The Senior Business Development Manager is responsible for developing and commercializing a robust opportunity pipeline of new products into existing and new segments of a defined market. You will accelerate GEON’s profitable volume and market share growth by creating a portfolio of near-term and longer-term opportunities aligned with the company’s strategy and goals.
This position requires a strategic thinker with strong market intelligence, customer insight capabilities, and the ability to build and maintain key internal and external relationships. The ideal candidate will be adept at managing a diversified innovation portfolio and converting those projects into recurring sales. Additionally, they will act as a key influencer within the organization, championing the use of GEON’s business processes and collaborating closely with Innovation, Marketing, and Sales colleagues.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or business is preferred, although equivalent work experience will be considered.
• 10+ years of experience required in business development, technical sales, product management, product development, strategic marketing, and/or related discipline, preferably in a polymer or chemical-related industry. Prior experience selling polymers in the medical products industry required.
• Demonstrated drive, sense of urgency, and inquisitive nature
• Business and financial acumen to identify and monetize GEON’s value proposition, including customer needs analysis and market positioning
• Customer focus, with aptitude for listening and for persuasively communicating ideas and information
• Strong influencing skills to drive development of solutions which meet customer needs
• Effective cross-functional team leadership and collaboration
• Data analysis skills to leverage customer and market insights for strategic decision-making
• Organizational skills to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects
• Negotiation expertise with internal and external stakeholders, particularly customer contract negotiation for pricing, terms, and contracts
• Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced, constantly evolving business environment
• Cultural awareness to work with diverse colleagues and customers globally
• Proficient in CRM tools (Salesforce preferred) to manage opportunities and report progress

• Market & Opportunity Identification:
• Analyze market trends and customer demands to identify emerging opportunities and potential risks
• Collect & share voice of customer (VOC) throughout product development process, translating customer needs into actionable insights and refining product requirements based on customer feedback
• Build informal & formal relationships with external partners (suppliers, research institutions, startups, …) to identify future market needs
• Innovation Strategy and Portfolio Management (new products into existing or new markets):
• Define & refine market/innovation roadmap based on market dynamics and long-term business goals. Facilitate cross-functional team (R&D, Product Management, Marketing) to prioritize projects with highest market, technical and financial feasibility
• Ensure balanced and diversified innovation portfolio which meets short & long-term business goals
• Monitor innovation performance metrics to adjust strategies and reallocate resources as needed
• Identify strategic partnerships or acquisitions to enhance the innovation portfolio
• Go-to-Market Strategy:
• Convert Type 3 & 4 projects into recurring sales by developing business cases, crafting launch strategies with Marketing, and ensuring Operations & Supply Chain capabilities are aligned
• Document value proposition with Marketing and assess potential to sell into additional applications
• Track customer adoption rates and collect feedback to optimize post-launch product performance
• GEON Influencer:
• Partner with Sales and Distribution to deliver the assigned market’s Annual Operating Plan (AOP) volume and margin through team selling
• Champion GEON’s innovation and selling processes