Business Engagement Specialist

Center for EcoTechnology; Manchester (NH); Remote; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Center for EcoTechnology is seeking a Business Engagement Specialist to connect businesses, institutions, and community partners with waste reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainable solutions. You will build relationships through outreach, site visits, and partnerships, identifying customer needs and coordinating handoffs with CET teams to drive measurable environmental impact.

Reporting to the Head of Sales, the role involves multi-state fieldwork, Salesforce CRM upkeep, and collaboration

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and experience preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years in outreach, business development, or customer engagement.
• Experience in waste reduction, sustainability, or energy efficiency is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct direct outreach to prospective customers for CET programs.
• Coordinate with value stream teams and handoffs after qualification.
• Develop and maintain referral networks with trade associations and partners.
• Share market insights to inform outreach and program priorities.
• Maintain accurate records of leads and communications in Salesforce.

Skills

Outreach & relationship-building

Communication skills

Prospecting & cold outreach

Multilingual capabilities (preferred)

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

CET is hiring a Business Engagement Specialist!Are you energized by building relationships and connecting businesses with practical solutions that create meaningful environmental impact?

CET is seeking a Business Engagement Specialist to connect businesses, institutions, and community partners with opportunities that advance waste reduction, energy efficiency, and other sustainable solutions. Join a collaborative, mission-driven team where your outreach, curiosity, and perspective can expand CET’s reach and support lasting change.

As the Business Engagement Specialist, reporting to the Head of Sales, you will help businesses and institutions turn sustainability goals into action through CET’s waste reduction and energy efficiency programs. You will build relationships through outreach, networking, site visits, and community partnerships; identify customer needs and opportunities; and coordinate smooth handoffs and follow-up with CET teams. You will also identify cross-program opportunities, share market insights, maintain accurate pipeline information in Salesforce, and advance CET’s carbon reduction mission.

*Applicants for this field-based and remote work position must reside in South Central Massachusetts (Springfield are), Northwest Rhode Island, or Connecticut (Hartford area).

Essential and Primary Job Functions

Primary Functions: Outreach & Lead Qualification

• Conducts direct outreach to prospective customers, primarily for CET's waste reduction programs, using a mix of calls, email, networking, and in-person visits. Conducts site walks and photo documentation early in the outreach and engagement process, as appropriate, to gather information that supports Waste Resource Consultant work. Educates prospects about available program offerings and the cost and environmental benefits of participating. Assesses customer needs and qualifies opportunities against established qualification criteria before handoff to value stream teams. Develops and maintains targeted outreach lists aligned with program priorities and capacity.

Value Stream Coordination & Conversion Support

• Works closely with Value Stream Managers and their teams to carry out outreach and engagement activities consistent with established program priorities, qualification criteria, operational capacity, and customer needs. Keeps value stream teams informed of prospect activity and gathers the information needed to support smooth handoffs and customer service excellence. Value Stream Managers retain ownership of the customer relationship and project delivery. After handoff, follows up with customers, helps address obstacles, and flags stalled opportunities to the Head of Sales and appropriate value stream team for joint problem solving. Supports value stream teams in improving lead-to-project conversion outcomes.

Partnership & Network Building

• Identifies and cultivates relationships with stakeholder organizations, such as trade associations, municipal partners, chambers of commerce, haulers, and industry groups, that can refer businesses and institutions to CET's programs. Embeds in these networks through consistent participation, attending events, and representing CET professionally, including delivering presentations as needed. Develops and maintains referral relationships that generate a steady, sustainable source of qualified leads over time.

Cross-Program Referrals & Market Insight

• Identifies opportunities for customers to engage with CET's energy efficiency programs and other offerings, and routes those leads to the appropriate teams. Works across multiple programs and states, developing an understanding of varied market dynamics, stakeholder landscapes, program requirements, and customer needs to tailor outreach and engagement appropriately. Gathers and shares market information, customer feedback, and observed trends with the Head of Sales and value stream teams to inform outreach activities and continuous improvement.

Pipeline & CRM Management

• Maintains accurate, complete, and timely records of leads, partner activity, and customer communications in Salesforce. Tracks outreach activity, pipeline progress, and outcomes, including qualified leads, partner referrals, conversions, and associated impact such as tons diverted and emissions avoided, and provides this information to the Head of Sales and appropriate value stream teams. Shares observations and practical suggestions for improving outreach and handoff processes.

Secondary Functions

• Travels regularly throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and bordering states as required.
• Acquires and maintains knowledge of waste reduction, energy efficiency, and related industry trends to support CET's leadership in the field.
• Supports outreach campaigns, events, and other business development initiatives as assigned.
• Attends trainings as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience Requirements

• Committed to CET's non-profit mission and carbon reduction goals.
• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in outreach, business development, partnership development, or customer engagement, preferably in waste reduction, sustainability, or energy efficiency.
• Comfortable initiating conversations with new prospects, including cold outreach, and building relationships that lead to measurable results.
• Proven ability to represent an organization professionally at events, meetings, and presentations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including active listening and clear verbal and written communication, with the ability to collaborate effectively with value stream teams.
• Bilingual or multilingual capabilities that support communication with the communities CET serves are preferred, particularly in Spanish,