Business Development Specialist

Croda International • Plainsboro, NJ

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Croda is seeking a Business Development Specialist to lead growth for its Industrial Specialties business in the CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers) and Thermal Management markets. Working closely with Sales, the role identifies and develops new customers and product offerings, combining market development, strategic account engagement, opportunity management and cross-functional project leadership. The position translates customer needs and market trends into a sustainable pipeline of profitable, differentiated business.

The role develops regional growth strategy and qualified opportunities, builds strategic customer relationships, and works across Sales, Applications, R&D, Marketing, Product Management and other functions to progress projects and support adoption. It produces market and competitive assessments, account plans, forecasts and business cases, and represents the business in customer and industry settings. The position has no initial direct line-management responsibility, but leads cross-functional project teams and may coach colleagues supporting priority market initiatives.

This is a hybrid role located in Princeton, New Jersey. The stated annual salary range is $125,000–$140,000, with actual compensation determined by factors including location, experience, education and skills. Additional compensation, such as annual bonuses or other incentives, may be offered based on eligibility and company policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, polymer science, business or a related discipline; equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated business development or technical sales experience in specialty chemicals, materials or adjacent industrial markets.
• Ability to connect chemistry, formulation performance and sustainability benefits to customer value and commercial outcomes.
• Strong market analysis, opportunity qualification, strategic account planning, forecasting and project-management skills.
• Commercial acumen, including value-based selling, pricing, margin awareness, negotiation and business-case development.
• Excellent presentation, influencing and relationship-building skills with technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Self-directed and collaborative, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects in a matrix organization.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, market intelligence tools and standard business software.
• Conduct work in accordance with applicable company policies, laws, trade compliance, product stewardship, and environmental, health and safety standards.
• Protect confidential information and intellectual property, and escalate relevant product, application, supply, quality or compliance risks.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced technical degree or MBA.
• Working knowledge of CASE applications and value chains; experience in coatings, adhesives, sealants or elastomers is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of Thermal Management applications and performance requirements, including heat-transfer fluids, cooling systems, thermal interface materials or related technologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional growth strategy for CASE and Thermal Management in alignment with Industrial Specialties priorities, revenue targets and margin objectives.
• Partner with Sales to identify and develop new customers, attractive market segments, unmet customer needs and new product offerings, particularly sustainable, high-performance and specialty solutions.
• Build and maintain a qualified opportunity pipeline from early-stage concept through commercialization, documenting value propositions, milestones, probability, timing and revenue potential.
• Develop strategic relationships with formulators, raw-material decision makers, technical leaders and commercial stakeholders at target accounts.
• Partner with Sales, Applications, R&D, Marketing, Product Management, Supply Chain and Regulatory teams to advance customer projects and remove adoption barriers.
• Translate customer and market insights into product-development briefs, application-data needs, launch plans and portfolio priorities.
• Create market maps, competitive assessments, account plans and commercial forecasts for CASE and Thermal Management opportunities.
• Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events, technical conferences and partner engagements, communicating a differentiated value proposition.
• Deliver profitable new business while maintaining disciplined pricing, forecast accuracy, CRM data quality and project governance.
• Communicate market strategy, pipeline status, risks, customer insights and recommended actions to regional and global stakeholders.
• Lead customer-facing technical and commercial discussions, adapting messages for R&D, procurement, operations and executive audiences.
• Coordinate across functions and regions to support timely decisions, clear ownership and consistent execution.
• Prepare business cases, presentations, account plans, forecasts and progress reports for leadership review.
• Conduct activities in accordance with company policies, competition law, anti-bribery requirements, trade compliance, product stewardship, and applicable environmental, health and safety standards.
• Ensure customer claims, technical statements and commercial communications are supported by approved data and appropriate regulatory review.
• Protect confidential information and intellectual property belonging to the company, customers and partners.
• Promptly escalate product, application, supply, quality or compliance risks through appropriate internal channels.
• Lead cross-functional project teams and potentially coach sales, technical and marketing colleagues supporting priority market initiatives.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Medical coverage available immediately
• Dental coverage available immediately
• Vision coverage available immediately
• Generous paid time off
• 401(k) match
• Wellness reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Career development
• Company-paid and voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays
• Potential annual bonuses or other incentives, based on eligibility and company policies

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level