Business Development Manager in Chelmsford

INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT & HR EXPERTS ACROSS THE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, SPECIALITY CHEMICALS, LIFE SCIENCES, BIOPOLYMER, FOOD ADDITIVES & INGREDIENTS, ENERGY AND RECYCLING SECTORS SINCE 1975.

Based in the UK, Coda Plastics is a well-established, UK-based manufacturing business with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, technically advanced plastic solutions. With decades of expertise across injection moulding, blow moulding (injection and extrusion), assembly, and printing, Coda Plastics partners with customers across a wide range of industries to bring innovative products to life. The business is known for its commitment to quality, technical excellence, and customer collaboration, offering end-to-end support from concept through to full-scale production.

In order to realise their future mission, Coda Plastics would like to appoint an entrepreneurial experienced Business Development Manager who will play a key role in driving new business and expanding into new markets. Excellent career development opportunities are available.

Summary of opportunity: We are seeking a highly driven and entrepreneurial New Business Development Manager to accelerate growth through new customer acquisition, emerging market development, and the creation of innovative product and sector opportunities. This is a high-impact role focused on identifying and unlocking new revenue streams—leveraging Coda Plastics’ extensive manufacturing capabilities while also shaping future capability where commercially viable.

Key Responsibilities:

• New Customer Acquisition & Market Development: Identify, map, and engage prospective customers across diverse sectors and emerging markets. Build and manage a strong pipeline through research, networking, and proactive prospecting. Develop compelling, tailored value propositions that highlight Coda Plastics’ strengths. Represent the business at customer meetings, trade shows, industry events, and through digital channels.
• New Product & Solution Development: Collaborate with Technical, Engineering, and Production teams to explore new opportunities. Translate customer challenges into viable manufacturing solutions. Support concept development, feasibility studies, costing, and project timelines. Guide customers through sampling, validation, and production ramp-up. Champion investment in new capabilities where commercially justified.
• Sector Expansion & Strategic Growth: Identify and evaluate new markets aligned with the company’s technical strengths. Develop go-to-market strategies including competitor analysis and positioning. Promote core strengths including quality, service, design, and technical expertise. Explore opportunities across a broad range of sectors, including but not limited to pharma, medical, food contact, and high-specification applications.
• Opportunity Leadership & Internal Collaboration: Act as the internal lead for new business opportunities. Coordinate cross-functional teams across design, quality, operations, and commercial. Support early-stage project definition, risk analysis, and commercial modelling. Maintain accurate CRM reporting, forecasts, and pipeline visibility.

Person Profile:

• Essential Attributes: Proven success in business development, technical sales, or commercial roles within manufacturing. Experience within plastics, moulding, or engineered products is highly desirable. Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build opportunities from the ground up. Strong commercial acumen with the ability to communicate technical solutions clearly. Excellent presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Desirable: Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) and project management. Understanding of injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, tooling, and production processes. Experience in sectors such as packaging, components, or high-spec regulated industries. Exposure to value-added services such as assembly, decoration, or packaging integration.

What’s on Offer: Competitive salary with performance-related bonus. Clear career progression within a growing, innovation-focused business. Exposure to a wide range of industries, products, and technical challenges. A supportive culture that values initiative, creativity, and commercial thinking.

For UK roles, candidates must be eligible to work and live in the United Kingdom. Proof of eligibility will be required with your application.