Head Of Specialities

Handley James Consulting Ltd; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading chemical consultancy is seeking a Head of Specialties to lead the Specialties segment. The role focuses on driving revenue growth, managing supplier partnerships, and developing a high-performing team. Candidates must have proven leadership experience in specialties or performance chemicals, and strong commercial acumen. This remote role includes travel, offering a competitive salary of £100,000 – £120,000 pa plus bonus and benefits.

Benefits

Bonus

Benefits

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in specialties or performance chemicals within distribution or manufacturing.
• Strong commercial acumen across sales and procurement.
• Track record of driving profitable growth and managing supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the commercial strategy for the Specialty portfolio.
• Own the P&L for the Specialty division, ensuring revenue growth.
• Manage and expand relationships with existing principals and specialty chemical manufacturers.

Skills

Leadership experience in specialties or performance chemicals

Strong commercial acumen

Knowledge of CASE, Personal Care, HI&I markets

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management skills

Job description

Handley James Chemical are excited to be engaged as the search partner to a family owned, billion turnover chemical business with both distribution and manufacturing capabilities. With over 60 years in chemical distribution market, they serve as an interface between chemical manufacturers and the chemical processing industry.

Providing a full service along the supply chain, including procurement, product development, individual mixing, logistics and manufacturing. Following exciting growth and the creation of a number of key roles, we are currently recruiting for a Head of Specialities, who will support the continued growth of the business.

Head of Specialties

As the Head of Specialties you will lead and grow the Specialties segment of the business by overseeing both sales and purchasing activities across CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants & Elastomers), Personal Care, and HI&I (Household, Industrial & Institutional) markets. This role is accountable for developing supplier partnerships, driving revenue growth, managing a high‑performing team, and delivering strategic commercial targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the commercial strategy for the Specialty portfolio across CASE, Personal Care and HI&I sectors.
• Own the P&L for the Specialty division, ensuring growth in revenue, margin and market share.
• Drive key account management and new business development efforts.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and customer needs to identify growth opportunities.
• Set pricing strategies in line with margin objectives and market conditions.
• Manage and expand relationships with existing principals and specialty chemical manufacturers.
• Identify and onboard new suppliers to broaden the product portfolio.
• Negotiate commercial terms, contracts and supply agreements.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team of sales managers, product managers and buyers.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture with clear objectives and accountability.
• Coordinate cross‑functional efforts with logistics, regulatory, finance and customer service teams.

Required Experience – Essential

• Proven leadership experience in specialties or performance chemicals within distribution or manufacturing.
• Strong commercial acumen across sales and procurement.
• Knowledge of at least two of the following markets: CASE, Personal Care, HI&I.
• Track record of driving profitable growth and managing supplier relationships.
• Experience overseeing P&L and commercial strategy.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Required Experience – Desirable

• Experience working within a UK/European chemical distributor.
• Familiarity with REACH, CLP, ESG and regulatory frameworks.

Additional Details

This role will suit an experienced leader, someone who knows how to coach and develop existing teams and is a visible individual who will travel to meet with their team, customers and suppliers. You will shape how the specialities division grows, works and what the future of the team looks like.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a global business experiencing exciting growth. The role is a remote position with expected travel domestically and internationally. The employer has offices throughout the UK; ideally, the candidate would be located in the South of the UK.

In return, our client is offering a base salary of £100,000 – £120,000 pa, plus bonus and benefits.