Materials Solutions Lead

We are working with a growing specialist materials business to recruit a
Commercial & Technical Sales Lead to join its Materials Solutions team near Cambridge.

This is a highly technical and commercially focused role, working at the point where materials science, engineering, customer requirements and commercial solutions come together.

You will take ownership of complex customer requirements, projects and opportunities, using your technical expertise to understand the problem, identify the most appropriate materials or products and develop practical solutions. You will work closely with the internal sales and account management teams, providing the technical expertise needed to support and progress customer opportunities.

This isn't a traditional sales or business development position. The commercial relationship is managed by the company's established sales and account management teams. Instead, you will provide the technical and commercial expertise behind complex customer opportunities, helping the sales team understand the customer's requirements, what can be delivered and the best solution for their needs.

As a senior member of the Materials Solutions team, you will also take a leading role in coordinating projects, supporting technical specialists and developing less experienced members of the team.

The role would suit an experienced and commercially minded professional with a strong background in materials science, polymers, engineering, chemistry or a related technical discipline, who enjoys solving complex problems, working on projects and understanding different products and materials.

• Lead complex and technically challenging customer projects from initial enquiry through to solution.

• Understand and interpret customers' technical and material requirements.

• Translate customer requirements into practical, deliverable materials, products and technical solutions.

• Work closely with the sales and account management teams, providing technical and commercial expertise to support customer opportunities.

• Coordinate technical, sourcing and quality specialists to develop the right solution.

• Investigate materials, specifications, products and technical requirements to determine the most appropriate options.

• Take ownership of complex technical problems and identify effective solutions.

• Liaise with suppliers and technical partners to understand capabilities and develop solutions.

• Occasionally visit suppliers where a face-to-face technical discussion, assessment or project meeting is required.

• Provide technical input into proposals and customer discussions.

• Use commercial awareness to understand the wider requirements of projects, including feasibility, value and potential solutions.

• Support the development and progression of less experienced members of the Materials Solutions team.

• Share technical knowledge and best practice across the team.

• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and colleagues.

• Identify opportunities to improve processes, products, capabilities and ways of working within the Materials Solutions team.

• Contribute to the continued development and growth of the Materials Solutions function.

• A degree, or equivalent technical qualification, in materials science, engineering, chemistry or a related discipline.

• Strong technical knowledge of materials and their properties, with experience in areas such as polymers, metals, alloys, ceramics, composites or similar.

• Significant experience of applying technical knowledge to real-world customer, engineering or product requirements.

• Experience of leading or managing technically focused projects or complex customer requirements.

• The ability to understand a complex technical problem and translate it into a practical solution.

• The ability to communicate technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical colleagues.

• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of how technical solutions need to work for both the customer and the business.

• Experience working collaboratively with technical, engineering, manufacturing, research, sales or commercial teams.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Good communication skills and the confidence to work with customers, suppliers and internal teams.

• The ability to coordinate and influence technical specialists across different areas of a project.

• A proactive approach with the ability to manage multiple projects and technical opportunities.

• The ability and ambition to…