Senior Business Development Manager

NewCold Melbourne; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 145,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Life and disability insurance

4 weeks paid time off (PTO)

Paid holidays

Job summary

NewCold, based in Chicago, seeks a Senior Business Development Manager to lead strategic customer opportunities, pricing, and contract negotiations across automation and network design. You will partner with cross-functional teams to translate complex supply chain challenges into tailored commercial solutions.

The role requires 8+ years of experience in business development and strong financial acumen, with exceptional communication skills.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in business development, consultative sales, commercial strategy, supply chain, logistics, industrial real estate, project development, or related fields.
• Proven commercial leadership in managing complex customer pursuits through proposal development, pricing, negotiation, contract execution, and business case development.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, including the ability to assess revenue, costs, margins, investment returns, risks, and commercial viability.
• Deep understanding of supply chain and operational environments, with knowledge of warehousing, automation, transportation, industrial development, or related industries; experience in cold storage, 3PL, CPG, or industrial real estate is preferred.
• Excellent communication and technical proficiency, including executive-level presentations, CRM

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic customer development efforts by identifying and advancing qualified opportunities, building trusted relationships with key stakeholders, and guiding customers through discovery, site visits, proposal discussions, and commercial negotiations.
• Develop tailored commercial solutions by understanding customer supply chain needs, operational challenges, and strategic objectives, and aligning them with NewCold’s capabilities in automation, network design, and long-term value creation.
• Own business case creation, proposals, pricing, and contract negotiations from initial opportunity through close.
• Lead early-stage strategic customer opportunity development by defining project scope, objectives, milestones, risks, and cross-functional workstreams, while ensuring alignment among key stakeholders to advance strategic customer pursuits.
• Lead land acquisition and site strategy initiatives by managing site evaluations, PSA negotiations, due diligence activities, and stakeholder coordination to support strategic growth opportunities.
• Drive CRM accuracy, forecasting and opportunity visibility, improving lead qualification processes, and leading cross-functional pursuit teams through key milestones.
• Influence stakeholders and develop team capability by aligning internal teams around customer and commercial objectives, managing execution risks, and mentoring team members on business cases, proposals, and deal development.

Skills

Business development

Sales leadership

Analytical skills

Supply chain understanding

Cross-functional leadership

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Build thefuture of food

At NewCold, we’re shaping the futureof the food supply chain. Our warehouses and transportnetwork connect the world’s major food manufacturers with retailers and food service providers.

Join a collaborative team of doers,innovators, and engineers who are dedicated to making a real impact. Togetherwith advanced robotics and cutting-edge technology, we’re not just keeping upwith the times —we’re pioneering smarter, more sustainable operations to keep theworld’s food fresh and safe.

To support our rapid growth, we’re constantly looking for talented people to join our team. Want to be a part of a dynamic, forward-thinking environment? Join us!

Your role as a Senior Business Development Manager

Key responsibilities:

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$145,000 - $155,000

This position is eligible for a bonus in addition to the base pay range listed above. This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the salary band within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors.

Benefits

NewCold also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a full range of competitive benefit programs, generally including health insurance, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition, we offer employees 4 weeks of accrued Paid Time Off as well as paid holidays throughout the calendar year.

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, and date of hire.

PositionOverview

TheSenior Business Development Manager is a strategic commercial leaderresponsible for converting qualified market opportunities into profitablecustomer partnerships that support NewCold’s growth objectives. This role leadscustomer pursuits from opportunity assessment through proposal development,pricing, negotiation, and contract execution, translating complex supply chainchallenges into tailored commercial and operational solutions.

Workingclosely with cross-functional teams, the Sr. Business Development Managerdevelops business cases, evaluates opportunity fit, and drives early-stageproject development to advance strategic customer opportunities. The idealcandidate thrives in ambiguous environments, builds strong customerrelationships, simplifies complex technical and financial concepts, and appliesdisciplined commercial leadership to deliver successful growth outcomes.

Roles and Responsibilities

StrategicCustomer Acquisition & Consultative Commercial Leadership

Lead strategic customer development efforts by identifying and advancing qualified opportunities, building trusted relationships with key stakeholders, and guiding customers through discovery, site visits, proposal discussions, and commercial negotiations.

Develop tailored commercial solutions by understanding customer supply chain needs, operational challenges, and strategic objectives, and aligning them with NewCold’s capabilities in automation, network design, and long-term value creation.

Deal Strategy& Execution

Lead commercial deal development and execution by owning business case creation, proposal development, and contract negotiations from initial opportunity through close.

Develop profitable and aligned customer solutions by translating customer requirements into compelling commercial proposals, building financial models, and ensuring alignment across scope, assumptions, service commitments, and contract terms throughout the pursuit.

Project Development Leadership

Lead early-stage strategic customer opportunity development by defining project scope, objectives, milestones, risks, and cross-functional workstreams, while ensuring alignment among key stakeholders to advance strategic customer pursuits.

Drive internal planning and decision-making by partnering with Solution Design and Project Development teams, preparing executive-level business case materials, and ensuring customer requirements, project assumptions, timelines, and commercial commitments remain aligned.

Real Estate, Land Acquisition &Market Strategy

Lead land acquisition and site strategy initiatives by managing site evaluations, purchase and sale agreement (PSA) negotiations, due diligence activities, and stakeholder coordination to support strategic growth opportunities.

Drive market and development assessments by analyzing customer demand, competitive and economic conditions, and site feasibility, then translating insights into clear commercial recommendations and executive-ready decision materials.

CRM &Process Management

Drive business development execution and pipeline management by maintaining CRM accuracy, providing forecasting and opportunity visibility, improving lead qualification processes, and leading cross-functional pursuit teams through key milestones and decision points.

Influence stakeholders and develop team capability by aligning internal teams around customer and commercial objectives, managing execution risks, and mentoring team members on business cases, proposals, and deal development.

Who we are looking for:

We are seeking motivated and forward-thinking individuals who thrive incollaborative and fast-moving environments. Our ideal candidate has:

Requirements

8+ years of experience in business development, consultative sales, commercial strategy, supply chain, logistics, industrial real estate, project development, or related fields.

Proven commercial leadership skills with experience managing complex customer pursuits through proposal development, pricing, negotiation, contract execution, and business case development.

Strong analytical and financial acumen, including the ability to assess revenue, costs, margins, investment returns, risks, and commercial viability.

Deep understanding of supply chain and operational environments, with knowledge of warehousing, automation, transportation, industrial development, or related industries; experience in cold storage, 3PL, CPG, or industrial real estate is preferred.

Strong project management and cross-functional leadership capabilities, including managing stakeholders, coordinating workstreams, driving alignment, and advancing strategic initiatives.

Excellent communication and technical proficiency, including executive-level presentations, CRM