Material Return - Director of Business Development

Director of Business Development

Material Return, a dynamic enterprise within The Industrial Commons, is at the forefront of the sustainable and circular textile revolution! Centered within the framework of research and development, workforce development, and commercialization, our work in transforming reclaimed textiles into innovative new materials is pioneering the region towards a circular economy. We're passionate about cultivating a vibrant, engaging, and industrious workplace where innovation thrives and creativity flourishes.

Material Return is in search of a Director of Business Development (DBD) to join the team and help take the entity to its next phase of growth, ensuring effective ownership in generating new business opportunities and achieving overall business growth. This role is focused on increasing revenue and driving business growth. It involves understanding our R&D and production capabilities and analyzing markets to evaluate the best lines of business for MR; engaging new potential clients and managing their projects through the R&D phase and into scaled production; and consistently communicating with existing clients to maintain strong relationships and expand business opportunities.

The Material Return DBD is a full-time, salaried, exempt classification position responsible for generating new business opportunities and achieving overall business growth through understanding our capabilities, analyzing markets, and engaging new and potential clients to expand business. Duties include managing client relations, overseeing business development, and securing new clients for the business that drive sustainable revenue streams.

Core competencies for this role include : interpersonal and client management skills, business planning and market analysis, partnership development, strong communication skills, textile industry knowledge, information and data management and a basic understanding of business financials.

Essential Functions :

• Grow new areas of Material Return's business in market segments, including industrial, circular and engineered textiles. This person will work closely with all areas, including product development, quality, engineering, production, and logistics. The right candidate will have a good technical understanding and be able to match current and future plant capabilities with new and existing customers.
• Build and maintain new sales channels and business opportunities to develop a pipeline of potential clients.
• Define target markets, generate leads, conduct outreach to leads and maintain consistent follow up and communication with leads to convert leads into sales.
• Ensure the development of new products for Material Return clients by coordinating with the production team to schedule trials in an efficient manner.
• Coordinate communication between clients and MR's R&D team to discuss and facilitate product improvement during the R&D / trail phase.
• Lead all marketing and promotion efforts of Material Return's capabilities to brands including partnering with TIC's communications team on marketing collateral, social media, website, etc.
• Develop and maintain the business plan for MR, defining appropriate segments of business, revenue streams, sales channels and target clients.
• Manage the client acquisition process from lead generation to contract procurement.
• Assist in the development of financial forecasts, projections and the annual budget.
• Research customer segments and understand market demand for circular solutions and products.
• Develop pricing structures for new products including allocating costs to products.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients.

Internal and External Operations :

Required Experience :

Preferred Experience :

Physical Demands and Work Environment :

Material Return provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Location : This position is based in Morganton, NC.

Salary : The salary range for this position is $68,000-$80,000, plus benefits.