Director, West Business Development

Bridgestone Americas • Nashville, TN

3d

About The Position

The Director, West Sustainability Business Development is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and advancing strategic growth opportunities across the West region with an initial focus on commercializing domestic rubber and associated co-products derived from Guayule as well as new markets utilizing End-of-Life Tire materials. This leader will develop new business models, commercialize emerging products and value streams, and establish transformative partnerships that support the organization’s medium and long-term growth, profitability, sustainability, and supply-risk mitigation objectives. The Director will lead the development of comprehensive business and go to market strategies and investment recommendations, including financial modeling, market assessment, partnership structures, commercialization plans including direct or through 3rd parties (make/build/license). The role will lead and collaborate closely with business unit leadership and cross-functional teams, including Finance, Research and Development, Operations, Marketing, Government Relations, Legal, and Sales, to translate strategic opportunities into financially viable and executable business plans. This role will partner with external strategic partners and potential customers in co-creating new portfolio of products through collaborative co-creation activities across multiple products (rubber, resins, molded goods, and others). This includes developing new markets, sales channels, or sale relationships by identifying and negotiating strategic partnerships including financial arrangements, customer sharing, and intellectual property rights through possible co-creation. The individual will create and manage a portfolio of market development activities and timelines from concept to LOI and into the delivery phase (portfolio of businesses, products, and customers). This role also leads a small and very talented team of direct reports to deliver ambitious objectives, while being supported by a global and diverse set of functional team members. The long-term strategic plan assumes an increase in sales resources. Serving as a primary source of market, industry, and competitive insight, the Director will build relationships with customers, investors, start-ups, academic institutions, industry organizations, technology incubators, government agencies, and established companies. The position will regularly present business cases, progress updates, recommendations, and investment decisions to senior executives and other key stakeholders internally and externally. This role could also work with corporate development team on potential future acquisition or joint venture opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Marketing, Engineering, Strategy, or a related field.
• Ten or more years of relevant experience in business development, corporate strategy, strategic planning, finance, investment analysis, marketing, commercialization, or project leadership, including significant management or leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to identify growth opportunities, develop new business models, and bring financially viable products, services, or value streams to market.
• Strong corporate finance and investment evaluation capabilities, including financial modeling, return-on-investment analysis, scenario analysis, and preparation of business cases.
• Experience evaluating or developing strategic partnerships, acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, or other complex commercial arrangements.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a highly matrixed environment.
• Ability to work effectively with technical teams and business functions, translating complex technical, operational, and market information into clear commercial strategies.
• Strong strategic thinking, intellectual curiosity, analytical judgment, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas and articulate a clear vision, objectives, strategies, and execution plans.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, align, and build trusted relationships with senior executives, business leaders, external partners, customers, and investors.
• Collaborative leadership approach, strong listening skills, and the ability to operate effectively in situations involving ambiguity, evolving priorities, and complex stakeholder interests.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Business Administration or another relevant advanced degree.
• Experience in bio-based products, natural resources, agriculture, advanced materials, chemicals, resins, industrial products, manufacturing, or sustainability-focused businesses.
• Experience commercializing new technologies, emerging products, alternative materials, or coproduct value streams.
• Experience developing strategic relationships with start-ups, academic institutions, industry organizations, technology incubators, government entities, or strategic investment partners.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assess new markets, products, revenue streams, strategic partnerships, and other business development opportunities that support regional and enterprise growth objectives.
• Develop and implement commercialization strategies for emerging products, technologies, and coproducts, including market-entry plans, revenue models, pricing strategies, sales and distribution channels, customer value propositions, and partnership structures.
• Build scalable, end-to-end business models that integrate supply, operations, processing, product development, customer demand, and commercial execution.
• Evaluate the strategic and financial viability of investments, partnerships, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other growth opportunities through rigorous financial modeling, return-on-investment analysis, scenario planning, and risk assessment.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with potential customers, strategic investors, suppliers, growers, start-ups, academic institutions, technology incubators, industry organizations, and established companies.
• Lead the development and negotiation of strategic partnerships and commercial arrangements, including offtake agreements, investment structures, customer-sharing arrangements, and intellectual property considerations.
• Partner with business unit leaders to develop business-specific strategies and translate strategic priorities into actionable projects, programs, and investment opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives involving technical and business teams, including Research and Development, Finance, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Legal, Government Relations, and external partners.
• Monitor market developments, competitive activity, emerging technologies, regulatory considerations, and medium- to long-term industry trends to inform strategic planning and investment decisions.
• Provide industry and competitive expertise to business leaders and facilitate alignment across business units regarding growth priorities and emerging opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of medium- and long-term business plans by consolidating business unit priorities into a clear, cohesive, and actionable enterprise narrative.
• Responsible for managing OPEX and CAPEX budgets including Analyze capital requirements and support project prioritization, capital allocation, and approval decisions for new business and product development initiatives.
• Structure and lead complex corporate strategic projects from initial opportunity identification through business case development, executive approval, partnership formation, and commercialization.
• Develop and deliver executive-level presentations that communicate business opportunities, financial implications, strategic recommendations, implementation plans, progress updates, and decisions required.
• Influence stakeholders across a matrixed organization and build alignment among senior leaders, cross-functional teams, and external partners.
• Work with global teams and functions on global initiatives
• Establish appropriate performance measures and regularly track the financial, strategic, operational, and commercial progress of approved initiatives

Benefits

• A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
• The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.
• An effective and inclusive team.

What This Job Offers

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