POSITION OVERVIEW:
Fortera is commercializing one of the first fundamentally new low-carbon cement technologies to reach commercial scale. We are seeking a Technical Business Development Manager to help build the market for our first Midwest manufacturing facility.
This is not a traditional sales role. Rather than managing a large pipeline of transactional opportunities, you will work closely with a focused group of strategic customers and partners to introduce new technology, guide product evaluations, develop commercial relationships, and help secure the anchor customers that will launch our first commercial plant. This role is hands-on and execution-focused, with responsibility for directly developing customer relationships, leading technical evaluations, and advancing strategic opportunities through commercialization.
Success in this role requires equal comfort discussing cement chemistry, concrete performance, and commercial strategy. You will become a trusted technical and commercial advisor to ready-mix producers, precast manufacturers, engineers, architects, contractors, and owners as they evaluate the adoption of Fortera's technology.
Location: This position may be based at our headquarters in San Jose, CA, or in the Midwest, with a preference for candidates located near St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, or Nashville.
Travel: Approximately 25% travel is required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Identify and develop strategic customers for Fortera's first commercial manufacturing facility in the Central Midwest.
- Build long-term relationships with ready-mix producers, precast manufacturers, concrete product companies, contractors, architects, engineers, and project owners.
- Develop and execute customer engagement strategies that accelerate adoption of Fortera's technology and secure the strategic customers needed to support the launch of the first Midwest manufacturing facility.
- Manage customer evaluations from initial engagement through laboratory testing, field trials, product qualification, commercial negotiations, and long-term supply agreements.
- Serve as the technical-commercial interface between customers and Fortera's Engineering, Research & Development (R&D), Operations, and Executive teams.
- Lead technical discussions regarding cement chemistry, concrete performance, mix design optimization, durability, sustainability, and constructability.
- Drive market adoption by educating designers, engineers, and project owners on the performance and sustainability benefits of Fortera cement.
- Identify and develop early adopter opportunities that serve as demonstration projects and reference accounts.
- Gather voice-of-the-customer insights to influence product development, manufacturing priorities, and commercialization strategy.
- Support strategic partnerships, licensing discussions, and commercial agreements as required.
- Represent Fortera at customer meetings, industry conferences, technical presentations, and field demonstrations.
- Help shape the commercial strategy for future manufacturing facilities as Fortera expands nationally.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- 10+ years of experience combining technical expertise with business development, technical sales, applications, or customer-facing commercial experience in the construction materials, building products, specialty chemicals, or related industrial sectors.
- Building materials sales experience is preferred, particularly within the cement, concrete, ready-mix, precast, aggregates, admixtures, construction chemicals, industrial minerals, specialty chemicals, or related building materials industries.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, materials science, construction management, business, marketing, or another related technical or business discipline preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with customers and partners, guiding opportunities from initial engagement through technical evaluation, product qualification, and commercial agreement.
- Comfortable discussing cement chemistry, concrete materials, mix design, product performance, and sustainability with technical stakeholders while effectively engaging executive and commercial decision-makers.
- Ability to navigate complex customer organizations and influence technical, operational, procurement, and executive stakeholders throughout extended qualification and adoption cycles.
- Strong presentation, communication, and relationship management skills, with the ability to tailor technical discussions to audiences ranging from plant personnel to executive leadership.
- Self-directed, hands-on, and comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial environment where personally building new markets, identifying early adopters, and developing long-term customer partnerships are critical to success.
- Willingness to travel approximately 25%.
COMPENSATION:
The compensation package for this role includes a competitive base salary commensurate with experience with a range of $125,000 - $155,000 as well as an annual bonus and pre-IPO incentive stock options.
