Director, Market & Business Development - Performance Materials
About The Position
We are seeking a curious and hands-on individual to join our Performance Materials team. This role will partner directly with a technical lead to guide early-stage opportunities from concept through commercialization. The ideal candidate enjoys figuring things out, testing ideas, engaging with customers, and making informed decisions about investment. This is a role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building from the ground up, and is comfortable moving forward with incomplete information. The position may be classified as Manager or Director based on candidate experience. At Ingevity, we develop innovations that purify, protect and enhance the world around us. Our products enable oil to flow better, crops to grow fuller, roads to last longer and ensure that the air we all breathe is cleaner. Our people come from all different backgrounds and help reimagine new possibilities daily. We understand there is no challenge too big and no contribution too small. We seek out new ideas for tackling complex problems and celebrate achieving the improbable. We value each person’s unique talents and synergize them to create meaningful impact and sustainable solutions for our customers and our world.
Requirements
- 5–10 years of experience in B2B industrial markets (e.g., chemicals, materials, automotive components, filtration, engineered products).
- Experience taking an idea from concept to customer validation (seen, handled, reacted to, or tested).
- Experience with technically differentiated or IP-protected products requiring clear value communication.
- Ability to manage multiple early-stage opportunities and prioritize effectively.
- Experience collaborating closely with R&D, engineering, or technical teams to translate customer needs into development priorities.
- Exposure to specification-driven markets (automotive, electronics, industrial materials, engineered systems).
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry, materials, business, or a related field.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
- Ability to be hands-on during early customer testing or trials.
Nice To Haves
- Experience leading complex opportunity portfolios, influencing investment decisions, and shaping multi-year platform strategy.
- Experience coaching or leading other BD, product, or commercial team members.
- MBA, technical graduate degree, and/or equivalent experience leading multi-function commercial/technical teams.
Responsibilities
- Lead the commercial side of early-stage growth opportunities.
- Build a simple, clear commercial picture of each opportunity, including target audience, value proposition, current solutions, and competitive advantages.
- Collaborate with a technical counterpart to prioritize technical features based on market needs.
- Guide ideas through the Stage Gate process using customer feedback to inform decisions.
- Oversee the commercial strategy for multiple platforms, influencing focus and investment across the portfolio.
- Help set or refine criteria for evaluating opportunities and contribute to investment discussions.
- Engage directly with customers (users, buyers, engineers) to understand their needs and gather insights.
- Translate customer conversations into actionable insights regarding value, adoption drivers, and barriers.
- Build relationships with key customers to facilitate rapid learning.
- Identify promising market segments and applications, developing clear value propositions.
- Collaborate with Research & Technology (R&T) to align product development with customer needs.
- Define long-term platform growth strategies, including positioning and segment alignment.
- Support commercialization by defining positioning, adoption requirements, and value chain integration.
- Assist in defining early trials, specifications, and qualifications.
- Prepare opportunities for seamless handover to sales teams.
- Lead early commercialization strategy for platforms, ensuring consistent messaging, pricing, and positioning.
- Integrate customer insights into discussions with R&T, Operations, and Supply Chain.
- Ensure market relevance by balancing internal perspectives with market needs.
- Build trust with technical teams by providing practical customer insights.
Benefits
- Ingevity is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
