COMPANY OVERVIEW

NextFlex, America’s Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute, is a public-private partnership and non-profit with the mission of advancing the capabilities of U.S. manufacturing in the field of Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE). NextFlex was designed to facilitate the development of enabling manufacturing technologies and knowledge sharing with institute members and the U.S. Government. Our work enables the next generation electronics and packaging for government and commercial applications for medical, wearable, asset monitoring, structural health monitoring, soft robotics, integrated array antennas, automotive, agricultural technology applications, among other applications.

Complementing NextFlex’s focus on developing and commercializing emerging technologies, NextFlex’s Education and Workforce Development department is creating the next-generation STEM workforce for the electronics industry. In support of our education and workforce development goals, NextFlex develops and operates a portfolio of learning programs designed to be adopted by various stakeholders (employers, higher education, non-profit, and K-12 entities) across the country with the goal of attracting and training the future advanced manufacturing workforce and upskilling and retraining the existing workforce. 

NextFlex offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a collaborative work environment. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Business Development is responsible for providing leadership and driving business growth of the NextFlex Manufacturing Innovation Institute, including the in-house engineering, design, and manufacturing service offerings and programs the institute executes to further its mission to create U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. This includes active leadership in deploying technical solutions to address customers’ most pressing issues as well as establishing, developing, maintaining, and expanding direct customer relationships. The role will largely focus on Department of Defense (DoD) customers from Research & Engineering as well as Acquisition and Sustainment organizations, and will also include commercial customers from U.S. industry.

The role will be responsible for attracting new clients to both the NextFlex Manufacturing Institute and NextFlex Development & Manufacturing Services, Inc. (C Corp) and for selling additional support services (e.g. low volume manufacturing services) to industry, including NextFlex Institute members. The majority of this individual’s time will be spent in a customer-facing environment, stewarding the development of capabilities to grow existing and new manufacturers. The role includes the personal reward of playing a leadership role in a business aiming to “change the world” and American manufacturing. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Sales

• Develop a solutions-based sales program capable of delivering quantifiable financial benefits to prospects.
• Develop, prioritize, and maintain an on-going list of 100 high-value prospects with needs that can be satisfied with NextFlex fabrication services, products, and partnership capabilities.
• Prioritization of a list of high-value prospects based on revenue potential and probability of providing new and repeat business, including both DoD and commercial clients.
• Develop a series of industry specific use cases to attract new commercial clients to NextFlex.
• Closing sales in prioritized areas / with priority clients. 

Account Management

• Ensure customer satisfaction and maximum return on investment for accounts.
• Build relationships with key stakeholders, influencers, and decision-makers to ensure that margins and sales goals are exceeded through a solid understanding of customer need and continuous improvement of NextFlex’s value-add proposition.
• Assess customer, partner, and competitor capabilities alongside NextFlex’s capabilities to identify gaps and to develop service offerings that will position NextFlex for long-term viability.
• Coordinate a cross-functional team of engineering, contract, and finance personnel as needed to ensure adherence to business processes including quote preparation, Statement of Work development, and other key processes.

General

• Contribute to the strategic business development strategy to grow the Manufacturing Innovation Institute.
• Refine the project acceptance and prioritization process to improve project profitability and project delivery timeframes.
• Partner with NextFlex’s network of members and business/functional stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop new concepts and service programs to advance and grow the FHE community.
• Assist where applicable, to resolve issues and clarify misunderstandings with customers, members, teammates, or leadership to enhance individual account performance.
• Responsible for business development and cross functional input providing strategic and tactical direction over policy formation, execution, and planning. 
• Serve on the Executive Director’s senior leadership team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES) 

• 10+ years’ combined experience in electronics or related technical field or relevant government or military service.
• At least 5 years’ experience of management in multi-functional areas.
• Has hands-on business development leadership experience, accustomed to operating without supervision, with an in-depth understanding of expense-based and market-based project pricing.
• Possess a technical, financial, or similarly related bachelor’s degree.
• A pro-active, hands-on individual able to quickly command the respect of the organization at all levels through leadership, intelligence, creativity, communications, hard work and personal presence.
• Comfortable at taking reasonable risks.
• Able to be effective in a dynamic, fast paced environment with limited resources and significant ambiguity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large, complex proposals and contracts and the ability to interact with all levels of management in a professional manner, both internally and externally.
• Build and maintain strong positive member and customer relationships at all levels.
• Continuous and thoughtful listener and able communicator, with a proven ability to gather and use member, prospect, customer, and market data to create new, or improve existing programs, and lead new initiatives.
• Unquestionable integrity, credibility, and character with demonstrated high moral and ethical standards and behavior.
• Possess a high impact personality, be highly energetic and enthusiastic.
• Have an unquenchable intellectual curiosity, love the challenge of a new market, new products, and new approaches to close new business.
• Experience with printed/additive electronics, preferably with flexible systems such as sensors, wearables, smart packaging, or related field.
• Design, manufacturing, and engineering savvy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES) 

• MS or MBA preferred.
• A proven track record of successfully closing new business in the high tech/manufacturing sector (e.g. has always exceeded sales targets).
• Established network of contacts or customers in DoD R&D, acquisition, and sustainment communities relevant to electronics.
• Experience in business development with DoD customers in Research & Engineering, Operations & Sustainment, and/or Acquisitions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

Working Conditions: 

• Standard office environment 
• Standing: 10% *percentage is approximate and may vary depending on work task 
• Sitting: 90% *percentage is approximate and may vary depending on work task 
• Lifting (in pounds): up to 10 pounds 
• Pushing (in pounds): up to 10 pounds 
• Mental/Visual: use of computer, calculator, filing cabinets 
• Workspace (line, cube, etc.): office desk 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Up to 30% domestic travel may be required, participating in trade shows, customer/agency presentations and events. 

WORK AUTHORIZATION / REQUIREMENTS

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be one of the following: a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here. 

Note: This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER / VETERANS / DISABLED

NextFlex is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.