Aftermarket Business Development Manager

Employment Type: Direct Hire
Position Type: Full-Time
Work Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Salary Range: $150,000–$170,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience
Bonus: 17.5% bonus opportunity
Schedule: 1st Shift
Experience Required: Typically 10+ years of progressively responsible experience, including 5+ years of high-level program management with significant revenue or scope responsibility
Industry Experience Required: Aerospace business development experience involving companies with approximately $800 million–$900 million in annual revenue
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Paid Time Off: 25 days
Relocation Assistance: Available

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Aftermarket Business Development Manager to develop and execute product line strategies that generate profitable aftermarket growth for commercial flight control and hydraulic systems portfolios.

This position is accountable for revenue performance across multiple programs involving complex products and subsystems used on commercial and military aircraft. The selected candidate will identify business opportunities, develop customer relationships, support contract negotiations, and launch strategies for aftermarket products, repairs, spares, and services.

The role works closely with operating divisions, service centers, regional sales teams, customer service, engineering, and operations to align growth strategies with technical capabilities, operating capacity, and customer requirements.

The ideal candidate will bring substantial aerospace business development experience, established customer relationships, and a demonstrated ability to manage significant revenue responsibilities. This position also contributes to monthly sales outlooks, annual plans, portfolio optimization, and business cases for new retrofit opportunities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Aftermarket Strategy and Revenue Growth

• Develop and execute product line strategies that generate aftermarket business opportunities.
• Achieve aftermarket service center financial goals in coordination with assigned operating divisions and sites.
• Serve as the primary strategic product line contact for assigned aftermarket products, services, and customers.
• Collaborate with division, site, and regional teams to maximize long-term aftermarket revenue.
• Develop short- and long-term sales forecasts.
• Support monthly sales outlooks and annual business planning.
• Align growth opportunities with technical capabilities, operational capacity, and customer needs.

Customer Relationships and Commercial Negotiations

• Serve as a primary strategic customer contact for aftermarket products and services.
• Support negotiations involving product repairs, spares, logistics, contracts, and pricing.
• Develop and maintain customer relationships to understand future requirements and identify business opportunities.
• Use established professional relationships and regional sales resources to expand customer engagement.
• Address critical long-term customer issues and coordinate teams to improve results.
• Work with technical teams to address field performance concerns and support resolution.
• Coordinate customer concerns involving cost, product quality, delivery, and performance.

Proposals, Contracts, and Program Coordination

• Work with regional teams to develop proposals and contracts that meet customer needs and financial return objectives.
• Research customer requirements and translate them into business development opportunities.
• Develop strategies for contracts eligible for renegotiation during the contract period.
• Coordinate with aftermarket service management on strategy and execution requirements.
• Provide backup support to the Aftermarket Services Manager when required.
• Facilitate communication across divisions, business units, technology teams, and operations.
• Support existing and new programs by coordinating timely responses and practical solutions.

Market Analysis and Portfolio Optimization

• Conduct competitive research and evaluate sales performance.
• Identify market trends, customer challenges, and opportunities involving competitors’ products.
• Establish goals and milestones for assigned products and systems.
• Analyze business data and perform comparative analyses to recommend actions.
• Lead portfolio optimization exercises to balance products and sales channels for revenue and earnings growth.
• Apply market knowledge and an understanding of technical capabilities to inform future strategies.
• Develop business cases for retrofit opportunities and secure internal support for resources needed to launch new products and services.

Cross-Functional Leadership and Professional Development

• Establish program goals and coordinate execution across divisions and aftermarket service teams.
• Lead project teams addressing customer concerns and business process improvements.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through training, technical publications, professional networks, associations, and industry trade shows.
• Collaborate across business development, sales, customer service, engineering, and operations to support profitable growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience providing relevant theoretical and practical knowledge.
• Typically 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of high-level program management experience with significant revenue or scope responsibility.
• Aerospace business development experience involving companies with approximately $800 million–$900 million in annual revenue.
• Established customer contacts and demonstrated ability to develop and maintain professional relationships.
• Ability to develop product line strategies and identify profitable aftermarket opportunities.
• Understanding of aerospace aftermarket products and services, including repairs, spares, logistics, and customer support.
• Ability to support commercial proposals, contract negotiations, and pricing discussions.
• Ability to develop sales forecasts, contribute to annual plans, and analyze business performance.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate customer, market, and financial data into business decisions.
• Ability to coordinate complex programs and initiatives across multiple functions and sites.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to work onsite in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Work Environment

• Onsite aerospace business development and aftermarket program environment in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• Responsibility for multiple programs involving commercial and military aircraft products and subsystems.
• Regular collaboration with operating divisions, service centers, regional sales teams, customer service, engineering, and operations.
• Direct customer interaction involving commercial strategy, contracts, pricing, and service performance.
• Work involves revenue planning, forecasting, competitive research, portfolio analysis, and business case development.
• Participation in professional networking and industry events as needed.

Key Competencies

• Aerospace aftermarket business development
• Product line strategy
• Revenue growth and financial accountability
• Strategic customer relationship management
• Contract and pricing negotiations
• Proposal development
• Program management
• Sales forecasting and annual planning
• Market intelligence and competitive analysis
• Portfolio and channel optimization
• Retrofit business case development
• Customer issue resolution
• Cross-functional leadership
• Analytical thinking and commercial judgment
• Communication and negotiation

Benefits

• 17.5% bonus opportunity.
• 25 days of paid time off.
• Relocation assistance available.