Vice President - Business Development

Job DetailsJob Location: Corporate Headquarters - Denver, CO 80224Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: Not SpecifiedSalary Range: $100,000.00 - $250,000.00 SalaryTravel Percentage: Up to 25%Job Shift: DayJob Category: Sales

About Sunward Steel

For over 50 years, Sunward Steel Buildings has been doing things differently. We’re a family-owned, American manufacturer and we don’t just sell steel buildings, we partner with our customers to bring their vision to life.

From industrial facilities, aircraft hangars, and self-storage complexes to arenas, barndominiums, agricultural buildings, and fitness centers, we engineer and manufacture fully custom solutions delivered to every state in the U.S. and across Canada. No two projects are alike, and that’s exactly how we like it.

We are now entering the next chapter of Sunward’s growth story. We are expanding our partner and channel network, and in mid-2027 we will launch a new cold form steel building product line - a distinct and emerging segment of the building market with significant growth potential. This hire is central to both.

Position Summary

The Vice President of Business Development is a senior commercial leadership role with a dual mandate: grow Sunward’s partner division through strategic channel relationships, and own the go-to-market execution for Sunward’s cold form building product line from pre-launch through market establishment. This person reports to the EVP and operates with significant autonomy - setting strategy, building pipelines, and closing deals.

This is a builder role. There is no established playbook for the cold form launch, no warm partner network handed to you, and no pre-existing 3P manufacturer roster to manage. What exists is a 50-year-old family-owned company with manufacturing capability, a strong reputation in the PEMB industry, executive commitment to growth, and the resources to back a credible go-to-market and operational scaling effort. If you have built something from scratch before - a new market, a new product, a new vendor network - and want to do it again at a company that will move with you rather than against you, this is the role.

The Three Pillars

This role carries three distinct but complementary strategic priorities. All three are active from day one.

Pillar 1: Partner Division

Pillar 2: Cold Form Building Launch

Pillar 3: 3P Manufacturer & Vendor Network

Build and expand Sunward’s partner and channel relationships

Own the go-to-market strategy for Sunward’s cold form building product line from launch through scale

Identify, evaluate, and onboard third-party manufacturers, fabricators, and vendors who can produce components or assemblies for Sunward - expanding capacity without expanding fixed overhead

Identify, pursue, and close strategic partnership agreements with builders, contractors, distributors, and industry networks

Identify and develop the buyer ecosystem for cold form - architects, modular builders, developers, contractors

Build and maintain the 3P vendor roster - using existing industry relationships to accelerate onboarding and establish quality and delivery standards from day one

Develop and manage the partner pipeline - from prospecting through contract and ongoing relationship management

Build the sales and distribution infrastructure needed to bring the cold form product to market

Negotiate commercial agreements with 3P manufacturers and vendors that protect Sunward’s margin, quality standards, and delivery commitments

Negotiate and structure commercial agreements that advance Sunward’s market reach and revenue base

Partner with engineering and manufacturing on product positioning, specifications, and competitive differentiation

Negotiate commercial agreements with 3P manufacturers and vendors that protect Sunward’s margin, quality standards, and delivery commitments

Target launch: Ongoing - grow Sunward’s partner network systematically

Target launch: Mid-year 2027 - full product and market readiness

Target: Build a functional 3P manufacturer and vendor network within the first 12 months that meaningfully expands Sunward’s production capacity

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Partner Division Business Development

Develop and execute Sunward’s partner and channel business development strategy - identifying, pursuing, and structuring relationships with builders, erectors, contractors, distributors, and other strategic channel partners who can extend Sunward’s reach and revenue.
Build and manage a robust partner pipeline from prospecting through signed agreement and ongoing relationship management - owning the full commercial cycle.
Negotiate and structure partnership agreements, channel contracts, and commercial arrangements that are mutually beneficial and protect Sunward’s margin and brand standards.
Serve as the senior relationship manager for Sunward’s highest-value partner accounts - building deep, long-term connections that generate repeat and referral business.
Develop and maintain relationships with PEMB industry associations, trade networks, and builder communities that create ongoing pipeline and market intelligence.
Monitor partner performance and satisfaction, identifying opportunities to deepen engagement and addressing friction points proactively before they become attrition risks.

Cold Form Building Product Launch

Own the go-to-market strategy for Sunward’s cold form building product line - defining the target market, buyer persona, channel strategy, pricing framework, and launch timeline in collaboration with the EVP and executive team.
Build the cold form buyer ecosystem from the ground up - identifying and developing relationships with architects, modular builders, developers, general contractors, and other buyers whose project profiles align with cold form steel building solutions.
Conduct market research and competitive analysis to understand the cold form steel building landscape - sizing the opportunity, mapping competitors, identifying whitespace, and positioning Sunward’s offering compellingly.
Partner closely with engineering and manufacturing on product specifications, capabilities, limitations, and differentiation - becoming the internal and external expert on Sunward’s cold form product.
Develop the sales materials, pitch decks, case study frameworks, and channel enablement content needed to take the cold form product to market effectively.
Establish the early commercial pipeline for cold form - generating interest, qualifying prospects, and converting early adopters who will serve as proof-of-concept and reference accounts.
Build toward a mid-2027 commercial launch readiness milestone - working backward from that date to ensure market, channel, and internal infrastructure are in place.

