Business Development Specialist

Summary

Northwest Playground Equipment, Inc. is a family-owned company that delivers turn-key outdoor play and recreation projects for public spaces. The Business Development Specialist will build relationships with design professionals, agencies, and owners, promote product specifications, identify early-stage projects, and develop qualified opportunities. The role also includes leading education programs, creating marketing content, attending industry events, and partnering with Park Consultants and Sales.

Responsibilities

• Map the market: Research and categorize design firms, civil engineers, general contractors, public agencies, school districts, and parks departments across Seattle and Tacoma by size, project focus, and markets served
• Build designer relationships: Create and carry out an engagement plan for landscape architects and other design professionals: set meetings, revive inactive accounts, and become their go-to resource for play and recreation
• Get our products specified: Promote our priority manufacturer lines and give designers and owners early budget guidance, basis-of-design language, and design detail support
• Find projects early: Gather project and bid intelligence before the quote stage, create qualified opportunities in Salesforce, and hand them off smoothly to territory Park Consultants
• Partner with Sales: Plan outreach timing and approach with Park Consultants, and support them with presentations and resources for their existing design accounts
• Open new markets: Identify and develop outreach to segments outside our usual channels, such as port authorities and higher education
• Lead education programs: Deliver continuing education (CEU) courses and Lunch & Learns. Earn CEU accreditation for manufacturer coursework, develop NPEI’s own courses with Marketing, and support sample libraries
• Create content: Work with Marketing on regular blog posts, white papers, and LinkedIn content, plus state-by-state grant and fundraising guides that help Sales and customers fund projects
• Show up in the community: Attend regional ASLA chapter events, industry events, and trade shows
• Report results: Share monthly reporting on activity and results with the Chief Revenue Officer
• Time split: About 60% outreach and meetings, 25% education programs, and 15% content and research

Skills

• 1–4 years in sales, business development, or account-based outreach, ideally in B2B, design, or public-sector settings
• Credible, outgoing, organized, and curious. Comfortable picking up the phone and starting conversations with designers, owners, and agencies
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, and comfortable leading CEU and Lunch & Learn sessions
• Strong emotional intelligence. Able to work independently while partnering closely with the sales team
• A strategic thinker who proposes and follows through on new ways to engage design professionals, and who enjoys building something new
• Proficient with Microsoft Office
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Regular local travel across the Seattle–Tacoma area, with occasional overnight trips for manufacturer visits, trade shows, and new markets
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and a reliable vehicle
• Specification of sales experience with a manufacturer or manufacturer's rep firm is a strong plus
• Familiarity with parks, playgrounds, landscape architecture, or public-sector procurement is preferred but not required
• Salesforce or similar CRM experience strongly preferred

Qualifications

Must Haves

• 1–4 years in sales, business development, or account-based outreach, ideally in B2B, design, or public-sector settings
• Credible, outgoing, organized, and curious. Comfortable picking up the phone and starting conversations with designers, owners, and agencies
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, and comfortable leading CEU and Lunch & Learn sessions
• Strong emotional intelligence. Able to work independently while partnering closely with the sales team
• A strategic thinker who proposes and follows through on new ways to engage design professionals, and who enjoys building something new
• Proficient with Microsoft Office
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Regular local travel across the Seattle–Tacoma area, with occasional overnight trips for manufacturer visits, trade shows, and new markets
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and a reliable vehicle

Nice to Haves

• Specification of sales experience with a manufacturer or manufacturer's rep firm is a strong plus
• Familiarity with parks, playgrounds, landscape architecture, or public-sector procurement is preferred but not required
• Salesforce or similar CRM experience strongly preferred

Benefits

• Commission
• Bonus incentive TBD on activity
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• 401k with 4% employer matching
• Car allowance
• Company phone and laptop
• Reimbursed travel expenses