Commercial Manager – Chromatography & Purification Systems

Custom Processing Services, Inc.; Reading; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading chromatography solutions provider in the United Kingdom is seeking a Commercial Manager to drive business development and technical engagement in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. This role demands a candidate with over 5 years of experience in industrial-scale chromatography operations, capable of blending technical expertise with commercial strategy. The Commercial Manager will develop new market opportunities, oversee operations teams, and support customer engagements, ensuring alignment with business goals. Excellent communication skills are crucial for success in this position.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in industrial chromatography operations.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with chromatography columns.
• Excellent communication skills and customer relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business opportunities.
• Manage operations teams for commercial trials.
• Serve as a liaison between customers and internal teams.

Skills

Business development

Technical sales

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related field

Job description

Description

We are seeking a Commercial Manager with a strong technical background in industrial-scale chromatography operations within the food and/or pharmaceutical sectors. This role blends commercial strategy with hands‑on technical expertise to identify growth opportunities, develop strategic partnerships, and support customers implementing large‑scale purification and separation processes.

The ideal candidate has direct experience operating or supporting industrial chromatography columns (e.g., SMB, simulated moving bed, packed‑bed, or continuous chromatography systems) and can translate technical capabilities into commercial value for customers in bioprocessing, food ingredient purification, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Requirements

Accountable Functions and Responsibilities

Business Development & Market Growth

• Identify and develop new business opportunities in food processing, nutraceuticals, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Build and maintain relationships with process engineers, Operations Team, TSE teams, and plant manager
• Develop market strategies for extraction and chromatography‑based separation technologies and related services.
• Manage the full sales lifecycle from lead generation and qualification to proposal development and contract closure.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, trade shows, and technical events.

Operational Management

• Equipment and process owner responsible for design, set‑up, and optimization of the extraction and purification operations in Building 3
• Oversee and manage operations teams to complete commercial trials on the extraction and purification equipment
• Working collaboratively with the Building 3 Plant Manager, ensure the extraction and purification operations is run to optimize output without compromising employee Health and Safety or Product Quality

Technical Engagement

• Serve as a technical‑commercial liaison between customers and internal engineering/process teams.
• Support customers in evaluating chromatography solutions for purification, fractionation, and ingredient isolation.
• Provide guidance on scale‑up, column operation, resin selection, and process optimization.
• Assist with pilot trials, feasibility studies, and process demonstrations.
• Translate operational insights into customer value propositions and ROI analyses.

Strategic Collaboration

• Work closely with process engineering, R&D, and product management to align customer needs with product development.
• Contribute to the development of new applications in food ingredients, APIs, and bioproduct purification.
• Provide market intelligence and competitive insights to leadership.

Job Metrics (Measurements of Success)

• Safety Incident rate
• New Revenue growth in separation projects
• Qualified Pipeline Value
• Pilot Trials Initiated
• 360 feedback from peers and co‑workers

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Food Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial chromatography operations, process engineering, or technical sales in food, biotech, or pharmaceutical industries.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience operating or supporting industrial‑scale chromatography columns, including system setup, troubleshooting, and process optimization.
• Strong understanding of chromatographic separations, resins, and scale‑up considerations.
• Proven ability to develop and close business opportunities in technical or capital equipment environments.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to commercial and executive audiences.
• Technical credibility in industrial separations and purification technologies
• Strategic business development and opportunity management
• Customer relationship building and consultative selling
• Cross‑functional collaboration
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with continuous or simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography systems.
• Background in bioprocessing, protein purification, sugar purification, amino acids, organic acids, or nutraceutical ingredients.
• Familiarity with GMP environments and regulatory considerations in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• MBA or additional training in business, marketing, or commercialization.
• Experience managing strategic accounts or long sales cycles for industrial process equipment.