Third-Party Manufacturer & Vendor Network Development

Leverage existing industry relationships to identify, evaluate, and onboard third-party manufacturers, fabricators, and component vendors who can produce for Sunward - expanding operational capacity without expanding fixed overhead.
Build and maintain a qualified 3P manufacturer and vendor roster - establishing quality standards, delivery expectations, and commercial terms that allow Sunward to scale production capacity in response to demand without being constrained by its own manufacturing footprint.
Negotiate commercial agreements with 3P manufacturers and vendors - including pricing, lead times, quality specifications, and performance terms - that protect Sunward’s margin, delivery commitments, and brand standards.
Maintain senior-level relationships with Sunward’s most strategically important 3P manufacturing and vendor partners - ensuring those relationships are built on personal credibility and trust, not just contracts.
Coordinate with the Business Manager and operations teams to ensure 3P vendor onboarding, procurement workflows, and performance monitoring align with Sunward’s internal systems and standards.
Bring an existing network of manufacturer and vendor relationships in the PEMB, structural steel, metal building, or adjacent construction products industry - accelerating Sunward’s ability to onboard qualified 3P capacity quickly.

Strategy, Reporting & Market Intelligence

Develop and maintain a clear picture of Sunward’s total business development opportunity - partner pipeline, cold form pipeline, and market intelligence - presented to the EVP and executive team on a regular cadence.
Track and report on BD KPIs including pipeline value, partnership conversion rates, new partner revenue, cold form prospect activity, and market penetration metrics.
Monitor industry trends, competitive dynamics, regulatory developments, and technology shifts in both the PEMB and cold form steel building markets - surfacing relevant intelligence to the executive team.
Contribute to annual strategic planning, revenue forecasting, and resource allocation discussions as a senior member of the commercial leadership team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with the EVP on strategic priorities, resource needs, and organizational decisions that affect the business development function.
Work closely with the VP of Sales to ensure alignment between inbound sales motion and outbound business development - particularly on partner-sourced deals, channel conflicts, and market coverage strategy.
Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and operations on cold form product readiness, capacity planning, and customer commitments.
Partner with the VP of People Operations on hiring plans for the BD function as it scales.

Other duties may be assigned as business priorities evolve.Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

8+ years of progressive business development, strategic partnerships, or commercial leadership experience in a manufacturing, construction, building products, or related industry
Demonstrated track record of building a partnership or channel program from an early stage - not just managing an existing one
Experience launching a new product, market, or channel - including go-to-market strategy development, buyer development, and early commercial pipeline building
Strong commercial negotiation skills with experience structuring and closing complex partnership or channel agreements
Ability to move fluidly between strategic planning and hands-on pipeline and relationship work - this role requires both
Excellent communication and executive presence - credible and compelling in front of senior buyers, partners, and internal leadership
High degree of intellectual curiosity and self-direction - comfortable operating in ambiguous, build-it-yourself environments

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in the pre-engineered metal building (PEMB), cold form steel, structural steel, modular construction, or building materials industry
Existing relationships within the PEMB ecosystem - builders, erectors, contractors, distributors, industry associations, and third-party manufacturers or fabricators
A personal network of 3P manufacturer and vendor contacts in the PEMB, structural steel, metal building, or adjacent construction products industry that can be activated quickly to build Sunward’s outsourcing capacity
Experience building and leading a BD team as the function scales beyond an individual contributor model
Background working in or with a family-owned or entrepreneurial company where speed, adaptability, and resourcefulness are competitive advantages
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

Core Competencies

Hunter Mentality - goes after new relationships and new markets with urgency and persistence; doesn’t wait for the phone to ring
Strategic Thinking - sees the bigger picture and builds plans that connect daily BD activity to long-term market positioning
Builder’s Instinct - energized by creating structure where none exists; thrives in the whitespace before the playbook is written
Commercial Credibility - earns trust quickly with senior buyers and partners through preparation, expertise, and follow-through
Adaptability - comfortable holding three distinct strategic mandates simultaneously and shifting focus as priorities and opportunities evolve
Accountability - owns outcomes, not just activity; builds pipelines that convert, not just pipelines that look good on a report
Communication - clear, direct, and compelling across all audiences from builders and contractors to executive leadership and ownership

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Group Life Insurance & AD&D - 100% company-paid
Long-Term Disability - 100% company-paid

Voluntary Supplemental Benefits

401(k) Retirement Plan
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
128 hours of Paid Time Off
8 paid holidays

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Prolonged periods working at a desk and on a computer
Frequent travel by air, vehicle, and on-site at manufacturing facilities, partner locations, and customer sites
Must be able to safely navigate manufacturing environments and active construction sites during site visits
Must be able to occasionally lift up to 15 lbs

Work Environment

Primary work location is an indoor office environment in Denver, CO
Significant external travel to partner locations, customer sites, industry events, and Sunward manufacturing facilities
Fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment - this role operates at the intersection of a 50-year company and a new product launch, which requires both patience and urgency simultaneously

Additional Requirements

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States

Background Check: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check

Driver’s License: Valid driver’s license required for partner visits and customer travel

Career Path

The VP of Business Development is a senior leadership role with a direct line of sight to executive-level growth at Sunward. As the partner division matures and the cold form product line scales, the right person in this role will have built something genuinely significant - and will have shaped what this function becomes as Sunward continues to grow. This is not a role to pass through. It is a role to build from.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sunward Steel and its affiliates are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, family or parental status, or any other status protected by law. Sunward Steel is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us prior to your interview.