Senior Business Development Manager Alternative Raw Materials
Chicago, IL, US, 60631 Dundee, MI, US, 48131
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Senior Business Development Manager – Alternative Raw Materials (ARM) is responsible for managing and growing relationships with industrial generators and brokers of ARM, while also developing new sourcing opportunities, particularly from utilities and industrial byproduct generators. In addition to driving business
development, this role provides technical support for raw mix design modeling tailored to the needs of individual Holcim cement plants, trialing new Mineral Components (MIC) and serves as a resource to the broader business development team. The ideal candidate will bring a unique combination of commercial acumen and technical depth, particularly in cement chemistry, materials evaluation, and raw mix compatibility. The position involves travel to customer and plant sites as needed and requires strong crossfunctional collaboration across sales, quality, procurement, and operations.
WHAT YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH
- Lead and support Holcim’s journey toward a world-class safety culture, ensuring safety awareness across utility and industrial generator sites.
- Support increase of Alternative Raw Material utilization by leveraging on technical skills, Cement process and Chemistry Knowledge including raw mix modeling capability, and technical analytical evaluations for potential ARM streams utilized in raw mix or as MIC, ensuring alignment with plant-specific performance
targets and process constraints. - Maximize profitability of Holcim’s current ARM portfolio by identifying opportunities for novel high-value streams and improving sourcing strategies.
- Build and manage strong, long-term relationships with ARM generators, utilities, and key industrial stakeholders.
- Collaborate with internal teams (sales, quality, procurement, Geocycle, operations) to ensure technical feasibility, commercial viability, and regulatory compliance of all ARM materials.
- Monitor regulatory trends, environmental standards, and technical innovations that impact coal ash, fly ash, slag and industrial byproduct used in cement production.
- Contribute to RFQ preparation, contract negotiation, pricing strategy, and project planning for new ARM sourcing and beneficiation initiatives.
- Provide guidance on site permitting requirements, environmental compliance, and safety protocols for handling and storing ARM streams.
- Support continuous improvement by helping implement systems to streamline billing, logistics coordination, and material tracking.
- Maintain deep market knowledge of ARM preprocessing solutions, beneficiation technologies, alternative minerals, and pozzolanic materials.
- Demonstrate a commitment to communicating, improving and adhering to health, safety and environmental policies in all work environments and areas. Promote a culture of safety and exhibit these behaviors.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Education: Bachelor's degree
Additional Education Preferred: Master's degree
Field of Study Preferred: Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field
Required Work Experience:
- Minimum 8 years of experience in B2B sales, cement/raw materials, industrial waste management, or related fields.
- Strong understanding of cement chemistry and raw mix design is highly preferred.
- Experience in customer-facing roles and ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Required Technical Skills:
- Knowledge and deep understanding of the cement process and impact of raw materials used
- Familiarity with raw mix design software (e.g., H&K, JCA, or equivalent).
- Understanding of pozzolanic activity, mineralogy, and compatibility of alternative materials in cement production.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Travel Requirements: 60%
Additional Requirements:
- Strategic thinking and opportunity identification
- Effective stakeholder engagement and customer relationship management
- Resilience, adaptability, and follow-through in complex sales cycles
- Ability to simplify and communicate technical evaluations to internal and external partners
- Knowledge of alternative material markets and environmental compliance frameworks
- Strong presentation, reporting, and negotiation capabilities
- Learning agility & creative problem-solving: Ability to quickly learn, adapt, and apply innovative thinking to complex challenges.
- Resilience & execution: Demonstrates persistence, flexibility, and focus under pressure, with strong follow-through to achieve defined goals and targets.
- Organizational & planning skills: Capable of structuring activities, managing priorities, and coordinating cross-functional efforts for successful outcomes.
- Effective communication: Skilled in clear, concise communication—both written and verbal— including structured presentations, active listening, and tailored messaging.
- Customer insight & engagement: Deep understanding of customer needs, decision structures, and buying behaviors; able to identify opportunities and position solutions effectively.
- Market & competitive awareness: Maintains knowledge of trends, competitors, and emerging technologies relevant to Holcim’s ARM strategy.
- Consultative selling & negotiation: Able to influence stakeholders, handle objections constructively, and guide customers through value-driven decision-making processes.
- Internal collaboration & influence: Navigates informal decision structures, builds networks, and aligns internal stakeholders to drive commercial success.
- Successful candidates must adhere to all safety protocols and proper use of Holcim approved Personal Protection Equipment ("PPE"), including but not limited to respirators. Employees that are required to wear respirators must be clean shaven where the respirator seal meets the face in order to pass the qualitative and quantitative fit tests.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Competitive salary
- Retirement Savings: Choose from 401(k) pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax savings
- Medical, Dental, Disability and Life Insurance
- Holistic Health & Well-being programs
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) & Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for health and dependent care
- Vision and other Voluntary benefits and discounts
- Paid time off & paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave (maternity & paternity)
- Educational Assistance Program
- Dress for your day
Nearest Major Market: Chicago