Business Development Manager- Custom Catalyst

Clariant • Louisville, KY

1d • Remote

About The Position

The Business Development Manager drives growth within the Custom Catalyst business segment by identifying, developing, and securing new business opportunities. This role uniquely blends commercial strategy with technical collaboration, partnering closely with customers, R&D, and Technical Service teams to evaluate and advance tailored catalyst solutions. You'll build enduring customer relationships, lead contract negotiations, and guide projects from initial opportunity through successful commercialization. As a key market-facing representative, you'll champion our custom value proposition, stay ahead of industry trends and competitive dynamics, and play a vital role in expanding our business footprint.Clariant Custom Catalysts partners with customers to develop, scale, and manufacture tailored catalyst solutions; transforming laboratory innovations into commercial production for chemical, petrochemical, and energy applications. In this role, you'll engage with a diverse portfolio spanning global industry leaders to agile, innovative start-ups, bringing specialized solutions to life across the full spectrum of the catalyst market. This is a remote position with preference for candidates based in or near Louisville, KY or Houston, TX.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field preferred
• 2-5+ years of experience in the chemical or petrochemical industry (technical and/or commercial roles)
• Experience in business development, sales, or account management
• Ability to manage customer relationships and commercial activities, including proposals and negotiations
• Willingness to travel up to ~30% (with potential for higher travel based on business needs

Responsibilities

• Generate and qualify new business opportunities for Custom Catalyst solutions, building a strong and sustainable sales pipeline
• Lead the commercial and technical evaluation of new opportunities in collaboration with R&D and Technical Service teams
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across customer organizations
• Conduct regular customer visits and sales calls to understand needs, present solutions, and drive engagement
• Prepare and deliver commercial proposals, including pricing, terms, and conditions, ensuring alignment with margin targets
• Manage forecasting, sales tracking, and pipeline reporting using CRM and internal systems
• Lead negotiation and execution of confidentiality agreements, project agreements, and supply contracts in collaboration with legal and leadership
• Coordinate cross-functional project teams to support scale-up, commercialization, and successful delivery of customer solutions
• Monitor market trends, customer needs, and competitor activities to identify growth opportunities and inform strategy
• Represent the business at industry conferences, customer meetings, and through digital channels to promote the Custom Catalyst value proposition
• Build and maintain technical knowledge through ongoing collaboration with R&D and operations teams

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances
• Paid Holidays
• PTO time with a carry-over benefit
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness Program
• EAP Program
• Spending and Savings Accounts
• Life/AD&D Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Online discount Mall
• Auto/Home Insurance
• Identity Theft Protection
• Legal Services Plan
• Includes base salary and annual incentive bonus; final offer based on skills, experience and internal equity.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees