International Business Development Manager – Specialty Chemicals
· @Dave
Location: United Kingdom or Europe – flexible based on candidate experience and market access Territory: Europe and international markets
Position type: Full-time employee or contract, depending on the candidate and country of residence
Join a well-established, privately owned specialty chemical manufacturer with an excellent reputation, experienced leadership, and real opportunity for career growth.
We are conducting an exclusive search for an International Business Development Manager to help expand the company's business across Europe and other international markets. The company sees significant opportunity outside North America and is investing in its international sales organization to capture it.
You will work alongside an experienced international business leader who brings extensive industry knowledge and established market relationships. The position offers the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility as the international business grows.
This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys opening doors. You'll prospect and develop new customers across targeted chemical markets, support and grow the company's international distributor and agent network, and work directly with customers' R&D, technical, purchasing, and manufacturing teams. You'll have the backing of internal technical and industry specialists.
This role may suit current technical sales representatives, export sales managers, international account managers, distributor channel managers, sales engineers, or independent sales consultants ready for a broader international role.
Why You Want to Work Here
- Real upside: Substantial untapped international opportunity, with leadership committed to pursuing it.
- A growing team: The company is investing in its sales organization, with opportunities for advancement.
- Mentorship: Work alongside an experienced international leader who can share extensive industry knowledge and established relationships.
- Support behind you: Technical and industry specialists back the international team.
- Autonomy: Build relationships and develop strategy across a broad international territory.
- Culture: A privately owned company with a collaborative environment and a long-term view of customers and employees.
What You'll Be Doing
- Identify, pursue, and win new business with manufacturers across Europe and other international markets.
- Develop opportunities in targeted industries, including personal care, coatings, adhesives, packaging, plastics/PVC, and related chemical applications.
- Support, develop, and manage international distributors and sales agents.
- Build relationships with R&D, technical, purchasing, and manufacturing decision-makers.
- Partner with internal technical, manufacturing, and commercial teams to deliver value-added solutions.
- Track market trends and competitive activity to identify new opportunities.
- Travel internationally to customers, distributors, and industry events.
You'll Be a Great Fit If
- You have a degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent hands-on chemical industry experience. A formulation or applications background is a plus.
- You have a successful track record selling specialty chemicals, raw materials, additives, or ingredients to manufacturers in one or more of these markets: personal care, coatings, adhesives, packaging, plastics/PVC, or related chemical applications.
- You understand the customers, technical requirements, and competitive landscape within your area of industry expertise.
- You have experience working with distributors and agents across multiple countries, or direct international business development experience.
- You enjoy technical selling and working with R&D and manufacturing personnel.
- You're energetic, personable, and at your best when prospecting and opening doors.
- You can clearly articulate your individual contributions to sales growth.
- You're self-motivated, organized, and comfortable with frequent international travel.
- You're based in the United Kingdom or continental Europe and have the legal right to work in your country of residence.
- You're fluent in English; additional European languages are advantageous.
About Key Corporate Services, LLC
Key Corporate Services is a leading executive recruiting firm specializing in the chemical industry and in the pharmaceutical ingredient, fine chemical, and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) that support pharma. Visit www.kcsllc.net to view additional opportunities.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for a confidential discussion.
Not quite the right fit? We regularly recruit for sales, business development, and technical roles across specialty chemicals, fine chemicals, pharmaceutical ingredients, and CDMOs. We'd still like to hear from you.
