Business Development Representative

About the role

You drive new industrial construction revenue by owning the full cycle from first contact through account execution, while advancing the company's safety and innovation standards. You act as the strategic link between clients and internal teams, turning complex opportunities into structured pathways that support measurable growth. This role is for a technically fluent builder who operates across offices and sites, committed to structured collaboration and disciplined execution. You translate high level concepts into actionable plans that align stakeholder expectations with realistic outcomes. You own the narrative of each project from initial spark to signed agreement, ensuring every interaction reinforces the company's reputation for quality and reliability. You are expected to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, and uphold the standards that define the Kelso Industries approach to industrial construction.

Key facts

What you'll do

Generating qualified demand by researching sectors and mapping decision makers for priority industrial accounts.

Architecting tailored value propositions that align solutions with client needs, budget parameters, and operational constraints.

Conducting discovery sessions and facility assessments to translate technical observations into clear opportunity narratives.

Coordinating cross-functional responses, ensuring proposals, cost models, and timelines reflect input from operations and finance.

Guiding negotiations and supporting contract formation while maintaining alignment with risk policies and commercial targets.

Tracking every opportunity in the CRM, updating stages, forecasts, and outcomes to preserve data accuracy and pipeline visibility.

Hosting site tours and stakeholder briefings that clarify technical scope, expectations, and next steps for each engagement.

Representing the organization at trade gatherings and industry forums to strengthen market awareness and relationship depth.

Translating complex design and construction concepts into accessible language for clients with limited technical backgrounds.

Identifying expansion signals and championing internal referrals that keep the pipeline robust and predictable.

Partnering with the project execution team to ensure handoffs are smooth and commitments made during sales are honored on site.

Answering targeted questions from prospective clients about timelines, deliverables, and compliance requirements with precision.

Prioritizing activities based on potential impact, resource availability, and strategic fit with company objectives.

Collaborating with marketing to refine collateral, case studies, and data points that improve conversion rates over time.

Requirements

You bring a technical foundation in industrial systems, understanding major equipment types and layout considerations within facilities.

You know the industrial construction landscape well, including major owners, prime contractors, current trends, and competitive positioning.

You have a record of success in business development, sales, project management, or related fields where you managed complex projects from initial contact to close.

You are authorized to work in the United States and meet all employment eligibility requirements without sponsorship at this time.

You accept extensive travel across client sites, project locations, and industry events, maintaining readiness for regional assignments.

You can consistently operate in dynamic environments where priorities shift and details matter under tight timelines.

You communicate clearly in written and verbal form, ensuring messages are accurate, concise, and aligned with organizational standards.

You manage your schedule and territory with discipline, balancing proactive outreach and follow up on existing opportunities.

You commit to using the tools and systems adopted by the company to capture, share, and analyze performance data.

You demonstrate integrity in all interactions, safeguarding confidential information and adhering to ethical guidelines.

You are comfortable working within a structured process while still applying creative problem solving to unique challenges.

You respect the importance of safety protocols and quality expectations in every engagement you support.

You understand that reliability is measured by follow through, timely responses, and consistent execution across the project lifecycle.

Nice to have

None specified.

Skills & tools

CRM platforms, presentation software, and standard office applications.

About the company

Kelso Industries builds scientific research vessels for government marine operations. The company name honors the late Dr John Kelso, a scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. This background is reflected in the design of vessels built to support fisheries research and water quality work. The lead vessel is a "Near Shore Fisheries Research Vessel" used for trawls, box core sampling, bottom sampling, and water quality sampling. It was commissioned in 2009 and built by ABCO Industries Lunenburg Shipyard. The vessel was ordered by the Canadian Coast Guard to replace the retiring CCGS Shark and operates from CGS Base Burlington in the Central and Arctic Region. The ship has a maximum speed near 16 knots and a cruising speed near 14 knots. Fuel capacity is about 2,848 litres, with additional water storage of 500 litres. Accommodation includes seating for ten passengers and a crew of three. This configuration supports day trips and focused research campaigns in coastal and nearshore waters.