Business Development Manager

Position Summary:

The Business Development role is responsible for executing growth initiatives by identifying and advancing new business opportunities aligned with Americhem’s strategic goals. Guided by the market strategy set by the Global Market Manager, this role plays a key part in expanding our presence in the masterbatch and engineered compounds markets. The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of customer needs, strong commercial instincts, and the ability to translate technical material solutions into competitive advantage. This individual will uncover unmet needs, forge strategic partnerships, generate qualified leads, and support targeted sales efforts to help turn market strategy into measurable, long-term growth.

Position Requirements/Preferred Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field; MBA preferred.

Experience: 5+ years in business development, technical sales, or commercial strategy—ideally within the plastics, polymer, or chemical manufacturing sectors. Proven success in growing customer relationships, executing strategic deals, and collaborating cross-functionally in B2B environments. Experience working with masterbatch, compounding, or specialty material solutions is strongly preferred.

Essential Duties:

• Identify unmet customer needs and emerging opportunities to inform strategic direction set by the Global Market Manager(s).
• Build internal and external partnerships to deliver customer-driven solutions.
• Execute growth initiatives by generating leads, building a qualified pipeline, and closing deals aligned with strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, R&D, and product management to bring market strategy to life.
• Track industry trends and customer shifts to deliver timely, actionable insights.
• Support major accounts and cross-selling efforts across products and regions.
• Deliver customer insights and opportunity assessments to guide strategic decisions and refine priorities.

Competencies:

• Opportunity Identification and Commercial Growth
• Customer Insight and Technical Needs Assessment
• Partnership and Relationship Building
• Sales Acumen and Deal Execution
• Strategic Sales Support
• Market and Industry Intelligence
• Entrepreneurial Mindset and Resilience

Desired Qualities/Attributes:

• Strategic thinker who connects market trends to growth opportunities.
• Skilled relationship-builder with both technical and commercial partners.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity.
• Comfortable with both consultative and solution-based selling in technical environments.
• Ability to access and penetrate accounts High, Wide and Deep.
• Energetic and resilient, with a strong drive to achieve commercial goals.

Competencies:

Competency: Opportunity Identification and Commercial Growth
Definition: Recognizes, prioritizes, and develops new business opportunities that align with strategic goals.
Assessment Indicators:

• Identifies and qualifies potential business opportunities.
• Prioritizes high-value targets for long-term growth.
• Demonstrates a track record of expanding revenue streams or entering new markets.

Competency: Customer Insight and Technical Needs Assessment
Definition: Uses research and data to uncover unmet customer needs and translate them into viable opportunities.
Assessment Indicators:

• Conducts customer discovery through interviews, feedback, or market studies.
• Identifies pain points and develops value propositions accordingly.
• Incorporates customer insight into tailored solution recommendations.

Competency: Partnership and Relationship Building
Definition: Builds productive relationships internally and externally to drive collaboration and growth.
Assessment Indicators:

• Establishes trust and alignment with stakeholders across departments.
• Leverages internal networks to accelerate opportunity development.
• Fosters external partnerships that enhance company value.

Competency: Sales Acumen and Deal Execution
Definition: Effectively generates leads, builds pipelines, and closes deals to meet business targets.
Assessment Indicators:

• Applies a structured approach to the sales funnel (prospecting, qualifying, closing).
• Demonstrates negotiation and influencing skills to win business.
• Meets or exceeds deal conversion goals consistently.

Competency: Strategic Sales Support
Definition: Collaborates with sales teams to develop and implement strategic initiatives that drive performance.
Assessment Indicators:

• Supports major account planning and cross-sell opportunities.
• Provides market and customer insights to shape sales strategy.
• Enhances the value proposition through strategic alignment.

Competency: Market and Industry Intelligence
Definition: Monitors external trends and competitive landscape to inform strategy and positioning.
Assessment Indicators:

• Stays up to date on market dynamics, regulations, and innovation trends.
• Analyzes competitor activity and market shifts.
• Translates insights into actionable recommendations.

Competency: Entrepreneurial Mindset and Resilience
Definition: Demonstrates initiative, adaptability, and persistence in driving business growth under uncertainty.
Assessment Indicators:

• Takes ownership of opportunities with a proactive, self-starter approach.
• Adapts strategies when faced with setbacks or evolving conditions.
• Maintains motivation and energy through ambiguity and change.