Business Development Manager Industrial Hygiene & Detergent Ingredients (m/f/d)

We are seeking an entrepreneurial Senior Business Development Manager to lead the commercialization of innovative specialty ingredients within the global industrial hygiene and detergent market.

This is a unique opportunity for a results-driven professional with a proven track record of bringing new technologies to market and established relationships across leading industrial hygiene, detergent and specialty ingredient players such as Ecolab, Diversey/Solenis, Kersia, and similar organizations.

You will build strategic partnerships, engage key decision-makers, drive formulation adoption, and accelerate the market introduction of innovative technologies with leading detergent and hygiene companies across Europe. Working closely with R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and Senior Leadership, you will transform innovation into long-term commercial success.

Location: Germany or The Netherlands (Hybrid), based in one of ICL's European offices

Your Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the commercial growth strategy for an innovative hygiene technology platform across Europe
• Build and leverage relationships with senior decision-makers, innovation leaders, R&D teams, and commercial stakeholders within leading detergent and hygiene companies
• Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities within strategic target accounts
• Translate complex technology into compelling commercial value propositions for customers
• Lead co-development projects from first customer engagement through evaluation, formulation, validation, negotiation, and commercial launch
• Develop customer-specific commercialization roadmaps and project plans
• Negotiate partnership agreements, supply agreements, co-development contracts, LOIs, and strategic collaboration models
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including R&D, Regulatory, Legal, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Operations
• Drive customer adoption and accelerate revenue growth across the industrial hygiene market.
• Represent ICL at customer meetings, industry events, trade shows, and strategic business discussions

Required experience

• 10+ years of experience in business development, technical sales, strategic account management, or commercial innovation within specialty chemicals, detergent ingredients, biocides, or related functional additives
• Established network and direct relationships with leading professional detergent and hygiene companies, with the ability to gain access to senior decision-makers
• Proven track record of successfully introducing and commercializing innovative ingredients and technologies within the professional detergent, hygiene, or industrial cleaning industry
• Proven experience managing the integration of new ingredients and technologies through evaluation, formulation, validation, commercial negotiation, and market launch
• Experience negotiating LOIs, MOUs, joint development agreements, supply agreements, and exclusivity or preferred-partner arrangements
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with R&D, Regulatory, Procurement, Marketing, and Commercial stakeholders within large industrial organizations
• Experience or familiarity with industrial food & beverage hygiene, CIP/OPC cleaning processes, detergent chemistry, and food plant sanitation practices is considered a strong advantage

Required capabilities

• Strong business development and strategic account planning skills
• Established network and direct access to decision-makers within leading European and U.S. detergent and hygiene companies
• Proven ability to open doors and build credibility with senior commercial, innovation, R&D, and technical stakeholders
• Ability to effectively bridge technical teams and business decision-makers
• Ability to translate complex technologies into compelling commercial value propositions
• Strong negotiation skills and experience structuring scalable partnership models while protecting long-term business value
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a hands-on approach to developing opportunities and driving market adoption
• Proven track record of converting strategic accounts into development partnerships, commercial agreements, and recurring revenue
• Willingness to travel extensively across Europe and selected global customer accounts

More information

• Attractive remuneration: Benefit from an attractive remuneration, supplemented by numerous extras.
• Development opportunities: Take advantage of our wide range of qualification and training opportunities for your continuous development.
• Open communication: Work in a culture of transparency and open communication.
• International team: Look forward to working with a committed, dynamic and international team.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference if they have the same professional and personal qualifications.