> ERA VIDEO:

> How does a manufacturers’ rep partner with manufacturers and distributors to serve the customer?

Click to view this helpful slide deck:

> This document compiles colleges around the U.S. that have  relevant programs/tracks — such as professional sales programs, sales engineering, supply chain programs and technical sales — that present recruitment possibilities.

> ERA hosted an ERA LIVE in October 2025 on the topic of best practices for college recruitment.

Watch this expert panel take a deep dive into valuable best practices for building your future workforce, including college recruitment at local job fairs; recruiting for the manufacturers’ rep world; College curriculum and preparing students for this industry; finding candidates on Handshake; internships… and more! WATCH.

> Some more recruitment tips from ERA: 

ERA offers a special interest group for ERA-member early-career individuals in the electronics components sales industry, in order to provide the group with a forum for networking and sharing ideas. The group typically meets quarterly virtually and once per year in-person at the ERA Conference in February.

NEXGEN is always welcoming to new members. We require a rep firm owner/manager to nominate the individual formally.

Read more information on ERA’s NEXGEN group.

ERA is debuting a new mentoring program in 2026! Stay tuned for details.

Would you like to volunteer to share your knowledge, wisdom and support as an ERA mentor?

Fill out the Be an ERA Mentor form and let us know!

Manager / Director – Business Development

DCA Manufacturing, an electronic manufacturing services provider of printed circuit board assembly, test and system integration with manufacturing facility in Cumberland, WI and Troy, MI is looking for a driven and strategic business development manager / director to accelerate growth. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced technology environment, understands the dynamics of contract manufacturing and can build long-term partnerships with OEMs across diverse industries. You’ll be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, nurturing key customer relationships and shaping commercial strategies that position our EMS capabilities as the partner of choice.

Key Responsibilities

New Business Acquisition

• Identify, qualify, and secure new business opportunities within target markets such as industrial, Defense, Medical and Automotive sectors.
• Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve revenue and margin targets.
• Collaborate with internal teams (engineering, operations, supply chain, quality) to deliver customer-focused solutions.

Commercial Strategy & Negotiation

• Present proposals, quotations and business cases.
• Coordinate contract negotiations, pricing discussions and long-term agreements.
• Work closely with leadership to forecast sales pipelines and support strategic planning.

Technical & Operational Collaboration

• Understand EMS capabilities including PCB assembly, box build, testing, supply chain management and NPI processes.
• Coordinate with engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure feasibility, cost optimization, and timely delivery.
• Support customer audits, technical reviews and project kick-offs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, electronics or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in EMS or electronics contract manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of electronics manufacturing processes and supply chain dynamics.
• Proven track record of achieving sales targets and developing new accounts.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Ability to travel as required.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with commission structure.
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and global customers.
• A collaborative, growth-oriented work environment.
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities.

How to Apply

If you’re passionate about technology, skilled at building relationships and excited to drive growth in a dynamic EMS environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Send your resume to USingh@dcamfg.com. Learn more about us at https://dcamfg.com/.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities:

In this position, you will be responsible for driving new sales growth through your sales ability and product application experience.
-Develop direct OEM mobile accounts
-Identify relevant target accounts and growth potential opportunities
-Maintain continual relationship with existing customers within an established region
-Develop proposals and present to customers and prospective clients
-Call on new accounts
-Attend tradeshows to identify new technology on the market

Required Experience and Knowledge:
-Minimum of (5+) years OEM mobile accounts
-Practical experience and understanding of hydraulics and pneumatics industry
-Customer focus with strong negotiation skills
-Experience writing and deploying proposals and client presentations
-Must be a self-starter as position will require working remotely
-Must be highly organized with strong communication skills

Travel Requirements:
-This position will require travel to see customers within the sales territory.
-Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Neptune Electronics, a long-standing rep firm from metro NY down to Chesapeake, is looking for an outside salesperson for the Mid- Atlantic Market (S. NJ, E. PA, DE). The ideal candidate would be located in NJ or PA with 3-5 years of industry experience. This is an already established territory for Neptune with a long history of sales and customer engagement. Neptune offers a competitive base salary with commissions, car allowance, mileage reimbursement and phone coverage.

Please contact Kurt Battaglia at (201) 410-1712 or kurtb@neccoelect.com.

Southeast Electro-Mechanical rep firm seeking an outside sales person for the Carolinas. Ideal candidate would be located in the Carolinas with 5 plus years outside sales experience. Competitive commission structure with car allowance, medical and dental plan, along with 401k matching and profit sharing program. Please contact Bill Manda at 615-579-4430 or bill.manda@tenntechllc.com.

Candidates must be motivated and a self-starter with a willingness to learn the trade of selling passive electromechanical components and interconnect products. Applicants should be comfortable engaging with industry professionals—from engineering to purchasing to key decision makers within the electronics industry. The qualified individual will be calling on every facet of industry in the territory. From industrial automation, IPE, automotive, consumer electronics, medicalcontrols to the back shops at amusement parks. The candidate will need to know how to also work with our distribution partners for the various lines we represent. The key to being a representative is to learn how to sell the synergy of the lines we represent. When we sell for one application we should sell several of our other manufacturers at the same account.

Qualifications:

1. Mechanical and/or electrical/electronic aptitude.
2. Work experience engaging with industry professionals.
3. An engineering or business degree is preferred but not required.
4. Computer literacy with Microsoft 365 applications (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Teams and OneDrive), Adobe Acrobat, Zoom and common web search tools.
5. Ability to work from a home office and manage time effectively while in the field with customers.
6. Must have a reliable, presentable vehicle for business use.
Compensation includes a base salary plus a bonus program, benefits, gas card and reimbursable business expenses.

Please review our company web site at www.glsmith.com to clearly understand who we are and what we do in the industry.

Please send resumes to: Gary Lee Smith, garysmith@glsmith.com.