Patch Rubber, a Myers Industries Company (NYSE: MYE), is a diversified rubber manufacturer with 100 years of experience compounding and manufacturing tire repair and retreading products, industrial rubber products, and permanent and traffic marking tapes.
Job Overview
The Business Development Manager is responsible for driving profitable growth through the identification, development, and commercialization of custom-engineered rubber and polymer solutions for OEM and industrial customers across North America. This role combines strong business development capabilities with deep technical expertise in rubber chemistry, compounding, and manufacturing processes.
Acting as both a technical advisor and strategic business developer, this individual identifies customer challenges, evaluates application requirements, and leads the development of customized solutions from concept through commercial launch. The role requires a highly self-directed professional capable of prospecting, developing new opportunities, managing long and complex sales cycles, and coordinating cross-functional resources to deliver profitable business growth.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Prospect and develop new OEM and industrial accounts throughout the United States.
- Identify target customers, applications, and key decision makers through independent market research, industry networks, referrals, trade associations, trade shows, and direct outreach.
- Build and actively manage a robust pipeline of opportunities utilizing Salesforce CRM.
- Establish credibility with engineering, technical, purchasing, quality, and operations stakeholders and convert relationships into profitable business opportunities.
- Re-engage inactive and former customers where attractive opportunities exist.
- Expand share of wallet within existing customer accounts through strategic account development and identification of new applications.
- Represent the company at industry trade shows, technical conferences, and customer events to identify emerging market opportunities and strengthen industry relationships.
- Utilize a consultative sales approach to identify customer challenges related to performance, quality, manufacturability, cost, and supply chain requirements.
- Assess customer applications and develop customized rubber and polymer-based solutions aligned with technical and commercial objectives.
- Present and communicate the technical and financial value of proposed solutions to customer stakeholders.
- Understand customer processes, specifications, and application requirements to ensure recommended solutions align with operational needs.
- Serve as the primary commercial contact throughout the product development and qualification process.
- Lead the commercial and technical development process from initial application assessment through quotation, sampling, trial production, validation, and commercial launch.
- Coordinate internal technical reviews before committing to pricing, manufacturing capability, lead time, performance expectations, or product specifications.
- Develop accurate technical and commercial quotations in partnership with Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality teams.
- Gather and analyze information required to estimate material costs, conversion requirements, tooling, testing, minimum order quantities, lead times, freight costs, and target margins.
- Maintain disciplined quote follow-up while documenting assumptions, customer changes, technical revisions, and commercial decisions.
- Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and agreements within established company guidelines and approval processes.
- Manage multiple development projects and opportunities simultaneously while maintaining forecast accuracy and pipeline visibility.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and Leadership teams to ensure successful execution of business opportunities.
- Communicate project requirements, timelines, risks, and customer expectations throughout the commercialization process.
- Support manufacturing and technical teams during trials, testing, validation, and production start-up activities.
- Provide market intelligence, competitive insights, and customer feedback to support strategic business decisions.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong understanding of rubber chemistry and compound formulation fundamentals.
- Knowledge of elastomer materials, polymers, reinforcement materials, and performance characteristics.
- Understanding of rubber manufacturing processes including calendering, extrusion, coating, laminating, fabric reinforcement technologies
- Ability to interpret technical specifications, engineering drawings, tolerances, testing standards, and performance requirements.
- Knowledge of product development, qualification testing, validation procedures, and commercialization processes.
- Understanding manufacturing capabilities, equipment limitations, and process requirements within a custom manufacturing environment.
- Strong negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to develop pricing strategies and ROI calculations.
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
- Proficiency with CRM software and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Polymer Science, Textiles, or related field.
- 5+ years of experience in industrial, manufacturing, OEM, rubber, polymer, or engineered product sales.
- Experience selling customized or engineered solutions into OEM and industrial markets.
Working Conditions
- Typical office and manufacturing plant environment
- Travel up to 50% by automobile and air
Physical Requirements
- Ability to occasionally lift and carry product samples, marketing materials, and trade show equipment up to 25 pounds.
- The employee frequently is required to sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear and will occasionally be required to bend, stoop, kneel and climb stairs
Myers Industries, Inc. is an equal opportunity at will employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation or national origin.