Vice President of Business Development

Vice President of Business Development - North America

VBASE Oil Company

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Seeking an experienced, well-rounded leader with a combination of technical expertise, market knowledge, business acumen, and excellent communication skills. This role is pivotal in driving growth, profitability, and innovation in the synthetic ester base oils market. (10+ years' experience in the lubricant industry is required.)

Key Responsibilities:

• Portfolio Management: Accountable for growing and maintaining the profitability of the VBASE portfolio of specialty lubricant base oils.
• Commercial Leadership: Build and lead commercial relationships with key customers and distributors at the executive level, as well as with other critical decision-makers.
• Market Development: Spearhead the market growth of Secondary Polyol Ester™ Base Oils, including building commercial relationships with high-level stakeholders.
• Account Planning: Develop, own, and execute account plans for key customers.
• Pricing Strategy: Create pricing strategies and negotiate with customers.
• Forecasting & Analysis: Lead short- and long-term forecasting, conduct market analysis to identify trends and risks, and develop financial models, growth strategies, and market segmentation plans.
• Competitor Analysis: Understand competitor products, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and position your product portfolio accordingly.
• New Product Launches: Drive commercial growth and customer adoption of new products.
• Collaboration with R&D: Work with R&D to develop value propositions and align on product development.
• Value Chain Dynamics: Analyze and optimize product positioning in the value chain and establish appropriate pricing.
• Industry Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with key industry stakeholders, including OEMs, formulators, and end-users, to identify emerging trends and market needs.
• Procurement Leadership: Oversee the procurement of raw materials for the manufacturing of specialty lubricant base oils.
• New Market Exploration: Identify opportunities beyond lubricants and develop business cases to expand the product portfolio into new market segments.
• Customer Service Standards: Lead the implementation of customer service standards and innovate new service models to enhance customer satisfaction.

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a Science discipline or related field; an MBA or Marketing qualification is a plus.
• Experience: Minimum 10+ years of multi-functional commercial experience within the lubricant industry, including roles in sales, product management, or market development.
• Business Acumen: Deep understanding of the financial aspects of the product line, including pricing, margins, and profitability. Ability to make data-driven business decisions.
• Leadership: Proven ability to develop market strategies, shape business plans, and lead cross-functional teams.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills to engage effectively with customers, senior leadership, and industry media.
• Market Understanding: Extensive knowledge of the lubricant market, customer needs, and market trends, along with competitor analysis.
• Technical Expertise: Solid understanding of the technical aspects of lubricant base oils and their applications.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in assessing and interpreting market and financial data, developing business plans, and tracking product performance and market trends.

We will begin evaluating candidates in early October. Please apply here or visit vbaseoil.com for more information.