Business Development Manager

About Us

Vatn Systems is an autonomous underwater vehicle startup focused on developing cutting-edge technology to support underwater exploration, research, and defense applications. Our team is passionate about creating innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible underwater. We are based in Bristol, Rhode Island with a waterfront workshop and office. This is a work-from-home position, but the candidate must live in or be willing to relocate to the Washington D.C. area.

Job Overview

The Business Development Manager (BDM) is responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building, and maintaining relationships with potential and existing clients, and driving revenue growth. The BDM will develop strategies to expand market presence, generate new sales leads, negotiate contracts, and manage partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Client Acquisition & Relationship Management

• Organize and conduct a deliberate prospecting effort to identify potential clients and business partners and expand the company’s market reach.

• Generate, assess, and convert new leads.

• Qualify leads and convert them into long-term clients or partnerships.

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with key clients, prospects, and stakeholders.

• Prepare proposals, quotes, and rough orders of magnitude (ROM).

Sales & Revenue Generation

• Coordinate demonstrations and experiments to support client understanding and requirements development.

• Support contract negotiation and closing.

• Maintain customer engagement to support repeat and follow-on sales.

• Meet or exceed individual and team sales and performance targets.

Market Expansion & Product/Service Promotion

• Develop and execute marketing plans to promote new products or services to existing and new customers.

• Identify potential new markets and contribute to market expansion plans.

• Support solution development alongside engineers and technical teammates.

• Attend industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to stay current with market trends.

• Attend experiments, demonstrations, and industry expositions.

• Conduct social media engagement on behalf of the company, pending CRO approval of messaging.

Strategic Planning

• Develop and implement business development strategies to achieve company goals.

• Conduct market research to identify new business opportunities and trends.

• Analyze competitors, customer needs, and market conditions to guide business growth.

• Prepare and deliver presentations to clients, stakeholders, and leadership teams.

Collaboration & Teamwork

• Work closely with internal teams (Project Management Engineering and Operations) to ensure that client needs are met.

• Provide feedback on product or service offerings based on client interactions and market demand.

• Ensure smooth handover of clients to account management or project management after deals are closed.

Reporting & Analysis

• Maintain accurate records of business development activities, including prospecting, meetings, and deal progress.

• Track sales metrics, report on progress to senior leadership, and adjust strategies, as necessary.

• Prepare regular reports on business development activities, including leads, conversions, and revenue growth.

Continuous Improvement

• Stay updated on geopolitical trends, technology shifts, and competitor activity.

• Proactively identify areas for process improvement in business development strategies.

• Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or equivalent experience.

• Experience: 1-2 years of experience in business development, sales, or a related field or equivalent coursework at the undergraduate level. Experience in government acquisitions is advantageous.

• Experience with Government Acquisitions is a plus

• Military experience a plus

• Language skills a plus, particularly: Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean

• Security Clearance a plus, must be eligible for a SECRET clearance or above

• Sales experience a plus

Working Conditions

• Willing to travel extensively; both domestic and international

Vatn Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds.