Chemical Technical Sales Manager

Openwork, formerly Meador Staffing Services; Pasadena (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Openwork seeks a Technical Sales Manager for Manufacturing Solutions in Houston area. The role focuses on driving new business development within highly technical manufacturing environments, translating technical needs into commercial solutions, and leading negotiations through contract execution.

The ideal candidate will manage long, complex B2B sales cycles, build strong cross-functional relationships, and travel ~25–40% while maintaining a hybrid work model with in-office days in Houston.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Business, or a related technical field.
• Approximately 5–10 years of relevant sales, technical sales, or business development experience.
• Demonstrated success developing new business and meeting or exceeding sales goals.
• Experience managing complex B2B opportunities and extended sales cycles.
• Experience with contract or toll manufacturing is highly desirable.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and commercial stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and close new manufacturing and technical business opportunities.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified prospects.
• Develop new customers while expanding opportunities within existing accounts.
• Translate technical and manufacturing requirements into commercially viable solutions.
• Prepare proposals and lead commercial negotiations through contract execution.
• Develop relationships with technical, operations, procurement, commercial, and executive-level stakeholders.
• Partner with internal R&D, Engineering, Operations, EHS&Q, Procurement, and Commercial teams to evaluate and execute customer opportunities.
• Coordinate technical evaluations, samples, testing, qualification, and commercialization activities.
• Negotiate commercial terms while maintaining profitability objectives.
• Manage complex, extended sales cycles with strong organization and follow-through.

Skills

Technical B2B sales

New business development

Sales pipeline management

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, or Business

Job description

Technical Sales Manager – Manufacturing Solutions

Location: Houston, TX and surrounding areas preferred

Work Arrangement: Hybrid – minimum 3 days per week in office when not traveling

Travel: Approximately 25–40%

Position Overview

We are working with a client company and assisting them in sourcing for an experienced Sales Manager – Manufacturing Solutions to drive new business growth and expand customer relationships within a highly technical manufacturing environment.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a proven new-business developer who understands technical or manufacturing environments and knows how to sell a solution—not simply a product.

We are looking for someone who can take an opportunity through the complete business-development cycle:

Strong Preference For

• Specialty chemicals, contract or toll manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Chemical manufacturing
• Industrial/process manufacturing
• Outsourced manufacturing
• Technical B2B sales

This is a consultative, solution-based business development role for someone who understands manufacturing and can identify a customer's technical or operational needs, develop the right solution, and successfully move complex opportunities from initial discussion through negotiation and commercial close.

The position is approximately 70% new business development and 30% development of existing business, making it ideal for a proven business-development professional who enjoys creating opportunities rather than simply managing an established account base.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and close new manufacturing and technical business opportunities.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified prospects.
• Develop new customers while expanding opportunities within existing accounts.
• Understand customer manufacturing processes, product specifications, raw-material requirements, production volumes, quality standards, and commercialization goals.
• Translate technical and manufacturing requirements into commercially viable solutions.
• Prepare proposals and lead commercial negotiations through contract execution.
• Develop relationships with technical, operations, procurement, commercial, and executive-level stakeholders.
• Partner with internal R&D, Engineering, Operations, EHS&Q, Procurement, and Commercial teams to evaluate and execute customer opportunities.
• Coordinate technical evaluations, samples, testing, qualification, and commercialization activities.
• Negotiate commercial terms while maintaining profitability objectives.
• Manage complex, extended sales cycles with strong organization and follow-through.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Business, or a related technical field.
• Approximately 5–10 years of relevant sales, technical sales, or business development experience.
• Demonstrated success developing new business and meeting or exceeding sales goals.
• Experience managing complex B2B opportunities and extended sales cycles.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing operations, chemical processing, raw materials, quality requirements, or product commercialization.
• Experience with contract or toll manufacturing is highly desirable.
• Strong commercial judgment and understanding of customer economics and profitability.
• Experience with opportunity qualification, pipeline management, commercial negotiations, contracts, NDAs, and deal execution.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, relationship-management, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to influence and coordinate cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Willingness to travel approximately 25–40%.