Director of Business Development – Food & Beverage

About the role

The Director of Business Development will lead growth initiatives for water and wastewater treatment solutions within the Food & Beverage manufacturing sector, building executive relationships and positioning the company as a trusted partner for sustainable water management.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic business development plans targeting Food & Beverage manufacturers.
• Identify, qualify, and pursue capital equipment opportunities in process water, wastewater treatment, water reuse, filtration, and disinfection.
• Build and maintain executive‑level relationships with plant managers, engineering directors, operations leaders, sustainability teams, and procurement professionals.
• Partner with engineering consultants, design‑build firms, OEMs, and system integrators to generate project opportunities.
• Lead consultative sales cycles from prospecting through proposal, negotiation, and project closeout.
• Collaborate with engineering, applications, operations, and project management teams to deliver customized technical solutions.
• Monitor industry trends, capital investment plans, sustainability initiatives, and regulatory developments.
• Represent the company at conferences, trade shows, and professional events.
• Maintain accurate sales forecasts, pipeline data, and CRM reporting.
• Mentor regional sales managers and promote a high‑performance sales culture.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Environmental Science or related field.
• 10+ years of business development, technical sales, or account management experience in water treatment or related industrial markets.
• Proven success selling capital equipment or engineered systems to industrial or municipal customers.
• Experience managing complex, multi‑stakeholder sales cycles with long sales timelines.
• Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and strategic account planning abilities.
• Highly organized, self‑motivated, and results‑oriented.

Required skills

• Water and wastewater treatment processes, including filtration, membrane systems, chemical treatment, utility operations, and water reuse.
• Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, Word).

What we offer

• Base salary $150,000‑$180,000 plus commission.
• Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, LTD/STD, 401(k) match, ESPP, paid time off and holidays.
• Travel opportunities (50‑75% travel, including local and air travel).