Your Role
The Business Development Specialist: Polymers and Rubber drives strategic growth and profitability in the polymers and rubber segment. The role is accountable for unlocking new business opportunities, strengthening existing customer relationships, and leveraging supplier partnerships to deliver innovative and value-added solutions across the market. It involves managing an active project pipeline, translating technical capabilities into commercial value, and contributing to Brenntag’s leadership in this sector.
Responsibilities
- Build and nurture strong relationships with suppliers (principals) to stay informed of innovations, application developments, and emerging products.
- Identify, target, and acquire new customers and applications to grow Brenntag’s market share.
- Promote technical services and product capabilities at key accounts, providing support to the broader sales team.
- Drive market introduction of new suppliers, product ranges, and innovative applications.
- Enhance the organisation’s competitive positioning through pricing strategies, technical differentiation, and tailored solutions.
- Develop and execute business plans with defined short-, medium- and long-term goals that contribute meaningfully to sales budgets and strategic targets.
- Participate in the development and implementation of pricing strategies to support growth and margin improvement.
- Build long-term customer and principal relationships, negotiating exclusivity agreements where beneficial.
- Represent Brenntag at industry events, trade shows, and professional forums to expand market visibility.
- Manage and maintain an active project pipeline to ensure timely commercialisation and ROI on key initiatives.
Your Profile
You are a commercially driven professional with a strong technical background in Polymers and a proven track record in business development. You thrive
You are a commercially driven professional with a strong technical background in Polymers and a proven track record in business development. You thrive on building long-term customer and supplier relationships, identifying new opportunities, and driving market growth through strategic planning. Your ability to align technical knowledge with sales strategies makes you a key asset in delivering value and expanding market share.
Skills
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to build data-backed business cases.
- Excellent relationship-building and negotiation skills.
- Strategic thinking with the ability to identify and act on market opportunities.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.
- Experience in developing and executing business plans with tangible results.
- Proficiency with CRM systems (SAP knowledge is an advantage).
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to maintain and track an active project pipeline.
- Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle.
Experience
- 5–8 years’ experience in business development or technical sales in chemical distribution, manufacturing, or a related industry.
- Strong background in the Polymers and Rubber sectors.
- Proven track record in acquiring new business and growing key accounts.
- Experience managing the full sales cycle from prospecting to closing and post-sale support.
- Comfortable engaging at both C-suite and operational levels.
Education
- Matric
- A bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymers, or related scientific/technical field is essential
- A business qualification (e.g., BCom, MBA, or postgraduate diploma) is advantageous
Our Offer
- A dynamic and supportive team culture within a global leader in chemical distribution.
- Competitive and fair salary with performance-based incentives.
- Retirement savings plan
- Hybrid work arrangements offering flexibility while maintaining collaboration.
- Opportunities for continuous professional development and clear career advancement pathways.
- Exposure to innovative projects and a robust, industry-leading product portfolio.
- The opportunity to shape the future of the Polymers and Rubber business at Brenntag South Africa.
Brenntag provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees of all backgrounds and identities to create a workplace where difference is valued because it forms a resilient and more innovative organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion or belief, parental and family status, or any other protected characteristic. We welcome applications from women, men and non-binary candidates of all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds.
Brenntag TA Team