Business Development Specialist I - Chesapeake, VA

Primary Function
The Business Development Specialist I supports revenue growth by identifying, developing, and advancing sales opportunities through proactive prospecting, lead management, customer engagement, and market intelligence activities. This role serves as a key link between prospective customers and the sales team, ensuring accurate information, timely follow-up, and effective territory development to support business objectives. 

Essential Duties

Lead Generation & Prospecting 

• Contact customers and prospects seeking material handling products and services 
• Qualify leads and identify viable sales opportunities 
• Research new and expanding facilities to identify potential business opportunities 
• Obtain key customer contacts and secure appointments on behalf of sales representatives 
• Generate sales leads for relationship accounts and target accounts as requested 

Customer Engagement & Sales Support 

• Conduct telephone sales calls to promote marketing campaigns, company programs, and events 
• Follow up with customers and prospects through phone, email, and direct mail communications 
• Document customer and prospect information and communicate opportunities to the appropriate sales manager or sales representative in a timely manner 
• Represent the company professionally in all customer interactions 

CRM & Market Intelligence 

• Gather customer and prospect information to maintain CRM records and market intelligence 
• Maintain accurate account and opportunity data within the CRM system 
• Collect and update customer, contact, and market information to support sales activities 

Reporting & Business Analysis 

• Evaluate lead sources to assess effectiveness and return on investment 
• Prepare win/loss reporting and sales performance analyses 
• Analyze sales and market data to support business development strategies and decision-making 

Minimum Requirements

Education

Associate degree or equivalent experience. 

Work Experience

• 0-2+ year’s general customer service experience, inside sales or business development.  

Physical

• Must be able to sit for long periods of time. 

Other

• Excellent professional and energetic customer service skills. 
• Outreach background preferred. 
• Strong telephone skills. 
• General knowledge of our product line and market environment.  
• Experience with CRM and mapping customer journey a plus. 
• General computer knowledge with intermediate word processing skills