Business Development Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE A seed-stage deeptech startup at the intersection of AI-driven material discovery and climate technology is looking for a Business Development Manager to translate cutting-edge scientific capability into real commercial impact. You will own customer relationships, drive sales strategy, and coordinate cross-functional delivery — working closely with senior leadership to operationalize growth and scale repeatable commercial processes. This is an on-site role based in Berlin, Germany. The company builds an advanced materials acceleration platform that combines physics-informed AI, robotics, and large-scale experimental data to dramatically compress R&D timelines in the energy and cleantech sectors. The team includes alumni of organizations such as BASF, Siemens, Climeworks, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Please note: visa sponsorship is not available for this role. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Bridge science and market needs to deliver scalable climate impact across a growing customer base. - Collaborate with the VP of Commercial and senior leadership to operationalize and scale commercial efforts. - Act as the primary connection between customers and internal teams, developing projects from initial scope through to signed agreement. - Drive strategic sales efforts by researching and pursuing key commercial opportunities. - Track pipeline movement and maintain a high-quality CRM overview with relevant reporting and analytics. - Build and refine BD workflows, templates, and documentation to scale repeatable success. - Identify customer needs, qualify inbound and outbound leads, and coordinate lead qualification across the team. - Own post-deal activities, supporting partner onboarding and early-stage execution of new partnerships. - Serve as the main point of contact to manage and deepen client relationships over time. - Coordinate with technical and operations teams to ensure aligned, timely delivery on partner commitments. - Identify upsell and expansion opportunities within existing accounts and new contacts. - Represent the company at international exhibitions, trade fairs, and conferences, including delivering techno-commercial presentations. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Required: - 3–5 years of experience in international business development, account management, or technical sales — ideally in deep tech, advanced materials, or climate-related sectors. - Demonstrated success in commercializing scientific or technical capabilities and translating them into tangible commercial outcomes. - Proficiency with CRM systems and pipeline management tools (e.g., Salesforce or similar). - Proven ability to coordinate cross-functional delivery between sales, technical, and operations teams. - Experience building BD workflows, templates, and documentation to support scalable, repeatable processes. - Willingness and ability to travel internationally for client meetings and industry events. - Fluency in both English and German; additional European languages are a plus. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills across internal and external stakeholders. - Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through. - Comfortable navigating ambiguity and moving quickly in an early-stage startup environment. - Genuine interest in climate technology and science-driven innovation. Nice to Have: - Graduate-level education (MSc or PhD) in materials science, chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, or a closely related field — or an equivalent strong scientific background. LOCATION & WORK ARRANGEMENT This is a full-time, on-site position based in Berlin, Germany. Frequent international travel is expected as part of the role. Visa sponsorship is not available.