Business Development Specialist

Business Development Specialist 

Are you passionate about bringing solutions to manufacturers in a unique and impactful fashion? Does working with a team, committed to getting the job done, with a fundamental dedication to innovation and creativity fit your desires? We approach our work with enthusiasm and take pride in how our efforts enhance our industry and community. 

CIFT is awaiting the opportunity to welcome a dedicated, energetic, and creative individual to our team. In this role, you will have a direct impact on our company’s growth and countless others by promoting enhancements, profitability, and longevity. Working closely with other members of our team, you will be poised with messaging ways in which innovation, technical assistance, and business acceleration tools can positively impact companies and partners. Identifying new clients to engage with, maintaining relationships with a vast assortment of businesses, and collaborating with entities focused on elevating Northwest Ohio’s economic impact are key. 

Demonstrating exemplary listening skills, you will be in a position to identify challenges the industry faces and collaborate with the team to uncover meaningful solutions. The ideal candidate is willing to conduct outreach activities, highlight the positive nature of the manufacturing industry, and have an inquisitive mind. This is achieved by excelling at managing multiple tasks simultaneously, the ability to work independently but with the support of a team, and demonstrating impeccable written and verbal communication skills. Being capable of networking with a broad audience and feeling energized by those you encounter while searching for ways in which to present meaningful improvements to their needs. CIFT encourages professional development and provides flexibility to elevate unique skill sets for the benefit of the company. Being able to expand networks, experience an assortment of business operations firsthand, and conduct follow-up to measure impacts resulting is uniquely gratifying. If being afforded the flexibility to evaluate trends, review reports, build rapport with others, and work within a compassionate company culture with an open-door approach to management and an accountability standard applied to optimize success, consider this a fit for your professional advancement. With an average of 9.5 years of employment by staff, you can find a place to make an impact. 

A Bachelor’s in communication is preferred or more than five years of experience in business development practices. Have the ability and knowledge to use Salesforce to capture data and Microsoft Office.  Time management and organizational skills along with a professional demeanor driven by integrity, and the ability to manage virtual and in-person meetings, all equate to a passion for results. 

For over 25 years, CIFT has focused on our mission of driving competitiveness for food processors and agribusinesses through a unique blend of business solutions, innovation, and technical expertise. As a private, non-profit organization, CIFT engages with industry, academia, policymakers, innovators, and more. The position is based in Toledo, Ohio, and a hybrid work schedule is in place. This is a full-time salary position with competitive pay and benefits based on education and experience. Each day is different, the engagements are unique, and all impacts are incredibly rewarding. For more information on CIFT visit www.ciftinnovation.org.  Please submit your resume along with a cover letter to hr@ciftinnovation.org.