Business Development Manager

THE COMPANY

Our client is a leading U.S.-based provider of recycling and scrap metal recovery solutions, dedicated to helping manufacturers (Maquiladoras) improve profitability through efficient, sustainable, and compliant recycling programs. With operations anchored in Southern California and a growing presence across Northern Mexico, the company partners with Maquiladoras to streamline the export of scrap materials directly to the U.S. Their powerful reputation is built on transparency, integrity, and a commitment to delivering consistent value.

THE POSITION

The Business Development Manager will spearhead the company’s commercial growth strategy across the Baja California region, with a primary focus on building deep, value-driven partnerships with Maquiladora operations in Tijuana, Mexicali, and Ensenada B.C. Mexico. This is a high impact, externally facing leadership role suited for a commercially driven professional with a strong network in the Maquiladora sector and a proven ability to build trust and convert relationships into recurring commercial agreements. Because this is a highly referral-driven business, the ability to cultivate professional relationships who proactively recommend our services to peers is essential. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Manager will serve as a trusted advisor to prospective clients, identifying tailored recycling solutions and managing the full commercial lifecycle—from lead generation through contract execution and post-sale relationship management. This position can be based either in Tijuana or Mexicali, Mexico.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Client Acquisition

• Leverage existing industry relationships to secure high-level introductions and weekly face-to-face meetings.
• Develop and execute a business development plan targeting key Maquiladora executives across Baja California.
• Actively network within the Maquiladora ecosystem—both formally and informally—to expand the company’s visibility and uncover new referral-driven opportunities.
• Represent the company as its primary commercial face within leading Maquiladora and industrial associations in Baja California (e.g., INDEX, DEITAC), building visibility and strengthening institutional relationships.
• Position the company’s recycling solutions as strategic drivers of operational and financial efficiency for Maquiladora clients.

Commercial Execution & Growth

• Conduct in-depth assessments of each prospect’s scrap generation and recycling practices to design value-added proposals.
• Deliver compelling pricing presentations, negotiate terms, and manage follow-up actions to drive contract closure.
• Ensure that each new account reaches a performance benchmark of one full-load shipment per month, with a goal of four new accounts annually.

Cross-Border Collaboration & Internal Coordination

• Collaborate closely with the CEO, Sales Manager, Yard Manager, and Dispatch team to ensure seamless onboarding and service execution.
• Maintain accurate reporting and sales pipeline updates, including weekly activity summaries and KPI tracking.

Territory Coverage & Travel

• Maintain an active presence in the field with a weekly rhythm of:

• 2 days in Tijuana visiting Maquiladoras and Networking
• 1 day in Mexicali or Ensenada visiting Maquiladoras and Networking
• 1 day in the local office (home office) to prepare pricing, proposals, and admin follow-ups.
• 1 day in Riverside for strategic alignment and training

THE CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for this role is a commercially driven leader with strong relationship-building skills and an existing footprint in the Maquiladora sector. This individual brings a strategic approach to business development, backed by deep local insights, cross-border business fluency, and a consistent track record of turning opportunities into long-term commercial partnerships. Success in this position requires strong networking skills, consultative sales expertise, and the ability to generate a strong referral pipeline.

Professional Background

• Deep-rooted network of professional relationships within the Maquiladora industry across Tijuana, Mexicali, and/or Ensenada.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in business development, commercial sales, or purchasing roles focused on Maquiladora clients or related manufacturing sectors.
• Demonstrated success in consultative sales and long-cycle business development.

Qualifications & Skills

• Hunter mentality: Proactive and tenacious in pursuing new business opportunities, with the drive to open doors, overcome objections, and close high-value accounts in competitive environments.
• Strategic mindset with strong interpersonal skills and executive-level communication.
• High level of self-discipline, initiative, and ability to thrive in a field-based role with extensive travel.
• Technologically competent, with strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools such as PowerPoint and Excel for preparing and presenting client proposals.

Highly Preferred Qualifications (but not required)

• Bilingual (Spanish English) with business fluency and cultural dexterity in both U.S. and Mexican work environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, International Trade, or a related field, earned in the U.S. or Mexico.
• Experience using sales CRM systems to track leads, manage client interactions, and support an organized, data-driven business development process

Other Requirements

• Valid passport and driver’s license.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to four days per week across Northern Baja and Southern California