What are the responsibilities and job description for the Business Development Manager position at Opportunities with The Dixon Group?
Business Development Manager
Make the Right Connection—Build Your Career with Dixon!
Are you a technical sales leader with a hunter's mindset who thrives on complexity and closing critical deals? This is your opportunity to step into a high-impact role where you directly support national and allied security interests. Hydrasearch, an affiliate of The Dixon Group is looking for a results-driven Business Development Manager to join our team in Stevensville, MD! As our Business Development Manager, you will lead our global defense and aerospace market expansion. This isn't just selling; it's providing the engineered solutions—like specialized fluid transfer systems and custom MIL-SPEC hardware—that keep military and maritime operations moving forward. At Hydrasearch, we support the mission behind the mission, equipping our military and maritime partners with the engineered solutions that keep operations moving forward.
About Us: The Dixon Group is a global, family-owned manufacturing company with a history of over 100 years of operation in the U.S.A. Based in Chestertown, Maryland, with distribution centers located worldwide. The company has a diverse workforce and a strong values-based culture. As an innovator in the hose coupling industry, our mission is to provide real solutions for our customers while fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.
At The Dixon Group, we value the contributions of our Military Veterans and proudly employ our nation’s heroes. Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
⚙️ What You'll Do:
- Account Development & Capture Strategy: Identify, qualify, and close new business opportunities within DoD agencies, prime contractors, naval shipyards, system integrators, and aerospace OEMs. Lead preproposal engagement, capture planning, and application input for new programs.
- Technical Solution Selling: Translate customer mission requirements and technical documentation (MIL-DTLs, NAVSEA drawings, Technical Documents, and QPL specs) into Hydrasearch product offerings. Guide customers through design-in and application engineering phases.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Interface with end users, program managers, procurement officers, and technical authorities at military and commercial maritime facilities.
Cultivate relationships with key distributors and international partners. - Cross-Functional Coordination: Serve as the customer voice to internal product management, engineering, and manufacturing teams. Track opportunities through CRM (Salesforce preferred) and provide detailed customer and competitor intelligence.
- Field Representation: Attend technical conferences, defense trade shows (e.g., Sea-Air-Space, DSEI, LAAD), site surveys, and supplier reviews. Provide technical presentations and support product demos in field environments.
- This role requires approximately 25% domestic and international travel.
🎯 What We're Looking For:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field preferred; equivalent military or technical experience accepted.
- 5 years of technical sales, program management, or field support experience in the defense, aerospace, or shipbuilding industries.
- Proven ability to read and interpret MIL-SPECs, NAVSEA drawings, and federal procurement solicitations (FAR/DFARS familiarity required).
- Strong mechanical or systems aptitude, and able to interpret CAD drawings, interface requirements, and materials specs.
- Familiarity with export controls (ITAR/EAR), DFARS 252.204-7012/CMMC compliance, and U.S. defense contracting practices.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred).
- Familiarity with raw materials, including alloys, and the applicable specifications governing their use.
- General understanding of machining processes, with emphasis on turning and milling operations.
🌟 What We Offer:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
- Competitive salary
- Bonus programs
- 401K retirement plan
- Training opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid vacation, PTO, and holidays
- Gym reimbursements, and more!
Join us and be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your goals!
The Dixon Group is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices and laws. Accordingly, to the fullest extent required by applicable law, The Dixon Group strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons.
The Dixon Group is committed to protecting the privacy rights of its employees and job applicants to the fullest extent required by applicable law. To that end, personal information will be collected solely for those legitimate business purposes recognized by law, and then maintained in a manner consistent with all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to document retention requirements. The Dixon Group does not sell personal information to third parties, and does not share such personal information with third parties except when authorized by law to do so (e.g., in response to a lawful subpoena; mandatory tax reporting; etc.)
Please contact us at (410) 778-2000 or hr@dixonvalve.com if you need help to participate fully in the application process.