Senior Business Development Manager

Industrial Wastewater Treatment Solutions

Location: Southeast United States (South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia Preferred)
Travel: Approximately 75%
Position Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

A growing provider of industrial wastewater treatment solutions is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager to drive new business growth throughout the Southeast.

This role is heavily focused on lead generation, opportunity development, and strategic account acquisition. The successful candidate will work closely with technical, operations, and leadership teams to identify customer challenges, develop solution strategies, and convert opportunities into long-term customer partnerships.

The ideal candidate is a high-performing business development professional with extensive experience selling wastewater solutions to industrial manufacturers and municipalities.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Lead Generation

• Develop and execute strategic business development plans within the assigned region.
• Generate and qualify new opportunities through prospecting, networking, referrals, and industry relationships.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospects.
• Develop relationships with key decision-makers and influencers across target accounts.
• Identify buying windows and strategic growth opportunities within prospective customer organizations.
• Manage opportunities from initial qualification through contract execution and handoff.

Solution-Based Sales

• Identify customer challenges and align company solutions to operational, compliance, and business objectives.
• Present solutions to stakeholders ranging from plant personnel to executive leadership.
• Collaborate with technical and operational teams to develop customer-specific strategies and proposals.
• Communicate the value of wastewater treatment solutions including:
  • Treatment chemistry
  • Operations services
  • Equipment solutions
  • Compliance support
  • Process optimization programs

Strategic Account Development

• Develop account strategies and business plans for target customers.
• Establish relationships at multiple levels within customerorganizations, including:
  • Environmental Managers
  • EHS Leaders
  • Engineering Managers
  • Operations Leaders
  • Plant Managers
  • Executive Leadership
• Maintain executive-level customer relationships throughout lengthy sales cycles.
• Support long-term account growth and customer retention initiatives.

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with technical, operations, and leadership teams to advance opportunities.
• Coordinate internal resources to support customer acquisition efforts.
• Maintain CRM records, forecasts, and business development activity reports.
• Participate in opportunity reviews, account planning, and strategic sales initiatives.

Target Markets

• Industrial Manufacturing
• Food & Beverage Processing
• Metal Finishing
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Pulp & Paper
• Mining & Metals
• Municipal Wastewater
• Industrial Pretreatment Facilities
• Facilities operating under NPDES permits

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 15+ years of business development, sales, or account management experience with a primary focus on wastewater treatment.
• Demonstrated experience selling:
  • Wastewater treatment services
  • Treatment chemistry programs
  • Equipment solutions
  • Compliance services
  • Operations and maintenance programs
• Proven success selling to both industrial customers and municipal entities.
• Experience managing complex, consultative sales cycles from lead generation through close.
• Strong knowledge of industrial wastewater treatment and environmental compliance requirements.
• Existing network of industry contacts throughout the Southeast preferred.
• Experience using CRM systems for opportunity management and forecasting.
• Strong presentation, communication, and negotiation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing book of business within South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
• Experience selling into facilities operating under wastewater pretreatment or NPDES permit programs.
• Metal finishing industry experience.
• Background supporting manufacturing and industrial processing industries.
• Experience selling to executive leadership teams and C-suite decision-makers.

What We're Looking For

• Strong hunter mentality and business development focus
• Consultative sales approach
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Strong business acumen
• Exceptional relationship-building skills
• High level of personal accountability
• Strategic thinker capable of managing multiple complex opportunities simultaneously
• Strong organizational and forecasting capabilities
• Comfortable operating independently within a remote territory

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently achieving or exceeding growth objectives
• Building and maintaining a strong opportunity pipeline
• Developing new strategic customer relationships
• Successfully managing opportunities through the entire sales process
• Delivering accurate forecasting and business reporting
• Contributing to territory growth and long-term business expansion
• Becoming a trusted advisor to customers and internal stakeholders

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel approximately 75% throughout the Southeast.
• Ability to work in industrial and wastewater treatment environments.
• Frequent visits to manufacturing facilities and treatment plants.
• Ability to walk large facilities and navigate industrial environments.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and access treatment equipment when necessary.

Ideal Candidate Background

This role is particularly well suited for professionals who have sold wastewater treatment solutions to industrial manufacturers, municipalities, and regulated facilities, and who possess a proven track record of developing business within food processing, manufacturing, metal finishing, chemical processing, and environmental compliance markets.