Business Development Specialist

Description

Join Our Movement!

We’re a growing company that designs and manufactures playground equipment for communities all around the world! Be part of something bigger with Burke by Joining Our Movement! We’re looking for a Business Development Specialist to work at Burke Headquarters and be part of our great team! This is an on-site role in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. 

What Moves You?

We’re not going to lie; this is an amazing opportunity. It requires hard work, a lot of innovation and enthusiasm and, of course, an abundance of Purple Passion (def. a love of play, bringing play to communities and specific love of Burke and those you work with)! 

The Role

The Business Development Specialist supports profitable sales growth and market expansion by leveraging data, tools, and research to identify new opportunities, generate qualified leads, and support external sales teams. This role is critical in funneling actionable insights to rep firms, tracking progress, and helping increase overall market share through strategic development and analysis. This role reports to the Regional Sales Manager.

Lead Generation & Opportunity Development

• Identify and generate new business opportunities through platforms, market tools, and data analysis. Utilize market data and CRM tools to identify specific targets for outreach, ensuring alignment with overall sales strategy and business goals.
• Funnel qualified leads directly to appropriate rep firms, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Maintain a database of opportunities and follow through persistently to support reps in advancing leads to closed projects.
• Manage and execute direct mail campaigns to end users, targeting specific verticals and market segments.

Market Intelligence & Research

• Utilize internal tools, CRM, and third-party platforms to create market share and performance reports for designated territories.
• Research and recommend new tools and technologies that can improve lead generation, market analysis, and reporting efficiency.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer needs to inform strategy.
• Collaborate with Marketing to create compelling promotional materials that align with the company’s messaging and target audience.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

• Track rep firm performance against key performance indicators (KPIs), including individual leads, projects quoted, projects won, and market share growth.
• Deliver regular reports to the Director of Sales and rep firms with clear insights and recommendations for improvement.
• Track the effectiveness of direct mail campaigns by monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), including response rates and conversion rates, adjusting strategy as needed
• Maintain accurate records of all outreach activities, ensuring that outreach efforts are properly tracked and documented for future analysis and reporting.
• Ensure data integrity and consistency in all reporting systems.

Relationship Development

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with manufacturer’s reps, providing them with tools, data, and support to succeed.
• Collaborate with rep firms to identify challenges, share best practices, and support business planning.
• Serve as a point of contact and resource for reps to enhance engagement and performance.

Organizational Collaboration

• Work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to ensure alignment in customer development and sales support strategies.
• Support trade shows and virtual events with data insights and pre/post-show analysis.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability.

Teamwork

We have an awesome team at Burke and the right individual for this role will fit well within our culture of teamwork, straightforward and open communication. Oh, and you need to have a passion for play!

Qualifications That Move Us!

• Bachelor's Degree (B.A.) in a related field (Business, Marketing, Data Analytics, or similar).
• 3-5 years of experience in business development, sales support, or a similar role, preferably in a technical, data-driven environment.
• Strong data analysis and research skills – Proven ability to use data and analytics tools to drive decisions, identify opportunities, and create market reports.
• Proven experience using CRM platforms, sales tools, and data visualization software (Salesforce, HubSpot, Excel, Tableau, etc.).
• Ability to track and monitor KPIs (leads, projects quoted, market share) and report progress toward business goals.
• Solid understanding of market analysis – Skilled in creating detailed reports on market share, competitor analysis, and customer behavior.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills – Ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for strategic business decisions.
• Excellent communication skills:
  • Capable of conveying technical information in a clear and concise manner to both internal teams and external partners.
  • Ability to write comprehensive reports, business correspondence, and training materials.
  • Comfortable presenting to diverse audiences, including reps, management teams, and executives.
• Relationship building expertise – Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners (i.e., rep firms, clients).
• Persistent follow-up skills – Ability to keep track of multiple opportunities and leads, ensuring timely follow-ups and maintaining engagement with reps.
• Experience working with RFP/RFQ processes – Familiar with handling requests for proposals, timelines, and project management communication steps.
• Project management acumen – Ability to manage multiple projects, ensuring they stay on track and within scope.
• High attention to detail and accuracy – Ensuring all data and reporting is accurate and consistent across platforms.
• Technical aptitude – Comfortable with learning and applying new tools and platforms to optimize business development efforts and support reps.
• Self-motivated with strong organizational skills – Able to prioritize tasks effectively and manage time to achieve business objectives.

Value Added Skills:

• Parks & Recreation experience

Burke is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Military veterans are encouraged to apply.