**Vice President, Commercial Development**
*Location: Remote within the U.S. - Greater Washington, DC area preferre*
*dTravel: 25--40*
**%
Lead Commercial Growth for a First-of-Its-Kind Domestic Carbon Materials Compa**
**ny
About the Com**
pany
An advanced materials venture is commercializing a proprietary process that converts U.S. anthracite into multiple high-value carbon materials, including synthetic graphite powder, graphite blocks, and graphene. Graphite is foundational to batteries, defense, nuclear systems, advanced electronics, and a wide range of industrial applications. The United States, however, remains highly dependent on overseas supply. The company's mission is to establish a domestic, cost-competitive source of graphite, graphene, and next-generation carbon mater
**ials.
About t**
he Role
This is a newly created, high-visibility role that will lead commercial development from the ground up. The company is seeking a leader with active relationships across both commercial and government markets, including industrial customers evaluating or purchasing graphite, graphene, engineered products, and other value-added carbon materials, along with federal stakeholders within the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of War (DOW), and related agencies who influence cost-sharing, appropriations, funding, and acquisition opportunities important to the company's
**growth.
The O**
pportunity
Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the CTO, the Vice President of Commercial Development will lead customer development, technical sales, pricing, contracting, and major supply and offtake
agreements.The position is weighted toward commercial execution. The government portion of the role will focus on expanding strategic relationships and opening doors for the company's ca
pture team.Initially, this will be a hands-on, individual contributor position with significant executive visibility. As the company grows, this leader will define the commercial organization and recruit and lead a small comme
**rcial team.
Wha**
**t You Will Do
Commercial Develop**
* ment and SalesOwn the full sales cycle, from customer qualification and technical evaluation through pricing, contracting, and major supply or offta
* ke agreements.Build a qualified pipeline across battery, defense, nuclear, industrial, and advanced electr
* onics markets.Develop relationships with customers evaluating graphite, graphene, engineered products, and other value-added car
* bon solutions.Move materials into customer testing, evaluation, and qualifica
* tion programs.Work closely with technical leadership to translate customer requirements into commercially viable product and material
* opportunities.Represent the company at industry conferences, customer meetings, an
* d site visits.Serve as the primary commercial relationship owner following contr
**act execution.
Gove**
* rnment ProgramsLeverage existing relationships with DOE, DoW, and other relevant federal stakeholders to secure meetings and introductions for comp
* any leadership.Identify relevant cost-sharing, appropriations, and federal funding
* opportunities.Open strategic relationships that enable the capture team to pursue and execute federal
**opportunities.
Building the Com**
* mercial FunctionEstablish the company's commercial processes, pipeline reporting, account priorities, and deal-manag
* ement practices.Provide the CEO with quantified pipeline reporting, deal-risk assessments, customer feedback, and mark
* et intelligence.Define the structure of the future commerci
* al organization.Recruit and lead commercial sales and business development talent as the
**company scales.
What Success Looks Like in t**
* he First 12 MonthsBuild a qualified pipeline across the company's priority c
* ommercial markets.Advance materials into customer testing and quali
* fication programs.Establish pricing, contracting, and account-deve
* lopment processes.Lay the groundwork for initial supply and o
* fftake agreements.Expand relationships with key federal stakeholders and create actionable opportunities for
* the capture team.Define the structure and hiring priorities for the futur
**e commercial t**
**eam.
Qualific**
* ations
What You BringApproximately 10 or more years of progressive commercial or sales experience, including senior-level responsibility within critical materials, advanced manufacturing, battery materials, or the def
* ense industrial base.Demonstrated success closing industrial supply or offtake agreements valued at $10 million or more for companies bringing new materials or technologies to market. This i
* s a core requirement.Experience commercializing emerging technologies or advanced materials where markets, applications, and customer relationships had to be develope
* d from the ground up.Existing, active relationships with DOE, DoW, or other relevant federal stakeholders that can
* be activated quickly.Experience managing long, technically complex sales cycles involving material evaluation, qualification, pric
* ing, and contracting.Comfort working in an early-stage, resource-constrained environment and moving between commercial strategy and han
* ds-on deal execution.Clear, direct communication supported by data, customer evidence, and
* measurable outcomes.Experience building or leading a small commerci
* al team is preferred.Ability to travel approximately 25--40% for customer visits, conferences, government meetings, and visits to company o
**ffices or**
* facilities.
EducationBach
* elor's degree required.A technical degree in materials science, chemistry, engineering, or a related discipline is preferred. Candidates with substantial commercial experience in advanced materials will be considered equally, regardless of technical
**academic concentration.**
* Compensation and Benefits
Base
* salary: $200,000--$225,000Target annual incentive: $50,000, based on achievement of five weighted performance obje
* ctives established at hireEquity: eligible after one year of servi
* ce, with four-year vestingBenefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k); paid time off; company-paid short-term disability, long-term disa
**bility, and life i**
nsurance
Work AuthorizationCandidates must qualify as U.S. persons under applicable export-control regulations, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals. Visa s
**ponsorship is not availabl**
e.
Equal Opportunity EmployerOur client is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, year born, disability, protected former military status, or any other characteristi
**c protected by applicable law.**
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