Senior Business Development Manager
Location: Baltimore, MD
Department: Sales
Reports to: VP of Global Sales
Position Overview
LifeStraw is looking for an experienced Senior Business Development Manager with strong CPG and retail experience to drive new business across our key sales channels. This role is focused on identifying, engaging, and closing new retail and distribution partners across Mass, Outdoor, Club, and Specialty markets. The right candidate knows how to build a pipeline from scratch, navigate retail buyers, and convert opportunities into purchase orders that can scale.
This is a high-impact role that reports to the VP of Global Sales and offers executive visibility and room to grow.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify, prioritize, and actively pursue target accounts aligned to LifeStraw's channel and product strategy
- Generate and close new business across priority retail and distribution channels
- Build and maintain a consistent, high-quality pipeline across retailers and distributors
- Lead outbound prospecting efforts with discipline (target lists, outreach cadence, event follow-up)
- Own the full new business cycle: prospecting, buyer engagement, pitch, negotiation, initial sell-in
- Develop clear, retailer-ready sell-in pitches (assortment, pricing, margin, promo framework)
- Partner with channel leaders to ensure alignment on targets, assortment, and channel guardrails
- Drive initial purchase orders and ensure accounts are "handoff ready" (forecast, launch plan, expectations set)
- Maintain accurate pipeline tracking, activity reporting, and contribution to the forecast
- Represent LifeStraw in buyer meetings, trade shows, and industry events
- Provide structured market feedback (retailer needs, competitive landscape, channel opportunities)
What You Bring
- 7 - 12+ years of CPG sales or business development experience, with a focus on retail channels
- Proven track record of opening new retail or distribution accounts and driving initial sell-in via direct and or new partnerships
- Experience selling into Mass, Outdoor, Club, or Specialty retail channels
- Strong understanding of retail economics: pricing, margins, promotions, assortment, agreements, and buyer expectations
- Demonstrated ability to build a pipeline from scratch and consistently convert opportunities into revenue
- Confident, effective communicator with the ability to engage buyers and close business
- High ownership mindset - operates independently with clear accountability to results
- Strong organizational discipline across pipeline management, follow-up, and execution
- Ability to work cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and supply chain to support new account launches
- Ability to travel for buyer meetings, trade shows, and market development
