Business Development Manager - Seaward Services

Salary: $180,000 base plus commissions

Hornblower is seeking a Business Development Manager for our Seaward Services operation.

About You:

This person will be adaptable, dynamic, and embody Hornblower's RESPECT Service System.

About the Opportunity:

Seaward seeks a motivated and results-driven Business Development Manager to join our team. The ideal candidate will play a crucial role in identifying new business opportunities, building strong relationships with clients, and driving growth within the organization.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Market Research: Conduct in-depth analysis of market trends, competitor strategies, and industry advancements. This includes regularly assessing potential areas for expansion or diversification within the commercial maritime sector. Generate insights on customer needs, industry regulations, and economic factors that could impact business strategies. Present findings to relevant departments, contributing data-driven insights for strategic decision-making.
• Lead Generation: Proactively seek and identify new business opportunities within the commercial maritime industry through various channels, such as professional networking, industry events, trade shows, and cold outreach. Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified leads and potential clients. Utilize CRM software to track and manage lead progress, ensuring timely follow-ups and engagement to maximize conversion rates.
• Client Relationship Management: Establish, nurture, and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with both existing and prospective clients. Conduct regular check-ins, meetings, and presentations to understand each client's unique needs and provide tailored solutions that meet or exceed expectations. Act as the primary point of contact, ensuring prompt response to client inquiries, resolving any issues, and fostering long-term partnerships. Develop a reputation for Seaward as a reliable, knowledgeable partner within the industry.
• Proposal Development: Collaborate with internal teams, including product, finance, and operations, to develop comprehensive, competitive proposals and presentations that clearly communicate Seaward's value proposition. Tailor each proposal to the specific requirements and expectations of individual clients, showcasing our ability to meet their needs effectively. Ensure proposals are well-organized, persuasive, and aligned with the company's brand and messaging standards. Coordinate proposal review and approval processes to meet deadlines and client expectations.
• Strategic Planning: Work closely with senior management to contribute to the formulation of the company's business development strategy, ensuring alignment with long-term corporate goals. Assist in identifying growth targets and KPIs, and design initiatives to meet or exceed these objectives. Participate in quarterly and annual strategy sessions to adjust and refine the company's direction based on market shifts and emerging opportunities.
• Collaboration: Act as a liaison between business development and other internal teams, including marketing, operations, and finance, to promote cohesive cross-departmental support for business initiatives. Share market intelligence, client feedback, and performance metrics to help shape marketing campaigns, operational planning, and budgeting. Engage with product development teams to relay client preferences and feedback, assisting in the development of offerings that meet market demands.
• Performance Tracking: Establish performance metrics to track sales activities, client acquisition, and retention rates. Regularly monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and gather client feedback to understand the effectiveness of business development strategies. Use data and feedback to identify areas of improvement, refine sales approaches, and enhance customer engagement. Prepare detailed monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to present to senior management, ensuring transparency and data-driven adjustments to the business strategy.
• Additional job duties as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, Maritime Studies, or a related field; an MBA is a plus and preferred.
• Demonstrated success in business development, sales, or a related role within the maritime industry, with a solid understanding of industry practices and customer needs.
• Strong understanding of commercial maritime operations, market dynamics, and emerging industry trends.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities, with strong negotiation and interpersonal skills to build and maintain client relationships effectively.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a team environment, managing responsibilities autonomously in a fast-paced setting.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other tools relevant to CRM and data tracking.
• Highly detail-oriented and organized, with the capability to manage multiple priorities with similar deadlines efficiently.
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating a flexible attitude and positive response to shifts in work direction and priorities.
• A forward-thinking, proactive problem-solver who consistently anticipates and addresses internal and external customer needs.
• Ability to work with a strong sense of urgency and efficiency, ensuring tasks are completed on time and to a high standard.

About Us:

Hornblower's passion is to provide amazing experiences on land and water. Our 40-year success through organic growth and acquisitions has resulted in a portfolio of over 25+ brands that welcome upwards of 30 million guests/riders annually. If you're an enthusiastic team player who thrives in an environment where communication, creativity, and cooperation are encouraged, this may just be the opportunity for you.

The RESPECT Service System embodies Hornblower's mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and or harassment based upon race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy or relation medical conditions, childbirth, breastfeeding, parental status, veteran and/or military status, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, political affiliation, domestic violence survivor status, marital status, or other characteristics prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, as a federal, state, and local contractor, Hornblower complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals, where and as they apply. The company also participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.

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