Business Development Manager

Compensation: $90,000–$100,000 base + 20% bonus

Employment Type:
Full-Time, Direct Hire

The Business Development Manager will drive new revenue and market expansion for a specialty chemical manufacturer focused on custom formulations, UV/EB curing technologies, and application-specific solutions. This role is ideal for a technically fluent business developer who understands long sales cycles, collaborative R&D environments, and consultative selling into industrial and advanced materials markets. Success is measured by new customer wins, a qualified technical pipeline, and the ability to translate market needs into viable development opportunities.

• Generate new revenue from net-new customers requiring custom chemical formulations and technical problem-solving.
• Develop opportunities through industry associations, inbound inquiries, technical conferences, and targeted outbound outreach.
• Identify adjacent markets and applications where UV-curable and specialty chemistries solve unmet performance needs.
• Work closely with technical leadership to qualify opportunities that justify development effort and laboratory resources.
• Manage and grow distributor and representative relationships where appropriate, with an emphasis on value-added selling rather than commodity volume.
• Own the commercial process from initial contact through onboarding, coordinating NDAs, technical reviews, trials, and scale-up activities.

• New revenue from first-time customers
• Healthy, technically vetted sales pipeline
• Consistent outbound activity tied to real opportunities

• Maintain accurate CRM data and manage opportunities through a structured Stage-Gate process.
• Track prospects with development timelines, projected volumes, and technical/commercial risk levels.
• Build trusted relationships with engineers, formulators, and decision-makers at customer organizations.
• Prepare executive summaries and sales forecasts aligned with realistic commercialization paths.
• Present regular pipeline updates, insights from the field, and growth recommendations to leadership.

• Realistic forecasting tied to development maturity

• Conduct market research across UV curing, advanced coatings, adhesives, inks, and functional materials.
• Validate new market segments through direct engagement with technically aligned customers and industry influencers.
• Identify opportunities for differentiation based on formulation expertise, speed-to-market, customization, and service.
• Support long-term growth strategy by defining ideal customer profiles and application targets.
• Stay current on market trends, regulatory considerations, and emerging technologies relevant to specialty chemicals.

• Validated growth strategies

• Provide market-driven feedback to refine technical messaging and positioning.
• Support the development of sales presentations, application overviews, and technical collateral.
• Evaluate and participate in select industry trade shows and technical events based on strategic value.

• Marketing aligned with real customer needs
• Improved quality of inbound technical leads

• Develop strong working knowledge of specialty chemical formulations and application requirements.
• Collaborate closely with R&D and laboratory teams to understand capabilities, constraints, and development pathways.
• Help classify opportunities as good fit, fair fit, or not a fit based on technical feasibility and business value.
• Act as the commercial bridge between customers and internal technical teams throughout development and commercialization.

• Strong alignment between commercial and technical teams

The employee must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, move throughout laboratory and shop floor environments, use a computer, and reach with hands and arms. The role requires strong manual dexterity for precision work and visual acuity (corrected) to read technical documentation and inspect materials or components closely.

Physical demands include frequent sitting, standing, bending, reaching, and occasional squatting or kneeling. The employee must be able to lift and move up to 50 lbs. Vision requirements include close, distance, and color vision.

Founded in 2010, Top Prospect Group focuses on matching high-quality candidates with top-tier clients while fostering an environment where success is shared by all. In 2023, the company was acquired by HW Staffing Solutions, expanding its service offerings to include technology, engineering, and professional services.

Submit your resume, salary expectations, and references to be considered.