Business Development Executive

Location: Sparta, MI
Department: Sales
Reports To: Director of Sales
Schedule: Full-Time, Monday–Friday
Work Arrangement: Remote or onsite

Position Summary

Spartan Graphics is seeking a driven, results-oriented Business Development Executive with a true hunter mentality to identify, pursue, and win new business.

This role is responsible for developing new customer relationships and expanding Spartan Graphics' presence in new markets and accounts. The ideal candidate is energized by prospecting, comfortable creating opportunities from scratch, and persistent enough to turn a cold conversation into a long-term customer relationship.

We are looking for someone who doesn't wait for the phone to ring. You find the opportunity, open the door, build the relationship, and close the deal.

Key Responsibilities

• Prospect for and develop new customers through outbound calling, email, networking, referrals, LinkedIn, industry events, and other business development activities.

• Identify target markets, companies, and decision-makers that align with Spartan Graphics' capabilities.

• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of qualified new business opportunities.

• Research prospective customers to understand their business, challenges, purchasing needs, and potential opportunities.

• Initiate contact with key decision-makers and effectively communicate Spartan Graphics' value proposition.

• Conduct discovery conversations to uncover customer needs and identify opportunities where Spartan Graphics can provide solutions.

• Develop and deliver proposals, presentations, pricing, and sales strategies designed to win new business.

• Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting and qualification through negotiation, closing, and handoff to the appropriate account management team.

• Consistently meet or exceed new business development and revenue goals.

• Track prospecting activity, opportunities, pipeline, and sales results within the CRM.

• Develop strategic territory and account plans to maximize new business opportunities.

• Attend trade shows, conferences, networking events, customer visits, and other industry events to generate new leads and relationships.

• Collaborate with estimating, operations, production, and account management teams to develop solutions that meet customer requirements.

• Stay informed about industry trends, competitive activity, customer needs, and market opportunities.

• Build long-term relationships with newly acquired customers to support retention and future growth.

• Provide regular updates on pipeline activity, forecasts, wins, challenges, and market opportunities.

• Represent Spartan Graphics professionally and serve as an ambassador for the company's capabilities and reputation.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in business development, outside sales, B2B sales, account development, or a related field.

• Proven track record of winning new business and generating revenue through prospecting.

• Demonstrated success managing a sales pipeline and consistently achieving sales goals.

• Strong cold-calling, prospecting, networking, and relationship-building skills.

• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.

• Strong negotiation and closing abilities.

• Highly self-motivated and comfortable working independently.

• Persistent and resilient with the ability to handle rejection and keep moving forward.

• Strong business acumen and ability to understand customer needs and translate them into solutions.

• Proficiency with CRM systems, Microsoft Office, LinkedIn, and other sales tools.

• Experience in printing, graphics, packaging, manufacturing, or a related industry is strongly preferred.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a hunter.

The right person is someone who:

• Gets excited about finding and pursuing new opportunities.

• Isn't afraid to pick up the phone and make a cold call.

• Knows how to get past the gatekeeper and reach decision-makers.

• Creates their own opportunities rather than relying solely on inbound leads.

• Is competitive, persistent, and motivated by results.

• Can build relationships quickly and earn credibility with customers.

• Has a strong sense of urgency and follows through.

• Is comfortable hearing "no" and turning it into "not yet."

• Takes ownership of their pipeline, activity, and results.

• Can operate independently while collaborating effectively with internal teams.

• Wants to build something, not simply maintain an existing book of business.

Success in This Role

Success will be measured by the ability to consistently create new opportunities, build a qualified pipeline, acquire new customers, and generate profitable revenue for Spartan Graphics.

This is a new business development role, not a traditional account maintenance position. We want someone who enjoys the chase, thrives on opening new doors, and has the discipline to turn prospecting activity into measurable results.