin contribution to optimize profitability and pricing decisions.
• Support product development projects at customers within the territory, collaborating with engineering and product development teams to meet customer needs.
• Foster a "One face to the Client" culture, ensuring consistency and professionalism in all customer interactions

Qualifications

• Associates Degree or University Degree in Engineering/Business Administration or equivalent educational level
• Min 3 - 5 years’ relevant experience and knowledge of the specific market and applications in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. This role is on the Valves and Pumps Team.
• Strong Knowledge of the Customer base and Product Competitive Landscape
• Sales professional with significant experience in steering a sales organization, incl. product management, within a product/sales matrix
• Deep practical know-how of state-of-the-art sales process, organization methods and tools (e.g. ordering, pricing, CRM)
• Proven superior skills in international negotiation & contracting with customers in countries across the world.
• Deep understanding of business on a local scale with developed focus on customer needs and fulfilment of customer expectations
• Open-minded and solution oriented, strong problem solving skills
• Team player, good net-worker and negotiator
• Very good communication skills, strong sales person
• Strong customer orientation - Ability to engage with customers at different level
• Capability for 60 – 70% travel

At GEA, we don’t just offer jobs—we offer opportunities to thrive, grow, and make an impact.

The typical base pay range for this position will be communicated by the manager during the interview. GEA Group has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States.

The pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. The estimated range is the budgeted amount for the position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications, and other job-related reasons. You may be eligible for additional rewards.

GEA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will therefore receive consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, world view, national origin, genetics, disability, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected characteristic required by applicable law. Applicants with disabilities are welcome and will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified.

Please note: This position is based in the United States and does not offer visa or work sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.