Business Development Manager - Industrial Chemicals

Our Client is a successful Specialty Chemical and Ingredients Supplier. They are now seeking a Business Development Manager - Industrial Chemicals & Roads. This position will be home based, with travel across the UK and location within the UK is flexible. It is a full-time permanent role reporting to the Sales Director.

Job Purpose

To play a key role as part of the wider group to drive a strategy for profitable and sustainable growth of the Industrial division, with a primary focus on leading and managing business development activities within this sector. The role will also support the Roads division where required, ensuring cross-sector collaboration, operational continuity, and the development of transferable skills across both business areas.

A key priority upon commencement will be to identify, evaluate, and onboard strategic supply partners, with an initial focus on the coatings, adhesives, and sealants industries, in order to expand the company’s product portfolio and strengthen alignment with the existing and target customer base. Consideration of additional industrial sectors will be encouraged, dependent on the successful candidate's expertise, background, and established customer relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Take primary responsibility for business development and growth of the Industrial division, driving strategic initiatives and identifying new market opportunities.
• Support the Roads division as required, including providing holiday cover and contributing to cross-divisional activities to ensure continuity and collaboration.
• Develop and maintain cross-sector knowledge and capabilities, enabling effective contribution across both Industrial and Roads business areas.
• Identify, evaluate, and establish new supply partner relationships, particularly within the coatings, adhesives, and sealants sectors, ensuring alignment with company strategy and customer needs.
• Expand and strengthen the product portfolio through strategic supplier partnerships that complement and enhance the existing offering.
• Play a key role in the successful achievement of all strategic aims of the unit.
• Increase sustainable profitability of the business unit.
• Develop business and opportunities with new customers across the UK and Europe.
• Maintain and nurture existing accounts within UK and Europe ensuring high customer satisfaction and healthy long-term relationships, undertaking travel as necessary.
• Develop a healthy and growing new business opportunities pipeline by generating new customers and new product sales across existing customers.
• Use existing and new industry contacts to develop new product portfolio and principal relationships.
• Drive the achievement of sales forecasts against planned targets and take actions to achieve targets.
• Demonstrate quality and reliability through recommendations and demonstrations that provide the best application of Industrial product lines, while maintaining profitability.
• Develop strategies and solutions to address specific customer opportunities and challenges.
• Promptly and effectively manage customer questions and concerns by making the appropriate referrals where required.
• In conjunction with customer service team, effectively resolve customer issues and questions by investigating problems, developing solutions, involving relevant parties and making appropriate recommendations.
• Collate and capture intelligent market information through customer dialogue, identify and determine key market trends and make actionable recommendations for business improvements.
• Serve as the voice of the customer and feedback to the business, strategic intelligence on important trade channel developments, trends and requirements.
• Manage current principals and forge healthy relationships with key supply partners.
• Plan for and attend relevant industry trade shows and follow up on actions on a timely basis.
• Prepare all sales and information reports accurately and submit them in a timely manner.
• Capture all information timely onto SCM and maintain key contact data accurately.

Qualifications / Experience

• Experience working within the specialty chemical industry (desirable - surface coatings or adhesives & sealants).
• Strong technical background. BSc in a Scientific field (or equivalent / similar) (desirable but not essential).
• Proven commercial acumen, with the ability to identify, develop, and successfully convert new business opportunities.
• Demonstrated experience in business development within industrial markets.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage professionally at all levels.
• Highly proactive, driven, and results-oriented, with a track record of delivering growth.
• Strong IT skills, including Excel, PowerPoint, and CRM systems.
• Collaborative team player with a flexible and adaptable approach, able to work across multiple business areas.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and manage priorities effectively.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Willingness and ability to undertake occasional international travel.
• Full UK driving licence.

In return our client is offering a basic salary of up to £60,000 per annum; (salary is negotiable dependent on experience); plus car allowance, bonus and benefits. Please send your C.V to Louise Roughley, Director at Atom Scientific Recruitment Ltd.