Senior Business Development Manager, Valves

Gentherm; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Gentherm is seeking a Senior Global Business Development Manager for Valves to drive growth into new markets. This role is pivotal in shaping the company's market direction and requires a strong hunter mentality, with 7+ years of experience in business development. Candidates must have a background in adjacent valve industries and a successful track record of building new business.

The position also requires collaboration with engineering teams and the ability to translate technical complexities into customer value.

Travel is expected at 25-30%.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in business development or technical sales.
• Proven track record of building new business and winning customers.
• Experience working closely with engineering, purchasing, and product teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead creation of a growth engine for Valves, expanding into adjacent markets.
• Develop a global go-to-market strategy for Valves.
• Establish lighthouse customers for scalable growth.

Skills

Business development

Sales

Customer engagement

Market strategy

Job description

Your Career. Your Impact. Your Future.

At Gentherm, we believe the next big breakthrough begins with you. As a global leader in thermal management and pneumatic comfort technologies, we develop advanced systems that deliver meaningful solutions to enhance health, wellness, comfort, and efficiency in everyday life. Our products and innovations are created for you, by you.

Be part of our team where a human‑centric mindset drives everything we do—from the technologies we build to the careers we support. With decades of expertise, we have pioneered advanced solutions that have become a standard expectation for consumers around the world.

The same thoughtful approach we take in developing our technologies guides how we support your career: purposeful, impactful, and tailored to you. Because when you thrive, innovation thrives.

Impact and Opportunity

The Senior Global Business Development Manager, Valves is responsible for leading the creation of a new growth engine for Valves, expanding the company beyond its automotive core into high‑potential adjacent markets. This role plays a pivotal role in driving long‑term revenue, diversification, profitability, and global expansion and is set to operate with a high level of ownership and autonomy, turning proven valve technologies and engineering capabilities into new revenue streams by unlocking untapped applications. This role helps shape the company's market direction, product evolution, and commercial strategy through direct customer engagement, securing first wins, lighthouse customers, and scalable growth platforms.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Hunt and win new business in adjacent markets, aggressively expanding beyond the automotive customer base
• Leverage existing product designs and engineering processes to accelerate market entry and customer adoption
• Help define where to play and how to win
• Identify, validate, and penetrate new segments and early customers for valve technologies
• Create and execute a global go‑to‑market strategy for Valves, driving opportunities across regions
• Open doors and close deals with support from the Sales team—owning the full sales cycle end‑to‑end
• Establish lighthouse customers and reference wins to anchor scalable growth
• Build and convert a robust pipeline into profitable revenue streams
• Partner closely with engineering to adapt and scale solutions for new applications
• Develop and expand OEM, integrator, and partner networks globally
• Act as the voice of the market, shaping product direction, pricing, and strategy

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong hunter mentality with the ability to create and close opportunities
• Proven track record of building new business and winning new customers
• 7+ years in business development or technical sales
• Background in adjacent valve industries (industrial, energy, HVAC, fluid or thermal management systems, commercial and off‑road vehicles)
• Experience working in early‑stage or growth environments
• Track record of scaling revenue in a new segment from near‑zero
• Experience working closely with engineering, purchasing and other product teams
• Experience in selling technical / engineered valve solutions
• Demonstrated success in entering new markets and developing new applications

Preferred Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial, self‑driven, and highly resilient
• Strong commercial acumen with focus on profitable growth
• Able to translate technical complexity into customer value
• Effective at engaging both engineers and senior decision‑makers
• Hands‑on in go‑to‑market execution and deal closing

Nice to Know

Travel: 25‑30%

Gentherm is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building an inclusive culture through Our Network of Engagement (ONE) where we value our differences and work together to positively impact the lives of our employees, customers, and communities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.