Contract BD - Materials

6-month contract (6–12 months preferred) • Remote (US-based) • ~20–40 hrs/week • Competitive rate (fractional)

About the role

A well-funded advanced manufacturing company working at the frontier of high-purity materials production is hiring a Contract Business Development Lead to convert warm technical relationships into signed commercial agreements with semiconductor, photonics, specialty chemicals, and industrial R&D buyers. The platform is differentiated, the technical story holds up under scrutiny, and the market is early. This role focuses on closing existing warm leads rather than pipeline-building. The process is validated, relationships exist, and the CCO and CTO are already engaged—what’s missing is a closer to drive conversations through scoping, proposal, negotiation, and signature. The company prioritizes speed and buy signals over pipeline breadth.

Responsibilities

• Drive signed milestone agreements with semiconductor, photonics, specialty materials, and industrial R&D targets within 90 days of start.
• Own the full commercial cycle from warm intro through scoping, proposal, negotiation, and close, alongside the CCO.
• Engage VP R&D, CTO, and Head of Advanced Materials–level buyers; navigate procurement, quality, and legal efficiently.
• Initiate supply and offtake conversations with tier-1 feedstock and precursor providers.
• Shape outreach materials that withstand materials-science scrutiny—characterization data, spec sheets, pricing, and value propositions.
• Build and maintain a competitive supplier and benchmark catalogue to support the manufacturing story.
• Identify net-new opportunities across the advanced materials ecosystem from partnership signals and R&D investment patterns.

Requirements

• A live, open network at the CTO and VP R&D level in semiconductor, photonics, specialty chemicals, or industrial materials—warm, not cold.
• Proven closing record on technical commercial deals, not just qualified pipeline.
• Fluency in high-purity materials, crystal growth, optical fiber, thin films, or specialty alloys—enough to hold a room of materials scientists.
• Comfort running procurement, qualification, and legal processes end to end.
• A 90-day mindset: success is measured on signatures, not activity.

Nice to have

• Co-development or joint qualification experience with OEMs and tier-1 suppliers.
• Existing relationships with major semiconductor, defense, or industrial primes.
• Prior fractional or interim work—ability to land and add value fast.