Sharpe Engineering & Equipment · 6 hours ago
Business Development Manager
Madison, WI
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level
$120K/yr - $160K/yr
5+ years expSharpe Engineering & Equipment is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to drive growth by identifying, pursuing, and securing new customer relationships across the food & beverage industry. This role focuses on opening doors with prospective clients and transitioning them into long-term partnerships while collaborating with internal teams to develop technical solutions.
AutomotiveIndustrialProject Management
Responsibilities
Identify, target, and pursue new customer opportunities aligned with Sharpe's ideal client profile
Develop and execute prospecting strategies across targeted markets, identified geographies, and customer segments
Initiate and manage early-stage conversations with decision-makers and influencers
Qualify leads and opportunities based on technical fit, budget, and strategic alignment
Build and maintain a robust pipeline of new business opportunities
Lead discovery meetings to understand customer challenges and identify Sharpe solutions
Partner with technical and engineering teams to develop high-level solution concepts
Advance opportunities through proposal and contract stages
Represent Sharpe at industry events, trade shows, and networking functions
Build relationships with industry partners, vendors, and influencers to generate leads
Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities
Successfully transition new clients to an Account Manager - Technical Sales once established
Ensure a smooth handoff with full documentation of client expectations and opportunities
Collaborate closely with internal teams to ensure strong first-project execution
Qualification
Required
5+ years of experience in business development, technical sales, or consultative selling
Demonstrated success generating new business in food & beverage, manufacturing, or automation industries
Strong hunter mentality with disciplined prospecting and follow-through
Ability to communicate technical concepts at a high level to non-technical stakeholders
Proficiency with CRM tools and pipeline management
Willingness to travel up to 40-50%
Preferred
Bachelor's degree in engineering, Business, or related field preferred
Benefits
Paid time off (PTO) plus 10 paid holidays
Flexible work schedule
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Short-term and long-term disability coverage
Life insurance
Company
Sharpe Engineering & Equipment
Sharpe Engineering & Equipment provides project management and engineering resources to the food processing industries.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase