Head of Business Development

Location: Germany or Netherlands

Travel: Regular travel across Europe, with occasional international travel

Employment: Full-time

Lead the Commercialisation of Innovative Hygiene Technology

Join an established international specialty chemicals organisation launching a new technology platform designed to transform professional hygiene applications.

This is a high-impact opportunity to build strategic partnerships with leading detergent manufacturers, influence commercial strategy and drive the adoption of new technology across international markets.

Package & Benefits

• Competitive compensation package reflecting experience and commercial expertise

• Opportunity to lead the commercialisation of innovative hygiene technology

• Significant autonomy to develop strategic customer relationships and partnerships

• Work within a small, entrepreneurial team supported by an established global organisation

• International exposure and long-term opportunities for professional development

Why This Business?

Our client is an established global specialty chemicals organisation investing in innovative technologies for the industrial hygiene and cleaning markets.

With a strong focus on product innovation, technical development and commercial growth, the business is developing a new generation of functional ingredients for professional detergent and hygiene applications.

You'll join an agile team of industry specialists, combining the flexibility of a developing business with the technical expertise and resources of a global organisation.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead business development activities targeting major professional detergent, industrial hygiene and cleaning companies across Europe and international markets.

• Leverage existing industry relationships to engage senior decision-makers within organisations such as Ecolab, Diversey, Kersia and similar businesses.

• Identify and develop strategic partnerships with leading detergent manufacturers and specialty chemical companies.

• Drive the commercialisation of innovative specialty ingredients and functional additives, from initial customer engagement through to product launch.

• Work closely with customer R&D, innovation, technical and commercial teams to integrate new ingredients into detergent formulations.

• Translate complex chemical technologies into clear commercial benefits, including product performance, cost-effectiveness and customer value.

• Lead technical evaluations, formulation trials, product validation and commercial negotiations.

• Negotiate supply agreements, joint development partnerships, pricing structures and commercial contracts.

• Develop strategic account plans, identify market opportunities and build a sustainable commercial pipeline.

• Collaborate with internal technical, regulatory, supply chain and commercial teams to deliver successful customer projects.

• Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events and international commercial discussions.

What We're Looking For

• Approximately 10-12 years of experience in business development, technical sales, strategic account management or commercial innovation.

• Strong experience within industrial hygiene, professional detergents, specialty chemicals, detergent ingredients or functional additives.

• An established network of senior decision-makers within leading professional detergent and hygiene manufacturers.

• Proven success introducing and commercialising innovative chemical ingredients, formulations or technologies.

• Strong understanding of the professional detergent and industrial cleaning market, including customer requirements and product development processes.

• Experience managing technical-commercial sales cycles, from initial customer engagement through to product evaluation, negotiation and commercial adoption.

• Demonstrated success negotiating commercial partnerships, supply agreements and joint development arrangements.

• Ability to engage confidently with senior commercial, R&D, innovation and technical stakeholders.

• Strong commercial judgement, negotiation skills and strategic account development experience.

• Entrepreneurial approach, with the ability to operate independently within a growing business.

• Willingness to travel regularly across Europe and occasionally internationally.