SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES
The Commercial Business Development Manager is responsible for developing and expanding Minnkota Windows' commercial business throughout several states. This position builds relationships with architects, general contractors, property management companies, engineering firms and other commercial decision-makers to generate project opportunities and increase specifications of Minnkota Windows products on commercial projects.
The Commercial Business Development Manager identifies and pursues bidding opportunities, promotes Minnkota Windows products and capabilities, develops project pipelines, and manages customer relationships throughout the commercial sales cycle. This role conducts educational presentations, coordinates lunch-and-learn events, participates in industry associations and trade shows, and works closely with internal teams to support profitable commercial growth and exceptional customer experiences.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Commercial Business Development
- Develop and execute territory plans that support commercial sales growth objectives.
- Build and maintain relationships with architects, general contractors, construction managers, property management companies, engineering firms, and other commercial decision-makers.
- Identify, qualify, and pursue commercial project opportunities throughout the assigned territory.
- Increase product awareness and secure product specifications with architects, designers, engineers, and consultants.
- Conduct regular sales calls, customer visits, project reviews, and relationship-building activities.
- Maintain a strong pipeline of commercial opportunities and advance projects through the sales process.
- Collaborate with internal teams to ensure timely and accurate responses to customer inquiries, specifications, estimates, and proposals.
- Support project negotiations and communicate customer requirements, schedules, and expectations to appropriate internal stakeholders.
Project Development and Market Intelligence
- Monitor Builders Exchange and other project lead services to identify, evaluate, and pursue commercial bidding opportunities.
- Review plans, specifications, bid documents, and project requirements to identify qualified opportunities.
- Perform project takeoffs and collaborate with estimating resources to develop accurate project quotations.
- Track project status, specification activity, bid results, and awarded projects.
- Gather and communicate market intelligence related to competitors, industry trends, customer needs, and emerging opportunities.
- Analyze territory performance and develop action plans to improve market penetration and business growth.
- Maintain awareness of commercial construction activity throughout the assigned territory.
Industry Representation and Customer Education
- Conduct product presentations, lunch-and-learn sessions, and educational seminars for architects, contractors, property managers, and other industry professionals.
- Represent Minnkota Windows at commercial construction industry events and networking opportunities.
- Attend and participate in trade shows, conferences, and association events sponsored by organizations such as AIA, CSI, contractor associations, builder organizations, and other industry groups.
- Assist with planning, setting up, staffing, and follow-up activities for trade shows and related marketing events.
- Promote Minnkota Windows products, services, and competitive advantages through professional presentations and customer engagement activities.
CRM and Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate customer, project, specification, and sales activity records within the company CRM system.
- Document customer interactions, project updates, opportunities, and follow-up actions in a timely manner.
- Prepare activity reports, pipeline updates, forecasting information, and other sales metrics as requested.
- Manage travel and business expenses in accordance with company policies.
Other
- Embrace and demonstrate the qualities of a Minnkota Windows Game Changer.
- Participate in team-based lean and continuous improvement activities that streamline workflows and support operational excellence.
- Prompt and dependable attendance.
- Other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALITIES
- Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold sales and customer-facing teams accountable.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to interpret sales data, manage budgets and forecasts, evaluate profitability, and make sound decisions.
- Proven ability to develop sales strategies, manage pipelines, expand markets, and build long-term customer and dealer relationships.
- Knowledge of marketing planning, brand management, lead generation, advertising, promotions, and campaign measurement.
- Strong customer focus with experience establishing service standards, resolving escalated concerns, and improving customer retention.
- Excellent verbal, written, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate across departments, influence stakeholders, and balance customer needs with operational and financial requirements.
- Strong organizational, prioritization, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives.
- Proficiency with sales, customer relationship management, quoting, reporting, and general business software; experience with ERP and CenterPoint preferred.
- Ability to understand and communicate technical product information, including product use, operation, specifications, and installation methods consistent with industry standards.
- Initiative, sound judgment, adaptability, integrity, and a continuous-improvement mindset.
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
- Minimum of ten (10) years of directly applicable commercial construction, architectural specification, business development, project management, estimating, or commercial sales experience within the defined sales regions.
- Demonstrated experience working with architects, general contractors, property management companies, engineering firms, and commercial building owners.
- Experience identifying and pursuing project opportunities through Builders Exchange or comparable commercial construction lead-generation platforms.
- Experience performing project takeoffs, estimating, and bid review activities.
- Experience securing product specifications and developing commercial project opportunities.
- Proven experience utilizing CRM software to manage customer relationships, project pipelines, and sales activities.
- Prior experience with commercial windows, glazing, fenestration, storefront, curtainwall, or related commercial building products strongly preferred.
- Project management experience within commercial construction environments preferred.
- Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record required.