Business Development Manager

Reporting to: CEO

Salary:           To be negotiated, based on experience

Location:       Nottingham, UK

About Nova Biochem

Nova Biochem is a climate-tech company pioneering the transformation of industrial by-products into high-value, sustainable chemicals. Using our proprietary hydrothermal depolymerisation process, we convert lignin-rich residues from pulping and agriculture into renewable aromatic building blocks used in coatings, plastics, and resins - replacing fossil inputs and cutting emissions at the source.

Our mission is to unlock a circular, low-carbon model for industrial chemistry - creating new value from waste while reducing millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Based in Nottingham, we’re entering a scale-up phase, expanding lab and pilot operations, delivering a €7.5M EU-funded project, and laying the groundwork for commercialisation.

This is a pivotal moment to join a small, mission-driven team determined to reshape the chemical industry through practical innovation.

The Role

We’re hiring our first commercial team member - a Business Development Manager who will translate cutting-edge science into market traction and strategic partnerships. Working closely with the CEO and technical team, you’ll lead the charge in building customer relationships, driving early validation projects, and creating commercial frameworks that will define Nova’s growth path toward Series A and beyond.

You’ll start by focusing on Nova’s functionalised “heavy oil” blend - a novel, lignin-derived aromatic oligomer mix - and its applications across coatings, adhesives, polymers, and lubricants. Your goal: to turn early curiosity into tangible commercial partnerships and long-term offtake potential.

This is a hands-on, externally focused role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building markets from the ground up, and wants to help define how sustainable chemistry reaches the world.

Key Responsibilities

Market Development

• Identify, approach, and build relationships with potential customers and joint development partners across target industries.
• Position Nova’s products as sustainable alternatives in industrial applications such as adhesives, coatings, and polymers.
• Negotiate and structure early-access, pilot, or paid trial agreements that generate customer validation ahead of scale-up.
• Build and manage a commercial pipeline, maintaining active engagement with prospective partners and customers.

Commercial Strategy

• Collaborate with the CEO to shape Nova’s commercial roadmap, customer segmentation, and go-to-market strategy.
• Support pricing analysis, business case development, and financial modelling for key opportunities.
• Gather and interpret market intelligence to inform technical priorities, product development, and Series A planning.

External Engagement

• Represent Nova at industry events, trade shows, and partner meetings, communicating our mission and technology with clarity.
• Work with the technical team to ensure accurate and compelling presentation of data and product performance.
• Contribute to building Nova’s long-term commercial function, with opportunities for leadership growth as the company scales.

Who You Are

You are a commercially minded professional who understands how innovation becomes adoption. You bring experience selling chemicals, materials, or industrial technologies and can engage credibly with both technical and commercial stakeholders.

You build trust through curiosity, collaboration, and follow-through. You’re motivated by helping customers imagine new applications for emerging technologies - and by turning that interest into results.

You’re independent yet collaborative, comfortable navigating uncertainty, and energized by the chance to shape how a new technology enters the market.

Essential Skills / Experience

• Proven experience in business development, partnerships, or technical sales within the chemicals, materials, or industrial manufacturing sectors.
• Strong track record of selling technical or specialty materials to industrial customers.
• Excellent relationship-building and negotiation skills, with experience structuring pilot or joint development agreements.
• Commercially analytical, with experience contributing to pricing, cost modelling, and business cases.
• Clear and confident communicator, comfortable engaging at technical and executive levels.
• Self-starter comfortable in a fast-moving, start-up environment.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Background in climate-tech, bio-based innovation, or sustainable materials.
• Understanding of industrial value chains and B2B commercialisation for chemicals or advanced materials.
• Degree in business, chemistry, engineering, or a related field.
• Familiarity with CRM tools and pipeline management.

Why Join Us?

At Nova Bichem, you’ll have the rare opportunity to help build the commercial foundations of a company redefining sustainable chemistry. You’ll work at the intersection of innovation and impact - where science meets the market - and see your efforts directly shape how our technology scales.

You’ll join a small, ambitious, purpose-driven team where ownership, transparency, and curiosity are valued. As we grow, so will you - this role offers genuine scope to develop into a senior commercial leadership position.

If you’re motivated by purpose and excited to turn scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you.