Marketing and Business Development Specialist

Overview

Polivka International is seeking a motivated Marketing and Business Development Specialist will support business growth by identifying new opportunities and building strong relationships with key decision-makers across government, municipal, and commercial sectors. This role will focus on researching and monitoring government contracting opportunities, including pre-bidding activities, procurement announcements, and request for proposals (RFPs), to help position Polivka International for Track Maintenance Contracts. Responsibilities include implementing sales and marketing strategies that support lead generation, market outreach, and brand visibility while maintaining and tracking opportunities through CRM systems. The position will also assist with proposal preparation, market research, contract tracking, and coordination with internal teams to ensure the company is well positioned to compete for and secure new projects.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys sales, business development, and marketing strategy in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. You will work directly with leadership to identify new opportunities, build relationships with clients, and support marketing campaigns that drive company growth.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

· Prospecting and Lead Generation: Take a proactive approach to identify and generate new business opportunities across the government and industrial sectors. This includes networking, cold calling, attending trade shows, and leveraging personal contacts.

· Client Relationship Management: Cultivate and manage long-term relationships with key clients, including government agencies, railroad companies, and industrial enterprises, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction and repeat business.

· Sales Strategy Development: Develop and execute tailored sales strategies that align with the unique needs of each sector. Ability to think creatively and adapt strategies to a dynamic market will be essential.

· Solution Selling: Understand the challenges faced by clients and design innovative, customized solutions that align with their specific needs. Ability to understand both the technical and business aspects of our products/services is key.

· Bid Management & Proposal Writing: Assist in the preparation of bids, proposals, and quotations, ensuring all client requirements are met and that our offerings are positioned in the most compelling way.

· Contract Negotiation: Work with team to negotiate favorable terms, pricing, and contracts, ensuring profitability while maintaining strong relationships.

· Market Research & Competitive Analysis: Continuously research market trends, competitor activities, and changes in government regulations to ensure our offerings remain competitive and relevant.

· Sales Reporting & CRM Management: Use CRM tools to manage and track leads, opportunities, and client interactions. Maintain clear and accurate sales reports to track progress against targets and identify areas for improvement.

· Collaboration & Teamwork: Work closely with internal teams —marketing, operations, and product development—to ensure smooth execution of projects and customer satisfaction. Share insights and feedback that can drive continuous improvement within the company.

· Mindset: The expectation is to bring a high degree of initiative and creativity in how all challenges are approached. Be comfortable with ambiguity, resourceful in problem-solving, and excited by the opportunity to shape the company's growth and direction.

WHAT WOULD MAKE ME A GOOD FIT FOR THIS POSITION?

· Education: Bachelor or Associate degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred but not required. New Graduates encouraged to apply!

· Experience: At least 1-2 years of sales or business development experience, preferably in retail sales/civil construction.

· Industry Knowledge: Some familiarity with the unique challenges, procurement processes, and regulations within government and/or industrial markets.

· Sales Skills: Proven ability to prospect, qualify, and close sales with large and small organizations, demonstrating strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.

· Creativity & Problem-Solving: Comfort with crafting innovative solutions and adapting your approach in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment.

· Self-Motivation & Independence: A high level of self-drive and motivation, with the ability to work autonomously in a startup setting. You should be comfortable with a flexible, rapidly changing environment and be able to prioritize effectively.

· Strong Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present ideas persuasively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders as well as communicate with management. Ability to put together presentations and/or materials as requested.

· Technical Aptitude: Understanding of technical aspects of our products/services and the ability to communicate their value effectively to potential clients.

· Entrepreneurial Mindset: A passion for building a new business and helping the company to grow. You will have the opportunity to make a direct impact on the company's success.

· Other Preferred Qualifications:

o Experience working in or with government procurement systems or large-scale industrial projects.

o Existing network of contacts within government agencies, railroad companies, or industrial sectors.

o Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and proficiency in using sales tools and platforms.

o Experience in bidding for government contracts and navigating complex procurement processes.

We look forward to hearing from you --- make a difference in a great new industry!