Business Development Manager

Barden has been retained by our global specialty chemicals client to support them on appointing a Business Development Manager for Ireland.

This is a key appointment as the organisation establishes a long-term presence in Ireland to support the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector. The business is part of an international group with operations throughout Europe and Asia, which are now entering an exciting phase of European expansion and market development.

The Opportunity

Reporting into senior leadership, the Business Development Manager will take ownership of Irish market entry and long-term commercial development.

This is a high-impact, market-facing role responsible for building early-stage relationships across pharmaceutical manufacturers, CDMOs/CMOs, and specialty chemical distributors, before developing deeper, higher-value partnerships in CDMO and custom synthesis over time.

The role combines commercial strategy, technical engagement, and market development, and would suit a leader who enjoys building markets from the ground up while working closely with global technical and operational teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the commercial strategy for Ireland
• Build relationships across pharma manufacturers, CDMOs/CMOs, and specialty chemical distributors
• Lead market entry via specialty chemicals and intermediates to establish trust and credibility
• Progress accounts into CDMO and custom synthesis opportunities over time
• Act as the commercial and technical interface with customers
• Provide market insight on pricing, regulation, and supply chain trends
• Work closely with global technical, supply chain, and compliance teams
• Represent the business at customer meetings and industry events
• Support the development of future local capability as the market expands

About You

• 5 years’ experience in business development, technical sales, or commercial leadership within chemicals, pharma, CDMO, or related industries
• Strong technical background in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field preferred
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships in complex technical B2B environments
• Strong commercial acumen with both strategic and hands-on capability
• Entrepreneurial mindset with experience operating in growth or build-out environments
• Strong communicator with ability to translate technical capability into commercial value