Business Development Manager, GCSEA

Position Purpose

This position is newly created for Business Development. The primary purpose is to understand the needs of door manufacturers, window manufacturers and other key customers; identify new business opportunities; develop innovative business models; drive channel recruitment; and create new growth engines for the business.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Business Development Manager to drive business growth in the door and window hardware industry. The successful candidate will be responsible for market exploration, customer insight collection, new business model development, strategic customer acquisition, channel expansion.

The ideal candidate should possess deep industry knowledge, strong customer resources among door and window manufacturers, proven South China sales leadership experience, fluent English communication capability, strong resilience under pressure, and hands-on experience in business transformation and sales organization transition.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Growth Strategy

• Develop and execute business development strategies to accelerate growth within the door and window hardware market.
• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities, market segments, customer groups, and strategic partnership opportunities.
• Explore and introduce new business models, go-to-market approaches, and commercial partnerships to drive sustainable growth.
• Develop channel recruitment /strategies and expand the ecosystem of partners, distributors, fabricators, system companies, and key accounts.
• Establish new revenue streams and growth drivers aligned with long-term strategic objectives.

Customer Visits & Market Needs Understanding

• Conduct frequent customer visits to door manufacturers, window manufacturers, façade companies, system companies, developers, and channel partners.
• Understand existing market conditions, customer needs, pain points, purchase drivers, and future demand through firsthand customer engagement.
• Build strong relationships with decision-makers and key stakeholders across the industry.
• Gather market intelligence, competitor information, and customer insights, and translate them into actionable business recommendations.
• Represent the company at industry exhibitions, customer events, conferences, and networking activities.

New Customer Acquisition

• Identify, qualify, and acquire strategic new customers in target market segments.
• Leverage existing industry relationships and customer resources to accelerate market penetration.
• Develop and manage a robust business opportunity pipeline.
• Lead commercial negotiations and secure long-term business partnerships.

Team Building & Organizational Development

• Build and lead a high-performing business development and sales organization from 0 to 1.
• Recruit, coach, and develop talent to support business expansion plans.
• Establish sales processes, business development methodologies, operating rhythm, and performance management mechanisms.
• Foster a culture of accountability, customer focus, agility, and innovation.

Business Transformation & Change Management

• Demonstrate proven experience in managing change and transition in business model and sales organization.
• Lead and support business transformation initiatives related to business model evolution, channel transformation, and commercial growth.
• Drive alignment during organizational restructuring, go-to-market strategy change, or sales organization transition.
• Effectively manage stakeholder expectations and maintain team performance during periods of change.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Marketing, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Customer Service teams.
• Ensure customer requirements and market needs are effectively translated into business actions, product input, and commercial strategies.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree or above in Business Administration, Marketing, Engineering, or related disciplines.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in sales, business development, or commercial leadership roles.
• Proven experience in the door and window hardware industry.
• Must have previously served as South China Sales Director, Regional Sales Director, or equivalent senior commercial leadership role.
• Strong understanding of door hardware, window hardware, architectural hardware, building materials, or related construction industries.
• Demonstrated success in market development, customer acquisition, strategic account management, and channel expansion.
• Proven experience in building teams and establishing business operations from 0 to 1.
• Proven experience leading and managing change and transition in business model and sales organization.

Industry Network

The candidate must possess strong customer relationships and market resources among:

• Door manufacturers
• Window manufacturers
• Curtain wall and façade companies
• System suppliers
• Building material distributors
• Developers and construction-related stakeholders

Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong execution capability.
• Ability to identify market opportunities and transform them into business growth.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Resilient and capable of performing effectively under pressure.
• Self-driven with a results-oriented approach.

Language

• Fluent English communication skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
• Mandarin Chinese proficiency required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working within multinational organizations.
• Familiarity with hardware brands and international business practices.
• Experience in window solutions, architectural hardware, or building systems.
• Experience managing key accounts and large-scale commercial projects across China.

Success Measures

• New customer acquisition.
• New business model implementation.
• Channel and ecosystem expansion.
• Revenue growth and market share growth.
• Team establishment and performance.
• Strategic account penetration.
• Successful business transformation and organizational change management.

We are the ASSA ABLOY Group
Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access.

As an employer, we value results – not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions – supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally.

As we welcome new people on board, it’s important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.