Director of Materials

Overview

Senior, hands-on commercial leader within a growing advanced-materials business. You will shape and execute the global commercial strategy, targeting high-value, technically complex markets. You’ll build senior-level relationships and convert technical interest into qualified programs, trials and long-term supply agreements. This role offers scope to scale the commercial function as the business grows, driving premium pricing and multi-year partnerships. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver growth and value across priority sectors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the global commercial strategy
• Identify and prioritise high-value applications enabling premium pricing
• Build and manage an international sales and opportunity pipeline
• Develop senior relationships with catalyst manufacturers, semiconductor-material companies, silicone formulators and specialist chemical businesses
• Engage with R&D, application development, technical procurement and executive decision-makers
• Convert customer interest into structured qualification programmes, paid trials and commercial supply agreements
• Negotiate premium pricing, development agreements and multi-year contracts
• Own revenue, margin, pipeline forecasting and commercial expenditure
• Develop account strategies across priority sectors
• Build the commercial function as the business scales, including sales, application development and distribution resources

Key requirements

• 15+ years’ commercial experience in specialty chemicals, catalysts, catalyst supports, silica, advanced inorganic materials or performance additives
• 5+ years at Commercial Director, Business Director, Global Market Director or equivalent
• Mandatory experience with high-purity materials (5N / 99.999%+)
• Strong track record of winning technically complex, high-margin business
• Established senior relationships within the catalyst industry and ideally additional target markets
• Experience managing complex customer qualification cycles and international P&L
• Strong technical credibility with chemists, materials scientists and engineers
• Experience negotiating multi-year supply, development or exclusivity agreements

• strong relationship-building with senior stakeholders
• strategic thinking and business development mindset
• cross-functional collaboration
• experience with high-purity materials (5N / 99.999%)
• knowledge of catalysts, catalyst supports, silica, and advanced inorganic materials
• ability to engage with chemists, materials scientists and engineers

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