Position Description
Title: Director, Strategic Partnerships
Department: R&D
Immediate Supervisor: Director of Innovation
Status: Exempt
Position Purpose: The Director, Strategic Partnerships will drive commercial success and innovation for IPG's biopolymers venture. This leadership role will be responsible for shaping and executing our go-to-market strategy, securing high-value external partnerships, and ensuring strong alignment between R&D and commercial objectives.
Principle Accountabilities
Integration of R&D and Business Development
Manage the commercial progression of new innovations from ideation through development of new business aligned with technical development.
Collaborate closely with internal R&D, product development, and executive teams to translate technical innovations into commercially successful products.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of business development initiatives.
Marketing Strategy
Develop and implement the company's marketing and commercialization strategy for novel biopolymer products.
Envision and articulate creative processes and technologies to drive improvement into target markets. Willingness to think big to challenge customer and industry status-quos.
Create market entry, promotional, and selling plans for successful commercialization of new products.
Partnerships and Customers
Identify, evaluate, and secure strategic partnerships with key customers, industry leaders and technology collaborators.
Build and nurture relationships with existing and prospective partners to accelerate product adoption and expand market presence.
Propose M&A prospects, JV opportunities, development partnerships and other strategic initiatives to drive business growth and innovation
Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and partner meetings
Market Analysis
Conduct thorough market analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and competitive landscapes in sustainable products.
Lead the development and prioritization of market feasibility studies, opportunity analysis, and innovation proposals for targeted market opportunities.
Essential Skills and Experience
Bachelor's degree in Business, Science, Marketing, or a related field.
Proven experience in business development, partnerships or commercial leadership, preferably in the specialty chemicals, materials science or biopolymers sectors.
Strong network within the biopolymers, chemicals, or sustainable materials industry.
Experience in plastic-manufacturing or related industries
Working knowledge of legislation & regulations relevant to plastics manufacturing industry
Passion for sustainability
Excellent strategic thinking, negotiation, and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with technical and commercial teams.