1. Position Overview
Homage + Hustle (H+H) is a contract beverage manufacturer serving DTC and emerging CPG brands with tolling and co-packing solutions. We are looking for a Business Development Manager to expand our client base by identifying, qualifying, and closing beverage brands that align with our High Value Client (HVC) profile. The goal is to fill production line time with sustainable, high-margin contracts — the right deals, not just any deal.
This is a high-autonomy, high-accountability role for someone who wants to build something, not just execute a playbook. We're looking for an industry veteran with a startup mentality: someone who is motivated to prove success, grow with the company, and bring strategic insight to our market position, messaging, and product offerings — not simply fill a pipeline.
2. Core Responsibilities
Strategic Market Insight
This role is not purely execution-focused. We expect our Business Development Manager to actively research the beverage co-packing and tolling industry and bring back recommendations that sharpen our market position.
- Research industry trends, competitor positioning, and emerging categories in the beverage co-packing/tolling space
- Offer recommendations on H+H's market positioning, messaging, and go-to-market optimization
- Identify gaps or opportunities in our current product/service offerings and propose solutions to leadership
- Bring an outside-in perspective to internal strategy conversations, grounded in real client and market feedback
Lead Generation & Networking
- Own 100% of top-of-funnel activity: cold outreach, LinkedIn prospecting, industry publications, and referral networks
- Build and maintain a genuine industry network — this role requires being resourceful and comfortable initiating relationships from scratch
- Represent H+H at up to two (2) trade shows per year, generating qualified leads and strengthening brand presence
Sales Collateral Development
- Create and maintain client-facing sales collateral, including pitch decks, one-pagers, and proposal templates
- Develop trade show materials (booth collateral, leave-behinds, demo materials) in coordination with leadership
- Keep collateral current with H+H's evolving capabilities, pricing structure, and brand positioning
Prospect Qualification
- Confirm every prospect meets H+H's High Value Client (HVC) profile before presenting to the internal team
- Verify formula readiness, volume minimums, and financial standing
- Disqualify prospects that fall outside H+H's capabilities or HVC criteria
- Document qualification status in the CRM before escalating to production/leadership
Pipeline Management
- Log all prospect and client interactions in the company CRM within 48 hours of each interaction
- Maintain complete, accurate pipeline records at all times — contact info, interaction date, stage, notes, next action
- Be prepared to walk leadership through the active pipeline at any check-in
Contract Negotiation & Client Hand-Off
- Quote within approved pricing tiers; any deviation from standard pricing or terms requires written approval from leadership
- Deliver a clean hand-off to the operations team once a contract is signed, including packaging specs, formulation details, production volumes, timelines, and any custom arrangements in writing
- Drive the Stand Alone-to-Annual Agreement conversion process, including a consultative production-run review and a second, complete hand-off to operations
3. What We're Looking For
- Industry experience in beverage manufacturing, co-packing/tolling, or DTC CPG sales
- Motivated to research the industry and help refine and offer recommendations on our market position, messaging, and optimization — not just execute
- Able to create sales collateral for clients and for trade shows
- Resourceful, comfortable networking, and a true go-getter
- Startup mentality — this is a hustle, with a lot of room for growth as H+H scales
- Comfortable with cold outreach and proactive networking; willing to attend up to two (2) trade shows per year
- Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to speak credibly and accurately about H+H's manufacturing capabilities
- Self-directed and highly organized — comfortable owning a full pipeline with minimal oversight
4. Compensation & Benefits
- Full-time, salaried position (base salary commensurate with experience)
- Performance-based commission on closed, invoiced business, in addition to base salary
- Commission is paid the month following the month in which the corresponding customer invoice is paid in full
- Full benefits package available (medical/dental/vision — details provided at offer stage)
- Paid Time Off (PTO): 10 days per year
- Real opportunity for growth as H+H scales — this is a foundational role on a growing team