Solva Business Development Lead

WHO WE ARE:

Seco is a global metal cutting and machining solutions provider with a strong heritage in innovation, precision tools, and lasting partnerships. With sustainability at the heart of how we work, we help manufacturers solve complex challenges and shape the future of manufacturing through collaboration, technology, and customer-focused solutions.

Seco SOLVA is transforming manufacturing by going beyond cutting tools to deliver holistic, end-to-end solutions that improve efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness across the full production process. Built on Seco’s strong legacy, strategic partnerships, and innovative thinking, SOLVA helps manufacturers unlock their full potential through fast, easy, and sustainable solutions.

We are now looking for a Solva Business Development Lead to drive front-end growth by identifying, shaping, and progressing high-value opportunities within targeted strategic segments. In this role, you will engage senior decision-makers, uncover strategic customer challenges, and position Seco Solva’s integrated end-to-end solutions to create measurable customer and business value.

Candidates from California, Washington, Kansas, Atlanta will be preferred.

Job Summary:
As Solva Business Development Lead, you will serve as the primary entry point into customer organizations and build trusted relationships with C-suite and senior decision-makers. You will translate customer priorities into qualified Solva opportunities, shape compelling value propositions, and remain engaged through solution development, proposal, and contractualization. Working closely with Regional Sales, Business Development, Project Leads, Engineering, Product Management, Operations, technical specialists, Machining brands, and external partners, you will support a seamless handover to delivery teams after contract signature while maintaining the strategic customer relationship.

This role is part of Machining – Seco – Global Sales – Seco Solva and operates as an individual contributor.

Key responsibilities of the role: 

C-suite engagement and executive relationship development

• Proactively engage C-suite stakeholders, including CEOs, COOs, CTOs, and senior manufacturing leaders, positioning Seco as a strategic partner early in the buying journey.

• Partner with Regional Sales to extend existing contacts into executive relationships and lead value-based conversations on productivity, cost, quality, sustainability, operational transformation, and digital or process optimization.

• Sustain executive engagement throughout opportunity shaping and support continuity of the relationship after contract signature.

Strategic opportunity creation and shaping

• Translate executive discussions into structured opportunity hypotheses, clearly defining the customer challenge, value pool, and strategic fit with the Solva offering.

• Identify latent demand and unmet needs, shaping opportunities before formal RFQ stages.

• Qualify opportunities and collaborate with the Project Lead through solution shaping, proposal development, contractualization, and delivery handover.

Pipeline ownership and deal development

• Build and maintain a robust, strategically aligned Solva pipeline and drive progression from lead to qualified opportunity and approved pursuit.

• Maintain clear pipeline visibility and reporting, focusing effort on opportunities with strong customer value and strategic fit.

• Support commercial development and value capture while aligning customer expectations with solution feasibility.

Cross-functional collaboration

• Nurture relationships with Regional Sales and Market teams, Solva Project Leads, Engineering, technical specialists, Product Management, Operations, Machining brands, partners, and distributors.

• Maintain awareness of relevant offerings and opportunities and enable commercial collaboration across Seco, Sandvik, and external networks.

• Ensure a coordinated approach from customer discovery through agreement and delivery handover.

Segment focus and strategic account entry

• Prioritize accounts and tailor value propositions within strategic segments such as Aerospace, Automotive, Medical, Energy, and Defense.

• Develop entry strategies, map customer stakeholder ecosystems, and unlock multi-site opportunities and long-term partnerships that may transition toward key account management.

• Assess market trends and potential growth segments, including emerging high-value areas, through a structured view of attractiveness and strategic fit.

Market intelligence and thought leadership

• Capture insights from executive interactions on strategic priorities, investment trends, market developments, and competitive positioning.