Business Development Director (China)

Company Overview

Active Fire, established since 2001, is a leading total solutions provider for planning, designing, and implementing turnkey fire protection systems. We deliver end-to-end services ensuring safety, compliance, and peace of mind for clients across industries.

Job Summary

Lead business development for fire protection systems in China by securing projects, managing client relationships, and building strategic partnerships. Drive growth through market analysis, compliance, and team leadership in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a 3–5 year business development strategy targeting fire protection services in commercial, industrial, and infrastructure sectors across China
• Monitor and interpret national and local fire safety policies, regulations, and standards to ensure market alignment and compliance
• Analyze competitor activities, pricing trends, technical requirements, and market demand to identify growth opportunities and niche segments
• Prepare annual business plans, revenue targets, budgets, and risk assessments aligned with company goals
• Lead end-to-end project acquisition including opportunity identification, pre-qualification, tender bidding, proposal submission, negotiation, and contract closure
• Coordinate with internal teams (technical, engineering, design, estimating, legal, operations) to develop compliant, competitive, and cost-effective proposals
• Ensure all project submissions comply with Chinese fire protection regulations, construction laws, and mandatory national standards (e.g., GB50116, GB50016, GB50974)
• Maintain and report on a healthy sales pipeline, tracking project status, conversion rates, profit margins, and performance metrics to senior management
• Build and sustain long-term partnerships with main contractors, property developers, design institutes, EPC groups, industrial owners, government authorities, and fire safety inspection bodies
• Liaise with Fire Rescue Bureaus, construction regulatory departments, and certification bodies to facilitate project approvals and compliance
• Provide technical consultancy and solution design support to clients, positioning the company as a trusted fire safety engineering expert
• Identify and establish strategic alliances, joint ventures, and cooperation agreements with local design institutes, licensed contractors, suppliers, and testing agencies to meet qualification and licensing requirements
• Expand the supplier and partner network across China to enhance technical capabilities, reduce costs, and increase market reach
• Represent the company at industry events, seminars, exhibitions, and professional associations to promote brand and business development
• Recruit, train, and lead the local business development and sales team; define roles, set KPIs, and drive team performance and growth
• Establish standardized business development processes, proposal templates, contract review procedures, and CRM systems tailored to fire protection services
• Ensure full compliance with Chinese laws on licensing, anti-bribery, contract management, tax regulations, and industry safety requirements
• Transition secured projects to delivery teams while maintaining client relationships throughout project lifecycles

Required competencies and certifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Fire Protection Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or related technical fields
• Minimum 8–12 years of relevant experience with at least 5 years focused on fire protection engineering/services in China’s construction industry
• 3–5 years in senior business development or sales leadership roles with proven success securing contracts totaling RMB 300 million or more
• In-depth knowledge of China’s fire protection regulatory framework, national standards (GB codes), approval procedures, and licensing requirements
• Familiarity with project delivery models including design & build, supply only, turnkey EPC, maintenance contracts, and retrofitting works
• Established understanding of key fire systems such as sprinkler, fire hydrant, gas suppression, fire alarm & detection, smoke control, fire doors, and passive fire protection
• Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and business-level English for effective communication with regional headquarters and international clients

Preferred competencies and qualifications

• Master’s degree, MBA, or professional certifications such as Registered Fire Engineer, PMP, or Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS)
• Existing network of relationships with main contractors, developers, design institutes, fire safety authorities, and industry stakeholders across major Chinese cities