General Manager, Chemicals Business Unit

Vida Group International; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 400,000 - 560,000; Full time

Job summary

Vida Group International seeks a General Manager – Global Chemicals to build and scale a global specialty chemicals business for mineral recovery. You will own strategy, P&L, product portfolio, and the global organization, reporting to the COO.

This business-building role requires leadership in commercial strategy, product development, global supply chain, and potential M&A to establish a premier new business in mining chemicals.

Qualifications

• Experience with P&L leadership and building new business units.
• Strong strategic, commercial, and project-management skills.
• Industry knowledge in mining, mineral processing, and specialty chemicals is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own stand-alone Chemicals P&L and global business structure.
• Develop long-term global strategy, five-year plan, and annual budget.
• Establish KPIs to manage revenue, profitability, and enterprise value.
• Build global organization and supply chain to support growth.
• Develop differentiated portfolio for flotation and leaching applications.
• Lead go-to-market, pricing models, and customer value proposition.
• Integrate chemicals with existing technology and digital capabilities.
• Oversee inorganic growth, including acquisitions and integration.

Job description

Our client is a leading global provider of products, technologies, and solutions to the mining and mineral processing industry. As part of a broader strategy to diversify its revenue base and expand its customer value proposition, the company is making a significant investment in building a global specialty chemicals business focused on improving mineral recovery.

We have been retained to identify a General Manager – Global Chemicals who will have end-to-end responsibility for building and scaling this business globally. Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, this executive will own the strategy, P&L, product portfolio, technical capabilities, commercial model, supply chain, and organization required to establish the business as a leading provider of specialty chemical solutions to the mining industry.

This is fundamentally a business-building opportunity. The successful candidate will inherit an existing foundation of chemical products, customer relationships, technology capabilities, and global infrastructure but will be responsible for transforming these assets into a distinct, scalable global business.

The mandate combines P&L leadership, commercial strategy, specialty chemical product development, mineral processing expertise, global supply chain, organizational development, and M&A.

Build and Own the Global Chemicals Business

• Assume full responsibility for the stand‑alone Chemicals P&L and business structure.
• Develop and execute the long‑term global business strategy.
• Create a five‑year strategic plan, annual operating plan, and budget.
• Establish the financial, commercial, and operational KPIs required to manage the business.
• Drive revenue growth, profitability, return on capital, and long‑term enterprise value.
• Build the organizational infrastructure required to support significant global growth.

Develop the Specialty Chemicals Portfolio

• Build a differentiated portfolio of specialty chemicals designed to improve mineral recovery throughout customers’ processing circuits.
• Establish the technical capabilities required to develop tailored chemical solutions, including mineralogy, geometallurgy, laboratory testing, and field application expertise.
• Leverage customer and field experience to identify new product opportunities and create a commercially focused R&D pipeline.
• Expand the portfolio across both flotation and leaching applications.
• Develop tailored chemical blends and solutions based on specific ore bodies, processing conditions, and customer requirements.
• Establish processes to protect proprietary formulations, technical knowledge, and intellectual property.

Establish the Commercial Strategy & Value Proposition

• Create a differentiated global brand and customer value proposition for the specialty chemicals business.
• Develop a go‑to‑market strategy that shifts the conversation beyond commodity chemical supply toward technical, solution‑based selling and measurable recovery improvement.
• Partner closely with the global commercial organization to develop customer engagement and market development strategies.
• Develop pricing models that appropriately capture the value created through technical expertise, customized formulations, and improved customer recovery outcomes.
• Build credibility within the mining and mineral processing community through customer case studies, technical publications, conference participation, and demonstrated operating results.
• Develop deep relationships with major global mining customers and key industry stakeholders.

Integrate Chemicals, Technology & Digital Capabilities

A key differentiator for the business will be the ability to combine specialty chemicals with the organization’s existing technology, instrumentation, digital, and process optimization capabilities.

The General Manager will work closely with the Technology and Innovation organization to develop integrated solutions capable of improving recovery performance across customer processing circuits.

This executive will help move the organization toward a broader solutions‑based commercial model, combining products, technical expertise, data, instrumentation, and process optimization rather than competing primarily on individual product offerings.

Build a Global Supply Chain

• Assess and optimize the existing raw material and finished‑product supplier network.
• Develop a robust global sourcing strategy for commodity chemicals and raw materials used in proprietary specialty formulations.
• Leverage the company’s established global procurement infrastructure to achieve competitive raw material economics.
• Develop logistics capabilities capable of reliably supporting customers across major global mining regions.
• Establish a global S&OP process in partnership with Supply Chain and Commercial leadership.
• Implement appropriate quality control and supply assurance processes.
• Continuously evaluate total cost of ownership across sourcing, manufacturing, blending, transportation, inventory, and logistics.

Drive Organic & Inorganic Growth

The organization has significant ambitions for the Chemicals business and expects growth to come through a combination of organic market development and strategic acquisitions.

The General Manager will:

• Identify attractive new products, applications, geographies, and customer segments.
• Develop market‑entry strategies for new regions and mineral processing applications.
• Identify potential acquisition opportunities capable of accelerating growth or adding strategic capabilities.
• Participate in acquisition evaluation, due diligence, integration planning, and execution.
• Build a scalable global platform capable of integrating future acquisitions.

Build the Organization

• Recruit and develop strong technical, commercial, product development, and business leadership
• Consolidate and align existing regional capabilities into a cohesive global line of business.
• Establish clear organizational structures, accountability, and decision‑making processes.
• Develop succession and workforce plans to support the future growth of the business.
• Create a high‑performance culture centered around customer outcomes, technical excellence, commercial discipline, and continuous improvement.
• Establish effective performance management and leadership development processes.