Business Development Manager

PlantSea Ltd Liverpool Science Park £45-50K
Full time, Office Based, Liverpool Science Park & Optic Technology Centre, St Asaph.

About PlantSea

PlantSea is a materials science company developing a seaweed-based biopolymer as a plastic-free, biodegradable alternative to PVOH, the film used in laundry capsules and dishwasher tablets. The company operates from Liverpool Science Park and the OpTIC Technology Centre in St Asaph, with a team of around 15, and is supported by impact investors.

The role

PlantSea has an established network of commercial partners, and the scale of these relationships now requires a dedicated, full-time owner.

The Business Development Manager will take ownership of this portfolio, develop existing partnerships towards commercial agreements, and identify new opportunities. This is a technical, relationship-led role with long sales cycles, reporting to Rhiannon Rees, CEO and working closely with the R&D and operations teams.

Key responsibilities

• Own and manage PlantSea's existing commercial relationships, providing a professional and responsive point of contact for partners
• Progress partners through technical evaluation to commercial agreements
• Generate and qualify new leads, and manage follow-up to convert opportunities
• Conduct market research to track industry trends, map the competitive landscape and identify target segments
• Prepare proposals, presentations and sales materials in collaboration with R&D
• Maintain accurate records in the CRM, manage the pipeline and provide regular reporting to the leadership team
• Represent PlantSea at industry events, customer meetings and virtual meetings, including international travel

Essential experience and skills

• Experience in business development or B2B sales, working with FMCG companies, brands or other B2B customers such as film manufacturers
• A track record of managing complex, long-term commercial relationships
• Proven lead generation and pipeline management skills
• Proficiency with CRM systems and productivity tools, and confidence with spreadsheets, reporting and basic data analysis
• Strong analytical skills to interpret market data and business metrics and support strategic decisions
• The ability to engage confidently with technical stakeholders and coordinate input from scientific colleagues
• Excellent written communication and presentation skills
• A demonstrable interest in sustainability, the circular economy and the reduction of plastic in consumer products
• A degree in Business, Marketing, Environmental Studies or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• Experience of working in international markets
• A scientific or technical background

Company pension, 31 days holiday entitlement including bank holidays, EMI options,