Ashland
Ashland
Ashland develops specialty chemicals and materials for applications across life sciences, personal care, specialty additives, automotive, construction, and food and beverage. Its work in applied chemistry focuses on improving product performance, efficacy, and usability, with solutions used in areas including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage products, building materials, and personal care formulations. Sustainability and research are central themes in how Ashland approaches the development of materials for varied industrial and consumer applications.

Business Development Manager, Automotive & Energy Storage – Ashland (Remote, France)

Lead Ashland’s specialty chemicals business development across automotive batteries, energy storage, emissions control and catalyst markets. Manage global customer programs, innovation, quality and regional growth.

Description

  • Manage global customer programs for designated multinational automotive lithium-ion battery, emissions control and catalyst customers from RFQ through series production and lifecycle management.
  • Drive regional business development across lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems, emissions control and catalyst markets.
  • Lead priority innovation projects through the INNOVA stage-gate process, covering market analysis, segmentation, business cases, launch planning and commercialization.
  • Develop relationships with customer R&D, procurement and quality teams, and lead RFQs and contract negotiations with Sales and Legal.
  • Work with Operations and Quality, especially at the Alizay, France production site, on IATF 16949 accreditation, VDA 6.3 compliance, customer audits, change management and certification readiness.
  • Coordinate international teams across Sales, R&D and Innovation, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, Finance, Sustainability, Regulatory and Legal.
  • Ensure timely decisions, execution and customer commitments involving quality, cost, delivery, service, compliance and growth.
  • Lead performance-improvement initiatives using structured project-management and DMAIC methods.
  • Travel regularly for regional customer visits, audits and urgent on-site support.
  • Advance organizational performance and safety through initiative and effective execution.
  • Foster collaboration, develop diverse talent and use constructive communication and influence.
  • Work as an individual contributor without direct reports in an international matrix organization.

Requirements

  • Proven experience in automotive project management, business development and continuous-improvement methods.
  • Background working with automotive customers on RFQs, contract negotiations, project delivery and product lifecycle management.
  • Working knowledge of automotive quality standards, including IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3.
  • Ability to develop market-segmented business cases, go-to-market strategies and product-launch plans.
  • Strong technical or scientific understanding, with the ability to turn complex information into clear recommendations and decisions.
  • Professional English proficiency and confidence collaborating with regional and global teams.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM platforms and digital tools.
  • Valid driving licence and willingness to travel regularly within the region.
  • Consistently responsible and ethical professional conduct.
  • Ability to create business value through commercial understanding, complex decision-making and innovative thinking.
  • Six Sigma Yellow Belt or Green Belt capability preferred.
  • Experience leading customer plant audits, questionnaires, certification-readiness activities and change-management processes preferred.
  • Experience in lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems, emissions control or catalyst markets preferred.
  • Experience coordinating multinational customer programs across Europe, North America and China preferred.
  • Practical knowledge of structured stage-gate innovation and DMAIC methodologies preferred.

Benefits

  • Competitive industry salary.
  • Employee benefits.
  • Pay-for-performance incentive plans.
  • Inclusive and diverse work environment.
  • Development and career-advancement opportunities across the global organization.
  • Equal Opportunity Employer.

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