Business Development Lead

Business Development Lead – Oil & Gas Technical Services

Virtus USA is seeking a commercially driven Business Development Lead to grow our integrated laboratory systems business across Houston, the Gulf Coast, broader U.S. energy markets, and select North American opportunities.

This senior, hands-on role is designed for someone with established energy-sector relationships and the technical credibility to turn conversations with operators, EPC/EPCM firms, engineering companies, and strategic partners into qualified opportunities and signed projects.

Engagement details

• Engagement: 1099 independent contractor
• Location: Houston, Texas preferred
• Coverage: Houston, Gulf Coast, broader U.S. energy markets, and select North American opportunities
• Compensation: $4,000–$6,000 monthly retainer plus performance-based commission
• Travel: Approximately 25%, including client meetings, conferences, site visits, and select international travel
• Start date: Within 30 days
• Reports to: Executive Director and Managing Partner

About Virtus USA

Virtus USA helps oil and gas clients deliver integrated laboratory solutions spanning laboratory design, analytical instrumentation, LIMS and informatics, calibration, maintenance, testing support, and laboratory operations.

Drawing on multidecade experience across refinery, petrochemical, LNG, terminal, and midstream laboratories, we provide clients with fewer handoffs, clearer accountability, and a more execution-ready path from initial scoping through implementation and long-term support.

What you will do

• Build and manage a targeted pipeline across Houston, the Gulf Coast, broader U.S. energy markets, and select North American opportunities.
• Develop opportunities with operators of refineries, petrochemical plants, terminals, LNG facilities, and midstream assets, as well as EPC/EPCM and engineering firms.
• Use existing relationships to open doors, secure meetings, identify near-term opportunities, and map decision-makers, influencers, budgets, and approval processes.
• Position Virtus USA as an integrated partner across laboratory design, instrumentation, LIMS and informatics, calibration, maintenance, testing support, and operations.
• Translate client requirements into well-defined commercial opportunities, including scope, budget, schedule, stakeholders, technical requirements, and next steps.
• Own assigned opportunities from initial outreach through qualification, proposal development, negotiation, and signed work.
• Coordinate proposals, presentations, technical input, partner engagement, site visits, and client follow-up.
• Provide leadership with clear pipeline reporting, client feedback, competitive intelligence, risks, and recommended conversion priorities.
• Help shape target-account strategy, partnership priorities, market positioning, and early commercial wins.

What we are looking for

• Typically eight or more years of experience in business development, technical sales, project development, or a related commercial role.
• Relevant experience within oil and gas, EPC/EPCM, operator environments, technical services, instrumentation, laboratory services, automation, or a closely related field.
• Direct exposure to refinery, petrochemical, terminal, LNG, midstream, upstream, or related energy facilities.
• Established relationships with operators, EPC/EPCM firms, engineering companies, technical decision-makers, procurement professionals, or other energy-sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to originate opportunities, build trusted relationships, qualify leads, and advance complex, long-cycle sales processes.
• Sufficient technical fluency to discuss laboratory design, analytical instrumentation, LIMS and informatics, calibration, maintenance, and operating support as an integrated solution.
• Strong commercial judgment, communication, organization, initiative, and follow-through.
• Ability to operate independently in a lean, entrepreneurial environment.
• Comfort working under a 1099 independent-contractor arrangement with meaningful performance-based compensation.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship and willingness to travel.

Preferred experience

• Houston-based presence and an active relationship network across Houston, the Gulf Coast, and broader U.S. energy markets.
• Experience selling integrated technical solutions rather than standalone products or services.
• Experience navigating EPC/EPCM approved-vendor lists, framework agreements, procurement processes, and long-cycle capital projects.
• International business-development experience, particularly in South America or other major energy markets.
• Familiarity with laboratory systems integration, analytical instrumentation, LIMS, automation, calibration, or laboratory operations.

Compensation

The position includes a monthly retainer of $4,000–$6,000, depending on experience, relationship base, and expected scope, plus performance-based commission tied to qualified opportunities, signed projects, and agreed commercial milestones.

The final retainer, commission structure, territory, account ownership rules, and KPI framework will be agreed upon before the engagement begins. At-target performance is intended to support six-figure annual earnings, with additional upside for exceptional results.

How to apply

Please submit your résumé and a brief note outlining your relevant experience in oil and gas, EPC/EPCM or operator environments, laboratory systems, instrumentation, LIMS, technical services, or business development.

Selected candidates will be invited to an initial video conversation within two weeks of applying.

Virtus USA evaluates qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.