Sr. Manager Business Development - Food & Beverage

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including consumer, industrial, institutional, food and beverage, and pool and spa water markets. Owned by Platinum Equity, the company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, and cleaners and disinfectants, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments.  

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 69 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 16,100 professionals in 130 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2024 US Best Managed Company, recognized fouryears in a row. For more information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com. 

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our dynamic team at Solenis as a Senior Business Development Manager! This role will focus on the development of opportunities on the Utilities side of operations for Food & Beverage North American and Canadian Markets along with coaching and mentoring Business Development Managers. This team member will pilot the creation and implementation of sales initiatives aligned with Solenis’ growth strategy to expand our market share, and work closely with Corporate Accounts.

What You’ll Do:

• Guide business development efforts in a defined geographic region or customer group within the Food & Beverage utility sector.
• Identify untapped opportunities and attract new customers to expand Solenis’ footprint, while elevating our brand presence and market share.
• Collaborate with the Corporate Accounts team to bring sales strategies to life—aligning with broader organizational goals while meeting the unique needs of your territory.
• Support new product introductions as part of a forward-thinking, customer-centric acquisition strategy.
• Offer thoughtful market insights and customer feedback to marketing and R&D teams to help shape future innovations.
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with senior partners and decision-makers at strategic customer organizations.
• Lead a team of Business Development Managers through coaching and mentoring to aid in successful development of opportunities.

What You’ll Bring:

• A forward-thinking, growth-oriented mindset with the ability to identify and act on opportunities for expansion.
• A consultative and empathetic sales approach that places customer success at the center of everything you do.
• The ability to set clear priorities and deliver on high-impact business development initiatives that align with your annual revenue targets.
• A proactive, team-based mindset — you’ll work in close partnership with account managers and cross-functional teams to design creative, data-based solutions.
• The confidence to empower investment decisions with a clear view on return and impact, backed by strong market analysis.
• Ability to travel 50-75% (based on geographic location)

Your Experience & Expertise:

• A depth of experience (typically 8+ years) in sales or business development, with proven results in complex, B2B environments — ideally in utilities, water treatment, or food and beverage sectors.
• A Bachelor’s degree (or higher), or equivalent experience that demonstrates your ability to succeed in a fast-moving, collaborative sales environment.
• A strong track record of navigating competitive markets, managing key accounts, and capturing new business opportunities with strategic grace.
• Creative problem-solving abilities and a commitment to continuous learning, with the curiosity to uncover customer needs and the resilience to meet evolving challenges.

Perks! 

• Competitive health + wellness benefit plan 
• Continuous professional development with many opportunities for growth! 
• Recharge with 3 weeks of vacation, additional floating holidays & sick time
• Competitive Salary and Sales Incentive Plan