Business Development Manager, SMS

Asahi Kasei•Charlotte, NC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Business Development Specialty Membrane Solutions (SMS), is responsible for Celgard’s growth initiatives and sales efforts for products and applications beyond lithium applications, mainly in North America. The role develops and delivers business development strategies to grow the specialty business segment by expanding the customer base and sales of current specialty products, identifying new and adjacent market segments, building long-term customer and partner relationships, and commercializing new products and processes. The position manages existing SMS applications, such as transdermal patches and textiles, and develops the company’s presence in new applications including vent, HVAC, filtration, ion-exchange, and adjacent lithium-ion battery applications such as sodium-ion. It directs multiple global sales channels involving Celgard and distributors, agents, partners, and consultants. The role has no direct reports, but coordinates regional sales representatives and external sales partners to grow specialty product sales. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Marketing and SMS, the position directs North American sales activities and drives profitable growth through product, brand, and channel management; new product commercialization; customer and market development; and cross-functional collaboration. Travel of up to 50% domestically and abroad is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 7 years of experience in B2B sales, technical sales, or business development, including extensive travel, international experience, and a diverse customer base.
Experience in pricing strategies.
Strong ownership and resilience in developing business and managing current and prospective customers.
Ability to work across the organization and constructively influence team objectives and outcomes.
Strong presentation skills.
Knowledge of key sales concepts, practices, and procedures.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to interface with senior management.
Ability to use data to inform decisions.
Ability to handle multiple priorities and navigate a highly matrixed environment.
Self-starter with curiosity, a bias for action, and an interest in impacting the business through analysis and data.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with management and cross-functional teams, including technical and non-technical audiences.
Demonstrated ability to influence at varying levels across the organization and operate independently.
Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% domestically and abroad.

Nice To Haves

Preference for a degree in Business Administration or Engineering.
Two years of B2C experience preferred.
Experience in pharma, healthcare, and medical packaging is highly preferred.
Experience developing and validating product and channel strategies, defining product requirements, and managing successful product commercialization in B2B settings.
Experience translating membrane characteristics into application benefits and value propositions is strongly preferred.
Experience developing new membrane-based applications through external partners is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Drive profitable sales growth for Celgard’s specialty product portfolio through product management, brand management, and channel management strategies.
Direct North American sales activities using internal and external resources.
Manage and expand existing Specialty Membrane Solutions applications, including transdermal patches and textiles.
Develop Celgard’s footprint in new specialty applications, including vent, HVAC, filtration, ion-exchange, and adjacent battery applications such as sodium-ion.
Develop and direct multiple global sales channels involving distributors, agents, partners, and consultants.
Coordinate regional sales representatives, distributors, and agents in their efforts to grow specialty product sales.
Direct phase-gate and commercialization processes for new products across relevant market segments and applications.
Communicate the company’s value proposition, technology, processes, and partnerships.
Develop business models and go-to-market strategies tailored to each market segment.
Direct cross-functional and cross-organizational actions to meet customer and product needs.
Develop relationships at multiple levels within customer organizations.
Identify new product, market, and business opportunities.
Collect and provide market, customer, and competitor intelligence.
Work with Marketing, Sales, and R&D to develop strategic selling initiatives.
Support payment, engineering, and customer support issues.
Develop annual sales budgets by customer and for the overall Specialties business.
Develop and maintain the customer database.
Negotiate customer contracts and long-term agreements.
Build relationships with customers, vendors, distributors, and sales and marketing teams.
Research emerging trends and recommend new company offerings to meet customer needs.
Present business or marketing opportunities to company executives and management.