Director of Business Development

At UMC, we don’t just make products - we innovate, solve problems, and build a better future. As a proud, privately owned second-generation manufacturer, we’ve earned our reputation as leaders in our industry by producing highly complex parts with precision and ingenuity. What sets us apart? Our people. We’re a passionate team that values collaboration, continuous learning, and going above and beyond. If this sounds like your kind of workplace, keep reading!

Why UMC?

• Generous PTO: Start with 4 weeks of paid time off per year, with accrual starting on day one.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and paid holidays.
• 401k Match: Dollar-for-dollar matching up to 5%.
• Professional Growth: Tuition reimbursement for professional development.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm, onsite in Monticello, MN.

About the Role

The Director of Business Development owns UMC’s sales function and its growth. This role develops incoming prospect activity into qualified, profitable programs, leads contract review and negotiation, and manages the risk and margin position UMC carries in its customer agreements. The Director builds and leads the sales team, sets the standards that govern quoting and pricing, and owns the sales forecast along with the systems and data discipline behind it.

What You'll Do

The primary duties and responsibilities of the Director of Business Development consist of, but are not limited to:

Lead, Manage, and Hold Accountable

• Working "on" the business by providing clear direction, creating an opening for employees, and taking time to think.
• Working "in" the business by creating clear expectations, communicating well, and ensuring things get done.
• Create a work environment where people are fully engaged and highly accountable.

Business Development and Customer Relationships

• Own incoming prospect activity from first contact through award and handoff to the account team.
• Manage the balance of UMC’s customer portfolio across aerospace, defense, medical, and space, monitoring concentration risk and directing growth toward the industries where UMC needs it.
• Gather market and customer intelligence on industry trends, competitor positioning, program changes, and emerging risks to inform where UMC pursues growth.
• Represent UMC at industry events, trade shows, and customer meetings to develop referral, customer advocacy, and industry relationships that generate new prospect activity for UMC.
• Hold senior level relationships across the customer base, serving as a trusted partner on commercial and strategic matters including formal customer business reviews.
• Own UMC’s standing on customer supplier scorecards, monitoring performance on delivery, quality, and responsiveness and driving corrective action where UMC falls short.
• Ensure depth and coverage across the customer base so that relationships and account knowledge do not rest with any single individual.

Contract Negotiation and Risk Management

• Lead the review and negotiation of customer contracts, supply agreements, terms and conditions, and long-term pricing agreements.
• Identify, quantify, and negotiate language to mitigate contract risks, including commercial and operational exposure.
• Confirm that customer quality, regulatory, and delivery requirements carried in contracts are understood and accepted internally before UMC commits.

Pricing and Margin Management

• Own margin performance across the customer base, establishing margin targets and maintaining quoting standards.
• Review programs on a defined cycle where cost has drifted from price and lead a cross-functional action plan to recover margin.
• Build pricing and margin capability across the sales team so that commercial judgment is held at the seat level.

Sales Strategy, Forecasting, and Reporting

• Own the sales forecast for monthly, quarterly, and annual periods, identifying gaps and putting action plans in place to close them.
• Build UMC’s customer relationship management (CRM) practice within Epicor and drive its adoption across the sales team, so that prospect, quote, and pipeline data is current, complete, and usable for decisions.
• Establish, track, and analyze sales performance measures including quote turnaround, win rate, quote accuracy, and forecast accuracy, reporting progress against established targets.

General

• Exhibit working knowledge of health and safety; responsible for safety awareness while upholding and improving the culture of safety within the organization.
• Identify opportunities for improvement and take action if appropriate before a problem occurs.
• Report potential hazards, unsafe working conditions, unsafe equipment, unsafe acts, and injuries immediately.
• Other duties as assigned.