Business Development Manager

Ultrapolymers; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Car/Car Allowance

Pension

Bonus Potential

Benefits Package

Job summary

Ultrapolymers, part of the Ravago Group, is seeking a commercially driven Business Development Manager to strengthen our UK team. You will identify new market opportunities, understand customer needs, and lead projects from concept to commercial success.

This role emphasizes consultative sales, technical insight into polymers, and building long-term customer relationships across industries. You will collaborate with sales, product management, and technical specialists, with travel across the UK.

Qualifications

• Proven success in business development, technical sales or commercial roles.
• Experience in polymers, plastics, chemicals, materials or related technical industry.
• Strong ability to identify, develop and convert new business opportunities.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Experience managing long-term sales cycles and complex customer projects.
• Commercially astute with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business opportunities within targeted market sectors.
• Build a pipeline of strategic opportunities that deliver sustainable revenue and profit growth.
• Develop market-entry and growth plans aligned with business objectives.
• Generate new business through prospecting, networking, referrals, and industry engagement.
• Promote Ultrapolymers’ value proposition and strengthen our position within key markets.
• Understand customers’ manufacturing processes, applications, and technical challenges.
• Lead application-development and material-conversion projects from opportunity identification through to commercial implementation.
• Collaborate with technical experts and suppliers to deliver innovative customer solutions.
• Coordinate projects through all stages of development and commercialisation.
• Manage opportunity pipelines, project milestones, and growth forecasts.
• Ensure opportunities are progressed effectively and converted into profitable business.
• Deliver regular updates and market intelligence to the wider commercial team.
• Develop strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing technical-commercial insight and support.
• Represent Ultrapolymers at customer meetings, exhibitions, conferences, and industry events.
• Work collaboratively across sales, product management, technical, and supply chain functions.

Skills

Business development

Technical sales

Polymers knowledge

Negotiation skills

Relationship-building

Travel flexibility

Education

Degree or equivalent in scientific/engineering/business

Job description

Business Development Manager

Shape the Future of Polymer Solutions

At Ultrapolymers, we are more than a polymer distributor. We partner with customers to solve complex technical challenges, develop innovative applications, and create sustainable business growth. As part of the Ravago Group, we combine global reach with local expertise, delivering high-quality polymer solutions across a diverse range of industries.

We are looking for a commercially driven and technically curious Business Development Manager to join our UK team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional who enjoys opening new markets, identifying application opportunities, and turning customer challenges into profitable business growth.

The Role

As Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for identifying, developing, and converting new business opportunities across the UK. Working closely with customers, suppliers, Product Managers, Account Managers, and Technical Specialists, you will lead projects from initial concept through to commercial success.

You will focus on creating demand, developing new applications, supporting material conversion projects, and driving growth within strategic market sectors.

This role suits someone who enjoys a consultative sales approach, has strong commercial acumen, and is passionate about helping customers solve technical and commercial challenges.

What You'll Be Doing

Driving Growth

• Identify and develop new business opportunities within targeted market sectors.
• Build a pipeline of strategic opportunities that deliver sustainable revenue and profit growth.
• Develop market-entry and growth plans aligned with business objectives.
• Generate new business through prospecting, networking, referrals, and industry engagement.
• Promote Ultrapolymers’ value proposition and strengthen our position within key markets.

Developing Customer Solutions

• Understand customers’ manufacturing processes, applications, and technical challenges.
• Identify opportunities for material substitution, innovation, and optimisation.
• Lead application-development and material-conversion projects from opportunity identification through to commercial implementation.
• Collaborate with technical experts and suppliers to deliver innovative customer solutions.

Managing Commercial Projects

• Coordinate projects through all stages of development and commercialisation.
• Manage opportunity pipelines, project milestones, and growth forecasts.
• Ensure opportunities are progressed effectively and converted into profitable business.
• Deliver regular updates and market intelligence to the wider commercial team.

Building Relationships

• Develop strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing technical-commercial insight and support.
• Represent Ultrapolymers at customer meetings, exhibitions, conferences, and industry events.
• Work collaboratively across sales, product management, technical, and supply chain functions.

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Proven success in business development, technical sales, or commercial roles.
• Experience within polymers, plastics, chemicals, materials, manufacturing, or a related technical industry.
• Strong ability to identify, develop, and convert new business opportunities.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience managing long-term sales cycles and complex customer projects.
• Commercially astute with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly throughout the UK.

Desirable

• Technical knowledge of polymers, compounds, engineering plastics, or related materials.
• Experience leading application-development or material-conversion projects.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in a scientific, engineering, or business discipline.
• Experience working with international suppliers and stakeholders.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently delivering new business growth and profitable revenue.
• Building a strong pipeline of strategic projects and opportunities.
• Contributing to Ultrapolymers’ market-leading reputation across the UK.
• Establishing trusted long-term customer relationships.
• Contributing to Ultrapolymers’ market-leading reputation across the UK and Ireland.

Why Join Ultrapolymers?

• Be part of a respected and growing international organisation.
• Work with leading polymer manufacturers and innovative customers.
• Enjoy autonomy, responsibility, and the opportunity to make a real commercial impact.
• Join a collaborative culture focused on expertise, customer success, and continuous improvement.
• Competitive salary, bonus potential, company car/car allowance, pension, and benefits package.