Business Development Associate

Job Title: Business Development Associate

Job Description

This role functions as a hybrid Business Development Manager and Product Line Manager position supporting and managing three maritime-focused product lines with significant annual revenue. You will focus on customer relationship management, proposal and quoting support, business development activities, and cross-functional coordination to drive revenue growth and profitability. Acting as a key liaison between customers and internal teams such as Quality, Purchasing, Contracts, Operations, and Leadership, you will help shape product line growth strategies and ensure a high level of customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Support business development efforts and contribute to sustained revenue growth across multiple product lines.
• Manage and strengthen customer relationships for three maritime-focused product lines, serving as a primary point of contact.
• Support quote generation and manage RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs, ensuring timely and accurate responses to customer requests.
• Coordinate proposal activities in collaboration with internal stakeholders to deliver compelling and compliant submissions.
• Work closely with Quality, Purchasing, Contracts, and Operations teams to align customer requirements with internal capabilities.
• Manage order entry processes and set clear customer delivery expectations to ensure on-time and accurate fulfillment.
• Conduct regular customer visits and capture voice-of-customer feedback to inform product improvements and growth strategies.
• Support revenue forecasting activities and profitability initiatives, leveraging data to guide business decisions.
• Assist in developing and executing product line growth strategies in alignment with broader business objectives.
• Collaborate with manufacturer's representatives and distributors to expand market reach and support sales efforts.
• Engage in prospecting, cold calling, and both inside and outside sales activities as needed to develop new business.
• Provide customer-focused service and sales support, ensuring technical questions and issues are addressed promptly.
• Participate in trade shows and industry events to represent the product lines, build relationships, and identify new opportunities.
• Coordinate with multiple internal departments to ensure seamless communication and execution of customer projects.

Essential Skills

• Proven business development, sales, or strategic account management experience in a technical or industrial environment.
• Experience as a Product Line Manager or Program Manager with significant customer-facing responsibilities.
• Experience in manufacturing, electrical, electronics, aerospace, defense, or similar technical products.
• Hands-on experience supporting RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, proposals, and quoting activities.
• Familiarity with government contracts and an understanding of defense customers and their requirements.
• Experience working with distributors and manufacturer's representatives in a sales or business development capacity.
• Revenue forecasting and profitability management experience, including the ability to interpret and act on financial data.
• ERP system experience, including order entry and coordination of customer deliveries.
• Strong relationship-building skills and customer communication abilities, both written and verbal.
• Ability to discuss technical products and solutions with customers in a clear and confident manner.
• Experience coordinating with multiple internal departments such as Quality, Purchasing, Contracts, Operations, and Leadership.
• Customer service orientation with a focus on responsiveness, follow-through, and long-term relationship development.
• High school diploma or equivalent as a minimum educational requirement.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in the aerospace and defense industry, particularly with government contract exposure.
• Experience in outside sales, inside sales, technical sales, or sales management.
• Project management experience, including managing customer projects and timelines.
• Business management or strategic account management experience in a complex, multi-product environment.
• Prospecting and cold calling skills, with the ability to identify and develop new business opportunities.
• Strong sales support capabilities, including preparing materials, coordinating proposals, and following up with customers.
• Ability to attend and represent the company at trade shows, industry events, and customer meetings.
• Comfort working with maritime-focused product lines and learning new technical domains.
• Eligibility to work in the United States.
• Interest in long-term career growth within business development, product line management, or program management.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional, industrial business environment that supports maritime-focused product lines. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams and use ERP systems and other standard business tools to manage orders, proposals, and customer communications. The role involves approximately 20% travel, including 2 to 3 customer visits per quarter, with a mix of local and non-local travel. Trade show attendance and customer visits are required as part of ongoing business development and relationship management activities. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical coverage effective on the first day of employment, a 401(k) plan with a competitive match, generous paid time off, paid holidays, and a company-wide shutdown between Christmas and New Year's. The culture emphasizes collaboration, customer focus, and continuous growth in revenue and profitability.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Wallingford, CT.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $115000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits effective Day 1 Blue Cross medical coverage Vanguard 401(k) 5% 401(k) match 4 weeks PTO/Vacation 10 Holidays Company shutdown between Christmas and New Year"s

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Wallingford,CT.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.