Business Development Manager
HVAC Sales & Client Development | Commission-Based | Leadership Growth Opportunity
Company: Adaptive HVAC
Location: Greater Seattle & Snohomish County, Washington
Position Type: Full-Time | Outside Sales
Compensation: Commission-Based, with performance incentives
About Adaptive HVAC
Adaptive HVAC is a growing mechanical contracting company serving residential and commercial customers throughout the greater Seattle area.
Founded in 2024, our company was built around a straightforward idea: exceptional HVAC work should be accompanied by an equally exceptional customer experience.
We believe the quality of our work extends beyond the equipment we install or repair. It includes how we communicate, manage expectations, coordinate projects, and build relationships with the people who trust us with their homes and businesses.
We're a small company with ambitious goals, and we're looking for individuals who share our commitment to craftsmanship, integrity, and doing things right the first time.
About the Opportunity
We're looking for a motivated Business Development Manager to help establish and grow a consistent pipeline of new residential and light-commercial HVAC projects.
This is initially a hands-on, outside-sales position focused primarily on generating new business. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying opportunities, developing customer relationships, coordinating proposals, and securing profitable projects.
This is not an established sales department with a guaranteed flow of incoming leads. We're looking for someone who is comfortable taking initiative, making introductions, pursuing opportunities, and developing relationships that create long-term business.
Our goal is to develop approximately $1-1.5 million in new annual sales through this position.
As Adaptive grows, we see an opportunity for the right individual to take on broader responsibilities in sales leadership, estimating, and pre-construction management.
We're looking for someone interested in both opportunities: producing results today and helping build something larger over time.
Primary Responsibilities — Business Development & Sales
The immediate priority of this position is generating new business and developing lasting customer relationships.
Responsibilities include:
Actively identify and pursue residential and light-commercial HVAC opportunities.
Develop relationships with homeowners, general contractors, property managers, developers, and commercial clients.
Conduct outbound prospecting, cold calls, introductions, and follow-up communications.
Schedule and participate in customer meetings, site visits, and project walkthroughs.
Understand customer needs and help identify appropriate HVAC solutions.
Coordinate with ownership and construction management to develop accurate estimates and proposals.
Present proposals, communicate project value, address customer questions, and secure new contracts.
Maintain an organized pipeline of prospective customers, active opportunities, and pending proposals.
Follow up consistently with prospective customers and existing relationships.
Work toward established sales and profitability targets.
Identify opportunities for repeat business, referrals, and long-term contractor partnerships.
The individual in this role should be comfortable working independently, developing their own schedule, and taking ownership of their sales performance.
Project Coordination & Customer Relationships
We believe a successful sale is the beginning of a customer relationship, not the end of one.
The Business Development Manager will work closely with Adaptive's ownership and construction management team to ensure that projects are accurately represented, appropriately priced, and clearly communicated before work begins.
Responsibilities include:
Gather complete project information and communicate customer expectations.
Coordinate necessary technical reviews, estimating, and proposal development.
Ensure proposals accurately reflect the intended scope of work.
Communicate exclusions, project limitations, and relevant customer requirements.
Support a clear transition from sales to construction management.
Maintain professional customer communication throughout the sales process and as needed after contract execution.
Help identify opportunities for additional work and future customer relationships.
This position is not responsible for independently managing installations or supervising field construction.
Our construction management team remains responsible for project execution, scheduling, and field operations.
What We're Looking For
We're interested in candidates who demonstrate initiative, professionalism, strong communication skills, and the ability to develop trust with customers and business partners.
Ideal qualifications include:
Experience in outside sales, business development, account management, or a related role.
Experience in HVAC, mechanical contracting, construction, building services, or another technical industry.
Confidence in developing new relationships and pursuing business independently.
Strong interpersonal communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
Ability to understand technical information and communicate it clearly to customers.
Organizational skills and consistent follow-through.
Comfort working with sales targets, estimates, proposals, and profitability expectations.
A valid driver's license and ability to travel to customer locations and project sites throughout our service area.
Direct HVAC sales experience is preferred, but we're also interested in individuals with strong business development experience and the willingness to learn our industry.
The Type of Person Who Will Succeed Here
We value people who take pride in their work, communicate clearly, and follow through on their commitments.
The right candidate will understand that building a successful sales pipeline requires patience, persistence, and consistency.
We're not looking for high-pressure sales tactics or someone focused exclusively on closing the next transaction.
We want someone who can earn customer trust, represent our company professionally, and develop relationships that continue well beyond a single project.
We believe strong sales performance and responsible business practices should go hand in hand.
Compensation
This position is initially structured around commission-based compensation, with earnings tied to qualifying sales revenue and project profitability.
Our proposed commission program rewards both the volume of business generated and the profitability of individual projects. Additional commission incentives are available as annual sales milestones are achieved.
We anticipate meaningful six-figure earning potential for a successful individual generating approximately $1 million or more in annual qualifying sales, depending on project margins and overall performance.
Specific commission percentages, earnings examples, and payment terms will be reviewed during the interview process.
Compensation is not guaranteed and will be governed by a written employment and commission agreement.
Opportunity for Long-Term Growth
Adaptive HVAC is entering an important stage of growth, and we're looking for someone interested in helping shape the company's future.
Initially, this position will focus primarily on outside sales, new client acquisition, and developing a consistent pipeline of profitable projects.
As company revenue and our sales operations grow, we anticipate an opportunity for this position to expand beyond direct sales into a broader leadership role.
Potential future responsibilities may include:
Overseeing business development and sales activities.
Coordinating estimating, project takeoffs, and bid preparation.
Developing relationships with vendors and trade partners.
Establishing sales processes, pricing standards, and performance metrics.
Coordinating pre-construction activities with construction management.
Recruiting, training, and supporting additional sales personnel as the department develops.
Our long-term vision is to establish a dedicated business development and pre-construction department, with the potential for this position to grow into a Director of Business Development & Pre-Construction role.
We anticipate evaluating this opportunity after approximately 12 months, based on company growth, financial performance, organizational needs, and individual performance.
As responsibilities evolve, compensation may transition from a commission-based structure to a base salary with performance incentives.
This is a potential career path rather than a guaranteed promotion or compensation change.
Why Adaptive?
We're a growing company where the right individual can make a meaningful contribution.
You'll have the opportunity to work directly with ownership, develop new business relationships, contribute ideas, and help shape how our sales operations evolve.
We value initiative, thoughtful problem-solving, accountability, and a willingness to improve.
We're looking for someone who wants more than a temporary sales position — someone who sees value in helping develop a company and taking pride in what that company becomes.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume along with a brief introduction describing your experience in sales or business development and why you're interested in this opportunity.
We'd particularly appreciate hearing about your experience developing new client relationships, generating business independently, and working within the construction or building services industry.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.