Business Development Manager

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed while enabling a sustainable world. Innovation goes far beyond materials science; its powered by the passion creativity and diverse expertise of 9000 professionals worldwide. Whether youre a finance wizard a tech enthusiast an operational powerhouse an HR changemaker or a trailblazer in materials development youll find your place at Avient. Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

Job Summary
Drive the business for Avient Protective Materials Mechanical Industrial and Marine & Industrial Fiber segment by growing Dyneema in existing markets and applications while also identifying and developing new growth vectors. The Business Development Manager is responsible to drive the adoption of Dyneema in applications such as cut protective gloves to enable safer hands replacing steel wire in the offshore heavy lifting and vessel mooring industries with unparalleled reliability and a variety of other exciting & critical industrial applications. This role will be responsible for generating profitable new business within these targeted applications and beyond through market development activities at the Licensees OEMs end-users contributing to the overall diversification & long-term profitable growth of the business unit.

Job Context
Avient Protective Materials is the manufacturer of Dyneema The Worlds Strongest Fiber. Dyneema is a super-strong fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight produced from a proprietary polyethylene material. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture UV light and chemicals. Dyneema is used in extremely challenging applications and environments including super-tanker mooring ropes cut-resistant gloves and apparel in the glass and metal-working industries rigging and sails for off-shore racing yachts medical sutures for orthopedic surgery and bullet-resistant clothing and vehicle protection in the law enforcement and military sectors. Dyneema is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville- North Carolina (U.S.A.). Avient Protective Materials is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan.

Avient Protective Materials is a brand-driven organization in which we strive to enable our colleagues to do what it takes to consistently deliver the brand promise to all its stakeholders. This means we encourage open and honest 2-way communications and feedback and we seek to empower all employees to deliver on their commitments. Avient Protective Materials relies on effective teamwork to match performance to our ambitions and everything we do is based on the foundations of trust support and mutual respect. Our open working style creates a stimulating and fun place to be.

Essential Functions

• Pioneer Market Expansion: Uncover new applications and opportunities for Dyneema in the Marine & Industrial Fibers segment including but not limited to cut protective gloves mooring tow & tug cables and heavy lifting.
• Forge Strategic Partnerships: Create and cultivate strong relationships at all levels with key prospects customers value chain partners and decision-makers.
• Elevate a Global Brand: Represent Avient and amplify the Dyneema brand presence at prominent industry events and conferences. Establish and maintain Dyneema trademark license agreements with leading brands within the cut protective glove market.
• Specification Influence: Proactively identify and secure specifications for Dyneema at end-user and/or OEM levels.
• Understanding the Market Landscape: Deeply understand the competitive landscape key applications evolving requirements emerging trends and value proposition to position Dyneema as the leading solution. Analyze competitor activities to identify challenges and opportunities developing proactive strategies to overcome obstacles.
• Collaboration Across Avient: Ensure seamless communication and collaboration across Avient (innovation marketing & sales application development sales operations etc.). Partner closely with the regional and global team and technical experts to accelerate profitable growth and align customers strategies & needs with APMs capabilities; aligning & contributing to the companys overall strategy.
• Spending the necessary time and budget (within given boundaries) for sufficient market development and business growth.
• Building a network with specialists and stakeholders in the field (visit conferences shows customers etc.)
• Managing or participating in sub-segment strategy planning and steering.
• Present presentations at conferences tradeshows and end-users.
• Show behavior in line with the SHE and Security risks and agree controls including being compliant to Avient Protective Materials requirements rules and procedures
• Address any person behaving in a SHE and Security irresponsible way
• Report any SHE and Security incidents (including observed risks) to management
• For managers/ seniors:Is expected to be a leading example of Values behavior. Must be able to develop and lead a high performing team in a high support and challenging manner; demonstrating trust support and respect. Sets the scene for Avient Protective Materials APM Values and actively encourages and appreciates Values behaviors and thinking and discourages behaviors that do not align with APM Values. Gives feedback inside and outside of their team both positively and for areas of improvement. Creates the right circumstances for the team members so they experience the freedom to do what it takes.
• For all employees: Must strive to behave in line with Avient Protective Materials Values supporting and encouraging colleagues in their alignment with our Values. Aspires to demonstrate exemplary behavior with respect to the Avient Protective Materials Values inside and outside the organization.
• Requirements from the market are not always clear and market dynamics can rapidly change.
• Stimulate a radical change of global market composition and end-user attitude.
• Cross cultural/global teamwork.
• Safeguarding mid- to long-term business development opportunities; persistence and overcoming obstacles.
• Analyzing market opportunities in different industries quickly with totally different supply chains and different global players to identify leads.
• Manage developments (resources finance logistics commitment speed and people) despite the lack of authority over (external) resources.
• Creating new business and end-user pull-through requires experience determination and a strong vision. Results are not always visible in the near-term sales numbers.
• Up to 50% travel within the North America region and occasionally outside the region.

Knowledge and Educational Level

• Bachelors degree in an engineering field and/or in an international field of business development.
• Minimal 5 years experience in relevant customer and/or end user markets/applications.
• Strong connector across various functions bridging the gaps
• High drive to translate and implement new concepts and products into applications
• Good communicator social and coaching skills combined with good analytical and conceptual capabilities
• Team player
• English language

Required Level of Experiences

• Experience with business and market development of materials preferably those relevant for APM such as for instance cut protective gloves engineered fibers ropes nets and/or lifting slings.
• Understanding of processing technologies used to make the end products and final applications preferably those that are relevant for APM (for instance knitting braiding coating dyeing etc.) and capability to explain the product performance and value propositions for the designated applications.
• Understanding of how product/material properties are linked to application properties and performance and how properties and performance are linked to reliability & total cost of ownership.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
• A tenacious and resilient attitude with a proven ability to persevere through challenges and maintain a positive outlook.

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self a leader of others or a leader of the business. By playing to win acting customer centric driving innovation and profitable growth collaborating seamlessly across Avient and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avients strategic goals to meet our customer needs and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient we believe a wide variety of thoughts ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring promotion development compensation or advancement are based solely on a persons qualifications abilities experience and performance. Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race sex sexual orientation gender identity age color religion national origin disability genetic information protected veterans status or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing