Sales and Business Development Manager

Sapience Automation; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sapience Automation in Charleston, SC seeks a driven Sales and Business Development Manager to drive revenue growth by building new customer relationships and expanding existing accounts. You will own the full sales cycle from prospecting to closing, collaborating with engineering and project management to meet and exceed expectations.

The role requires 5+ years in industrial sales, a solid grounding in robotic automation, and strong communication skills to engage technical and executive

Qualifications

• 5+ years of demonstrated success in industrial sales, with consistent achievement of revenue targets.
• Direct experience selling robot automation, custom machine systems, or systems integration services.
• Experience selling capital equipment, engineered systems, or automation solutions to manufacturing customers.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to understand and discuss robotic systems, manufacturing processes, and automation applications at a meaningful level.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills — capable of presenting to both technical and executive audiences.
• Self-motivated, disciplined, and capable of managing a complex sales pipeline with multiple simultaneous opportunities.
• Proficiency with CRM tools and standard business software (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Willingness to travel to customer sites, trade shows, and partner locations as required (minimum 50%).

Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and develop new customer relationships across Sapience's core industries and core application focuses, targeting larger and strategic accounts.
• Manage and grow existing customer accounts, driving repeat business and expanding scope of work within established relationships.
• Develop and execute a structured territory and account management plan with defined activity metrics, pipeline targets, and revenue goals.
• Coordinate with sales personnel from our industry partners to collaborate on winning new business.
• Represent Sapience at trade shows, industry events, and customer facility visits to build brand recognition and generate qualified leads.
• Lead application discovery meetings with prospective customers to understand production processes, quality requirements, cycle time targets, and automation objectives.
• Translate customer requirements into clear, actionable briefs for Sapience's Applications Engineering team, ensuring proposals are scoped and positioned to win.
• Work closely with Applications Engineering throughout the proposal process to review, refine, and customize proposals — tailoring the content, emphasis, and presentation to each specific customer and opportunity.
• Present proposals and quotations to customers in a compelling manner that clearly communicates Sapience's value proposition and differentiates Sapience from competitors.
• Manage follow-up activity and customer communication after proposal delivery to maintain deal momentum and maximize close rates.
• Negotiate contract terms, pricing, and project scope in alignment with company margin targets and approval guidelines.
• Build deep, trust-based relationships with key decision-makers — including engineering managers, operations directors, plant managers, and procurement leadership.
• Serve as the voice of the customer internally, ensuring that project teams understand customer priorities and expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support customer onboarding and post-sale relationship management to ensure satisfaction, drive referrals, and establish long-term partnerships.
• Maintain awareness of competitor activity, market trends, and emerging automation technologies to inform Sapience's positioning and go-to-market strategy.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date opportunity records, account information, and sales activity in the company CRM system.
• Provide regular pipeline reports, forecast updates, and market intelligence to sales leadership.

Skills

Industrial sales

Robotic systems

CRM proficiency

Communication

Travel willingness

Education

Engineering background

Tools

CRM software

MS Office

Job description

Position Summary

The Sales and Business Development Manager is responsible for driving revenue growth for Sapience Automation by developing new customer relationships, expanding existing accounts, and positioning Sapience as the premier automation partner in target industries and geographies. This individual will manage the full sales cycle — from initial prospecting and application discovery through proposal development, customer presentations, and order closure — while collaborating closely with engineering and project management teams to ensure that customer expectations are met and exceeded.

Position Summary

The Sales and Business Development Manager is responsible for driving revenue growth for Sapience Automation by developing new customer relationships, expanding existing accounts, and positioning Sapience as the premier automation partner in target industries and geographies. This individual will manage the full sales cycle — from initial prospecting and application discovery through proposal development, customer presentations, and order closure — while collaborating closely with engineering and project management teams to ensure that customer expectations are met and exceeded.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Account Management

• Identify, target, and develop new customer relationships across Sapience's core industries and core application focuses, targeting larger and strategic accounts.
• Manage and grow existing customer accounts, driving repeat business and expanding scope of work within established relationships.
• Develop and execute a structured territory and account management plan with defined activity metrics, pipeline targets, and revenue goals.
• Coordinate with sales personnel from our industry partners to collaborate on winning new business.
• Represent Sapience at trade shows, industry events, and customer facility visits to build brand recognition and generate qualified leads.

Sales Process & Proposal Management

• Lead application discovery meetings with prospective customers to understand production processes, quality requirements, cycle time targets, and automation objectives.
• Translate customer requirements into clear, actionable briefs for Sapience's Applications Engineering team, ensuring proposals are scoped and positioned to win.
• Work closely with Applications Engineering throughout the proposal process to review, refine, and customize proposals — tailoring the content, emphasis, and presentation to each specific customer and opportunity.
• Present proposals and quotations to customers in a compelling manner that clearly communicates Sapience's value proposition and differentiates Sapience from competitors.
• Manage follow-up activity and customer communication after proposal delivery to maintain deal momentum and maximize close rates.
• Negotiate contract terms, pricing, and project scope in alignment with company margin targets and approval guidelines.

Customer Relationship & Strategic Positioning

• Build deep, trust-based relationships with key decision-makers — including engineering managers, operations directors, plant managers, and procurement leadership.
• Serve as the voice of the customer internally, ensuring that project teams understand customer priorities and expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support customer onboarding and post-sale relationship management to ensure satisfaction, drive referrals, and establish long-term partnerships.
• Maintain awareness of competitor activity, market trends, and emerging automation technologies to inform Sapience's positioning and go-to-market strategy.

Reporting & CRM Management

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date opportunity records, account information, and sales activity in the company CRM system.
• Provide regular pipeline reports, forecast updates, and market intelligence to sales leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of demonstrated success in industrial sales, with consistent achievement of revenue targets.
• Direct experience selling robot automation, custom machine systems, or systems integration services.
• Experience selling capital equipment, engineered systems, or automation solutions to manufacturing customers.
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to understand and discuss robotic systems, manufacturing processes, and automation applications at a meaningful level.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills — capable of presenting to both technical and executive audiences.
• Self-motivated, disciplined, and capable of managing a complex sales pipeline with multiple simultaneous opportunities.
• Proficiency with CRM tools and standard business software (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Willingness to travel to customer sites, trade shows, and partner locations as required (minimum 50%).

Preferred

• Familiarity with FANUC robotics, vision systems, or industrial automation technologies.
• Experience selling into automotive, aerospace, or heavy manufacturing environments.
• Background in engineering (mechanical, electrical, or manufacturing) or equivalent hands‑on technical experience.
• Existing network of manufacturing decision-makers in the region.

Sapience Automation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.