Business Development Lead in St. Paul, Minnesota at Rapids Wholesale Equipment

Rapids & Affiliates | Twin Cities, MN (Minneapolis and St. Paul territory) | Full-Time

About Rapids

Rapids & Affiliates has been a family-owned commercial foodservice equipment company since 1936. We operate three divisions: Rapids Contract & Design (design-build foodservice equipment packages for new construction and renovation projects), Rapids Wholesale (distribution and e-commerce), and Star Service (equipment service and repair). This role focuses on delivering projects through the Rapids Contract & Design division, where we partner with architects, consultants, general contractors, and end users to design and equip commercial kitchens from the ground up, everything from casinos and food halls to university dining and hospitality projects.

The Role

We're hiring a Business Development Lead to grow our Contract & Design pipeline across the Twin Cities. You'll identify and pursue new construction and renovation projects, build relationships with the architects, consultants, and owners who drive foodservice equipment decisions, and manage those relationships from first contact through project award. This is a hunting and relationship-building role rooted in a real industry: commercial construction and foodservice.

You'll work alongside our design and project teams, so you're not selling in a vacuum. You bring in the opportunity and the relationship; our team builds the technical solution with you.

What You'll Do

• Identify and track upcoming commercial construction and renovation projects across the Twin Cities territory (casinos, food halls, higher education dining, hospitality, healthcare, and similar segments)
• Build and maintain relationships with architects, foodservice consultants, general contractors, and facility owners/operators
• Develop and deliver capabilities presentations to prospective clients and partners
• Manage a pipeline of active opportunities in our CRM, from initial contact through bid and award
• Collaborate with the Contract & Design team to shape proposals that fit project scope and budget
• Represent Rapids at industry events, trade shows, and networking functions
• Report on pipeline status and outreach activity to leadership

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary plus commission on closed business, so your earning potential grows directly with the pipeline you build
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Vehicle mileage reimbursement
• Professional development support
• Tuition assistance

What You'll Bring

Must-have:

• Proven track record in business development, sales, or account management, ideally in construction, foodservice, architecture/design, or a related B2B relationship-driven field
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, comfortable presenting to owners, architects, and contractors
• Ability to manage a multi-month sales cycle and multiple concurrent opportunities
• Ability to track and manage opportunities in a CRM to maintain deal velocity through the sales cycle
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Valid driver's license, reliable personal vehicle, and current auto insurance (mileage reimbursed per company policy)
• Willingness to travel within the Twin Cities territory as needed

Nice-to-have:

• Experience in the foodservice equipment, commercial kitchen design, or construction industry
• Experience with Salesforce
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or related field (equivalent experience considered)
• Existing relationships with architects, GCs, or foodservice consultants in the Twin Cities region