Business Development Specialist

Croda Singapore; Princeton (NJ); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (medical)

Wellness reimbursement

Parental leave

Life and AD&D insurance

Short- and long-term disability

Job summary

Croda is seeking a Business Development Specialist for Industrial Specialties in Princeton, NJ. You will lead growth in CASE and Thermal Management, identify new customers, and develop strategic opportunities across markets with a focus on sustainable, high-performance solutions.

The role requires strong market analysis, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver a profitable pipeline and robust forecasts. Hybrid work in Princeton, with a competitive salary package.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's in chemistry/related field; MBA/advanced degree preferred.
• Industry experience in specialty chemicals or adjacent markets is valued.
• Strong business development and technical sales orientation.

Responsibilities

• Develop regional growth strategy for CASE and Thermal Management aligned with priorities.
• Identify and develop new customers and market segments with sustainable solutions.
• Build and maintain an opportunity pipeline with value propositions and revenue potential.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to progress customer projects and enable adoption.

Skills

Market analysis

Opportunity qualification

Account planning

Forecasting

Project management

Value-based selling

Pricing and margins

Negotiation

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry or related discipline

Advanced technical degree or MBA preferred

Tools

CRM systems

Market intelligence tools

Job description

Plainsboro, NJ, United States of America

Business Development Specialist – Industrial Specialties

Croda is a FTSE 100 organization where we truly believe our people are our difference and this, along with our values of Innovative, Responsible and Together, creates ‘our Purpose, Smart science to improve lives™’. With over 5,000 employees globally, we specialize in the research and development of innovative ingredients for the Life Science and Consumer Care markets.

We are focused on developing our inclusive culture through accountability, collaboration and innovation. By joining Croda, you will be part of a team who are using smart science to create a more sustainable future.

As we deliver our ambitious 2030 Growth Strategy, we’re looking for a Business Development Specialist to lead growth for the Industrial Specialties business within the CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers) and Thermal Management markets. Working closely with Sales, the role will help identify and develop new customers and product offerings, combining market development, strategic account engagement, opportunity management and cross-functional project leadership to translate customer needs and market trends into a sustainable pipeline of profitable, differentiated business.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Business or a related discipline is required. An advanced technical degree or MBA is preferred. Equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered. Demonstrated business development or technical sales experience in specialty chemicals, materials or adjacent industrial markets.
• Working knowledge of CASE applications and value chains; experience in coatings, adhesives, sealants or elastomers is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of Thermal Management applications and performance requirements, including heat-transfer fluids, cooling systems, thermal interface materials or related technologies, is preferred.
• Ability to connect chemistry, formulation performance and sustainability benefits to customer value and commercial outcomes.
• Strong market analysis, opportunity qualification, strategic account planning, forecasting and project-management skills.
• Commercial acumen, including value-based selling, pricing, margin awareness, negotiation and business-case development.
• Excellent presentation, influencing and relationship-building skills with both technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Self-directed, collaborative and able to manage multiple complex projects in a matrix organization.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, market intelligence tools and standard business software.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Develop and execute the regional growth strategy for CASE and Thermal Management, aligned with Industrial Specialties priorities, revenue targets and margin objectives.
• Partner closely with Sales to identify and develop new customers, attractive market segments, unmet customer needs and new product offerings, with particular attention to sustainable, high-performance and specialty solutions.
• Build and maintain a qualified opportunity pipeline from early-stage concept through commercialisation, including clear value propositions, milestones, probability, timing and revenue potential.
• Develop strategic relationships with formulators, raw-material decision makers, technical leaders and commercial stakeholders at target accounts.
• Partner with Sales, Applications, R&D, Marketing, Product Management, Supply Chain and Regulatory teams to progress customer projects and remove barriers to adoption.
• Translate customer and market insights into product-development briefs, application data needs, launch plans and portfolio priorities.
• Create market maps, competitive assessments, account plans and commercial forecasts for CASE and Thermal Management opportunities.
• Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events, technical conferences and partner engagements, communicating a differentiated and credible value proposition.
• Deliver profitable new business while maintaining disciplined pricing, forecast accuracy, CRM data quality and project governance.

Communication

• Communicate market strategy, pipeline status, risks, customer insights and recommended actions to regional and global stakeholders.
• Lead customer-facing technical and commercial discussions, adapting messages for R&D, procurement, operations and executive audiences.
• Coordinate effectively across functions and regions to ensure timely decisions, clear ownership and consistent execution.
• Prepare concise business cases, presentations, account plans, forecasts and progress reports for leadership review.

Key interfaces

Industrial Specialties Sales, Applications, R&D, Marketing, Product Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, customers, distributors, industry partners and external technical organisations.

Specific Regulatory/ Legal responsibilities

• Conduct all activities in accordance with company policies, competition law, anti-bribery requirements, trade compliance, product stewardship and applicable environmental, health and safety standards.
• Ensure customer claims, technical statements and commercial communications are supported by approved data and appropriate regulatory review.
• Protect confidential information and intellectual property belonging to the company, customers and partners.
• Escalate product, application, supply, quality or compliance risks promptly through the appropriate internal channels.

No direct line management responsibility initially. The role will lead cross-functional project teams and may coach sales, technical and marketing colleagues supporting priority market initiatives.

What We Offer:

The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary and benefits package including:

• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, available immediately.
• Wellness Reimbursement
• Parental Leave
• Company paid and voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short- and long-term disability

Additional Information:

This is a hybrid role located in Princeton, NJ.

The salary range for this position is $125,000- $140,000 annually.

This range reflects the base salary the company reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, experience, education, and skill level. Additional compensation, such as annual bonuses or other incentives, may be offered based on eligibility and company policies.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the hiring process or experience any issues with our online application process, please email [e-mail].

Why Croda?

At Croda, we believe our people are our difference. We are people-led, driven by the desire to do good and deliver value, a unifying principle shaped by all the great people that have travelled through Croda since our beginning in 1925. We pride ourselves on bringing together diverse teams and talents from across the globe and, guided by our values of Responsible, Innovative, and Together, we are passionate about building an inclusive, collaborative, and diverse organisation with innovation and customer focus underpinning all that we do.

Croda recognizes employees as our strength and the diversity they bring to our workforce are directly linked to our ongoing success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate based on any protected attribute, including age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.