Business Development Manager

Avantium is an innovation-driven pioneer in the emerging industry of renewable and sustainable chemistry. We offer unique technological solutions to reduce plastic waste, new chemical processes for the bio-based economy and R&D equipment and services to accelerate the development of new catalytic processes.

Most of the materials and chemicals used in modern daily life – such as plastics, packaging, furniture and clothing – are based on fossil resources like oil, gas and coal. Changing this paradigm is an ambitious goal but also a promise for a better future. This is why we at Avantium work on developing practical solutions to accelerate the transition to a fossil-free world. We do this by focusing on innovative plant-based chemicals and materials as well as aiming to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to a valuable resource for sustainable products. Avantium’s Volta Technology is a platform technology that uses electrochemistry to convert CO2 to high value chemical building blocks and polymers.

Avantium intends to spin out Volta Technology into a new business entity, in which Avantium will remain a shareholder. This position will form part of the new Volta Technology company and not of Avantium N.V.

We are looking for a Business Development Manager who will commercialize our Glycolic Acid products which will be produced in our demonstration and flagship plants. The Business Development Manager will be responsible for the acquisition of new customers in the Personal Care market, and for developing partnerships with brand owners and distributors in that market segment. The Business Development Manager will report to the Chief Product Officer.

The key objective of the Business Development Manager is to identify and develop business opportunities in the Personal Care segment that support the development, scale-up and commercialization of the Volta Technology.

To achieve this, you will be responsible for:
-    Acquisition of new opportunities with key customers in the Personal Care segment and converting these into offtake agreements for the Demonstration and Flagship Plant
-    Set up Distributor Agreements with distributors in the Personal Care segment
-    Develop and execute a commercialization strategy for our Glycolic Acid in the Personal Care market
-    Monitor market insights and market reports, collect and analyze relevant data, and provide perspective regarding interest areas and relevance to translate market insight into strategic focus
-    Collect and convert customer requirements into technical product specification
-    Represent Volta at conferences with the goal of increasing general awareness on the product, lead generation and building relationships with external contacts into meaningful partnerships. 

You have:

• Master or Bachelor degree in Chemistry, Business, or Commercial area
• At least 5 years of work experience in a B2B environment, of which at least 2 years in a commercial role in Business Development or Sales and Marketing
• Experience in working in the Personal Care ingredients industry, experience in working with (large) brand owners is a pre
• The ability to independently identify, assess, and execute business opportunities
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills (both oral as written)
• Experience in sustainable concepts and product positioning is advantageous
• Personal skills: enthusiastic, critical but can-do mentality, result-oriented, ability to work at tight deadlines.
• Languages: Fluent in English, being able to speak more languages is desirable
• Willingness to travel internationally for 30-50% of working time

If this description matches your skills or interest, we welcome your application via the link provided. The selection process includes interviews starting from May 1st. Shortlisted candidates will be approached accordingly. To ensure a fair and efficient process, we kindly ask candidates not to contact us directly.