Business Development Manager Capital Equipment

Vector's partner in Mentor, OH designs and manufactures conveyor systems. They are looking for a Business Development Manager for Capital Sales (OEM) to join their team!

Direct Hire

Base salary will be based on experience.

There is also a commission structure in place.

Job Summary:

The Business Development Manager (BDM) is responsible for identifying, developing, and advancing new capital project opportunities for OEM equipment solutions. This role focuses on early-stage project engagement, relationship development with owners, EPCs, and integrators, and positioning the company to be specified, invited, and favored during formal RFQ processes.

The BDM operates upstream of traditional sales—shaping opportunities before they are formally bid—and hands off qualified projects to the sales/account team for execution.

Responsibilities:

Project & Opportunity Development

• Identify new capital equipment projects at the conceptual, feasibility, and FEED stages
• Track announced and unannounced projects using:
• Industry intelligence platforms
• EPC relationships
• Plant-level and corporate engineering contacts
• Qualify opportunities based on size, timing, scope, and strategic fit
• Advance opportunities to RFQ or budgetary quote stage
• Customer & Market Engagement Build and maintain senior-level relationships with:
• Corporate engineering and capital planning teams
• Plant engineers, operations, and maintenance leaders
• EPC firms, system integrators, and mechanical contractors
• Serve as a technical-commercial liaison between customers and internal engineering teams
• Conduct plant visits, technical discussions, and preliminary solution reviews
• EPC & Partner DevelopmentEstablish preferred-vendor relationships with key EPCs and integrators
• Support EPCs with:
• Budgetary pricing
• Technical data and specifications
• Concept layouts and equipment selection
• Ensure company equipment is positioned as basis of design where possible
• Early-Stage Technical & Commercial Support Coordinate with sales engineering to deliver:
• Budgetary estimates
• Preliminary designs and layouts
• Value-engineering alternatives
• Promote total cost of ownership (TCO), reliability, and lifecycle value
• Influence specifications in favor of company solutions
• Pipeline & CRM Management Maintain a disciplined opportunity pipeline focused on future capex
• Accurately document:
• Project stage
• Decision-makers
• Competitors
• Budget and timeline
• Forecast future project flow (12–36 months horizon)
• Market Intelligence & Strategy Monitor industry trends, capacity expansions, modernization programs, and regulatory drivers
• Provide feedback to leadership on:
• Emerging market needs
• Competitive activity
• Product and technology gaps
• Support go-to-market strategies for new products or industries
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Number and quality of new qualified capital projects identified
• RFQ invitations generated
• Projects specified or short-listed
• Value of long-term opportunity pipeline
• Conversion rate from early engagement to awarded projects
• Strategic account and EPC penetration
• Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field
• 7–15+ years experience in:
• Project-based industrial markets
• Strong understanding of:
• Capital project lifecycle
• EPC and owner procurement processes
• Heavy industrial environments
• Proven ability to engage technical and executive stakeholders
• Willingness to travel (30–50%)
• Preferred Engineering background (Mechanical, Industrial, or Electrical)
• Experience selling to:
• Steel, aluminum, metals, mining, or heavy manufacturing
• Familiarity with conveyor systems, material handling, or industrial automation
• Experience working with EPC firms or large multi-site producers
• Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Vacation, 401K plan with match, dental plan
• Annual bonus
• PTO: one week first year and two weeks after two years of service