​About Us:

Wabash Marketplace (marketplace.onewabash.com) is a groundbreaking joint venture between Wabash and Fernweh Group LLC and presents an exciting opportunity for talented professionals to pioneer digital innovation in the logistics and transportation sectors. This strategic collaboration is dedicated to creating new capabilities that cater to all customers in our marketplace, encompassing an enhanced Trailers as a Service (TaaS) model, an extensive e-commerce platform for parts, and other value-added services. We are seeking ambitious individuals to join us in building a true marketplace that efficiently serves both suppliers and buyers, fostering a transformative impact on the industry. Join our team to help set new standards and develop integrated solutions that significantly improve business processes and customer interactions across the ecosystem.

Summary:

The VP of Business Development is crucial in steering, engaging, and accelerating growth within a fragmented and complex ecosystem. This role is not just about developing and nurturing relationships; it's about understanding and shaping the marketplace's strategic direction, building business models, and creating a vibrant network of collaborations. The ideal candidate will play a foundational role in developing these partnerships, leveraging them to build a dynamic ecosystem essential for the marketplace’s success.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Insight into Corporate Strategy: Deep understanding of corporate strategy and the ability to design and implement innovative business models, crucial for navigating and thriving in early-stage marketplace development.

• Strategic Insight into Corporate Strategy: Deep understanding of corporate strategy and the ability to design and implement innovative business models, crucial for navigating and thriving in early-stage marketplace development.

• Strategic Relationship Building: Expertise in developing strategic partnerships, capable of identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing potential opportunities to cultivate a valuable network that fosters mutual growth.

• Market Acumen: Deep understanding of marketplace dynamics, with the ability to quickly adapt to new industries, making experience in the logistics or industrial sectors ideal but not mandatory.

• Deal Making & Negotiation: Proficiency in deal structuring, negotiation, and closing, managing the process from initial discussions through to partner integration into the ecosystem.

• Effective Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to craft and deliver compelling presentations and value propositions.

• Team Leadership: Proven ability to build, lead, and inspire a high-performing business development team, promoting a culture of accountability and excellence.

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze market trends, partner performance, and other relevant data to inform strategic decisions and partnership approaches.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Direction Contribution: Serve as a key member of the executive team, shaping the overall strategic direction and vision of the company, with a special focus on ecosystem building and corporate strategy.

• Partnership Development & Deal Making: Lead the identification, pursuit, and securing of strategic partnerships, overseeing negotiations and deal-making processes to efficiently integrate partners.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Deeply engage with and understand the diverse needs of marketplace stakeholders, ensuring platform development is informed and refined based on comprehensive feedback.

• Pipeline Management & Business Model Innovation: Develop and manage a robust pipeline of potential partners and deals while also innovating on business models, ensuring a steady flow of discussions, negotiations, and strategic learning.

• Value Proposition Crafting: Develop compelling value propositions tailored to different partner segments, sparking interest and excitement about the marketplace.

• Feedback Integration & Strategic Iteration: Work closely with the product team to integrate partner feedback and insights into continuous platform development, ensuring it meets and anticipates stakeholder needs while iterating on business models.

Location:

Candidates in or near Chicago preferred; open to remote and travel arrangements for the right individual.