Director of Business Development

About Challenger Partners

Challenger Partners is a private equity–backed holding company focused on acquiring and scaling essential trades businesses across Texas. Our MEP platform encompasses plumbing and HVAC operations serving both residential and commercial customers, with a concentration in the high-growth Central Texas market including the Waco metro area. We build durable businesses by investing in people, systems, and market presence.

Role Overview

The Director of Business Development is a newly created, high-impact role responsible for driving revenue growth across Challenger Partners' MEP platform. This person will own the commercial pipeline — from identifying opportunities in the residential and commercial markets to closing contracts that fuel our portfolio companies' expansion. You will work closely with company leadership and operational teams to align sales strategy with capacity and ensure we are winning the right work.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute a business development strategy across the MEP platform, targeting commercial construction, property management, residential growth, and service agreement channels

• Build and maintain relationships with general contractors, developers, property managers, facility operators, and municipal contacts throughout Central Texas

• Source and respond to bid opportunities through platforms including BuildingConnected, ConstructConnect, Texas SmartBuy, and direct customer relationships

• Lead the bid and proposal process in coordination with estimating and operations teams — ensuring we submit competitive, profitable proposals

• Identify and pursue service agreement and preventive maintenance contract opportunities to build recurring revenue

• Represent the platform at industry events, trade associations, and community organizations to expand brand awareness and referral networks

• Track pipeline activity, win/loss trends, and market intelligence — providing regular reporting to Challenger Partners leadership

• Partner with company operators to align incoming work with crew capacity and project type fit

• Support M&A prospecting by identifying owner-operated businesses that may be acquisition candidates

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of business development, sales, or estimating experience in the MEP, construction, or specialty trades industry

• Established relationships with general contractors, developers, or commercial real estate operators in Central Texas — or the ability to build them quickly

• Working knowledge of the commercial construction bid process, including use of platforms such as BuildingConnected, iSqFt, or similar

• Strong communicator and relationship builder — comfortable calling on executives, project managers, and field supervisors alike

• Commercially minded with an understanding of job costing, margin expectations, and the economics of trades businesses

• Self-starter with the ability to manage a pipeline independently, prioritize high-probability opportunities, and close

• Proficiency with CRM tools and a disciplined approach to tracking activity and forecasting

• Familiarity with residential service, HVAC, or plumbing operations is a plus

• Required Location: Central Texas — primarily serving McLennan County and surrounding markets. Travel to portfolio company locations and customer sites is expected. Home office flexibility with regular in-market presence required.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus commission/bonus structure tied to revenue performance

• The opportunity to grow with a platform that is actively acquiring and scaling businesses — with real upside for the person who builds the sales function

• Close partnership with company operators and Challenger Partners leadership — your wins directly impact the business

• Central Texas market focus with strong brand recognition across Waco and surrounding counties

• Benefits including health insurance, paid time off, and professional development support