Project Manager - Business Development / Graduate and Early Career Starter (remote)

Summary

Franke Group is a global supplier serving domestic kitchens, professional foodservice, convenience store, and professional coffee sectors. The company is seeking an early-career Business Development Project Manager to support sales growth, market analysis, customer engagement, and strategic project execution for Home Solutions North America. The role involves cross-functional collaboration, performance reporting, customer training, and business development initiatives during an 18-month graduate and early career assignment.

Responsibilities

• Analyze sales data and market trends to identify growth opportunities and inform strategic decision-making for key accounts
• Develop and execute strategic business plans aligned with sales, product, and brand objectives
• Collaborate with Leadership and distributors to refine marketing strategies, including brand positioning, trade shows, and industry engagement
• Partner with Product Development and Marketing teams to support new product and service initiatives that respond to market needs
• Conduct trainings and presentations for customers and internal stakeholders based on business insights and project outcomes
• Monitor and report on sales performance, profitability, and growth metrics to track success and support decision-making
• Standardize measurement processes to evaluate impact on sales, profitability, and market share
• Support ad hoc projects and initiatives that drive business development and organizational objectives

Skills

• * Bachelor's degree required
• * Strong academic performance and demonstrated achievement through coursework, projects, internships, leadership activities, or extracurricular involvement
• * Interest in building a career in sales, business development, commercial strategy, or general business leadership
• * Ability and willingness to travel significantly within the United States
• * Designed for candidates with a maximum of 2 years of relevant professional experience
• * Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret information, identify trends, ask thoughtful questions, and translate data into practical recommendations
• * Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to share ideas clearly and engage professionally with internal teams, customers, and business partners
• * Commercial mindset, with an interest in customers, markets, products, sales growth, and overall business performance
• * Initiative, curiosity, and accountability, with a willingness to learn, take ownership, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing priorities
• Master's degree preferred
• * Degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or another related field preferred
• * Preferred location: Chicagoland area or East/Middle Tennessee region, or willingness to relocate to one of these areas

Qualifications

Must Haves

• * Bachelor's degree required
• * Strong academic performance and demonstrated achievement through coursework, projects, internships, leadership activities, or extracurricular involvement
• * Interest in building a career in sales, business development, commercial strategy, or general business leadership
• * Ability and willingness to travel significantly within the United States
• * Designed for candidates with a maximum of 2 years of relevant professional experience
• * Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret information, identify trends, ask thoughtful questions, and translate data into practical recommendations
• * Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to share ideas clearly and engage professionally with internal teams, customers, and business partners
• * Commercial mindset, with an interest in customers, markets, products, sales growth, and overall business performance
• * Initiative, curiosity, and accountability, with a willingness to learn, take ownership, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing priorities

Nice to Haves

• Master's degree preferred
• * Degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or another related field preferred
• * Preferred location: Chicagoland area or East/Middle Tennessee region, or willingness to relocate to one of these areas

Benefits

• A set of challenging projects to lead with continuous exposure to senior leaders
• Access to the FRANKE ACADEMY with a broad range of trainings to improve technical as well a soft skills and general knowledge of the company and products
• Individual coaching from our coaching partner
• Individual mentoring from a senior leader
• Shadowing a senior leader
• Support from a growing international GEC community