Business Unit Manager Ceramic Bodies

Location:

At Sibelco, we advance life through materials.
For over 150 years, we’ve been a trusted leader in sourcing, transforming, and distributing specialty industrial minerals. Our work powers progress across industries as diverse as glass, ceramics, construction, coatings, polymers, and water purification. Beyond our materials, we’re proud of our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and empowering people from all walks of life to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Are We the Perfect Match?

At Sibelco, we believe building a successful career is a two-way journey. We’re looking for individuals who share our values and vision, just as much as you’re seeking a company that aligns with your aspirations. Together, we can shape the future.

Job Description:

Role Overview:
The Business Manager – Prepared Bodies will own and drive a global specialty ceramics business line focused on prepared ceramic bodies (pre-formulated ceramic raw materials). This high-impact role is a mini P&L owner position, responsible for defining and executing a growth strategy to increase revenue and gross margin. The Business Manager will analyze business performance in detail, shape go-to-market and product strategies across geographies, develop channels and partnerships, and lead a small team to deliver results. The role requires a mix of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, suitable for an entrepreneurial, analytically strong leader in the earlier stage of their career (5–10 years’ experience).

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Business Leadership: Develop and implement a global growth strategy for the Prepared Bodies business line. Use data-driven P&L analysis at the gross margin level (by product, customer, market, volume, and price/mix) to identify opportunities, profitability levers, and operational issues. Build a deep understanding of market trends, customer needs, competitive dynamics, and regulatory factors in the ceramics industry.
• Go-to-Market & Channel Strategy: Formulate a robust go-to-market plan by geography and channel. Determine the optimal sales channels—distributors, retailers, direct sales, e-commerce—for each target market to maximize reach and revenue. Build and manage a global sales channel network: identify and onboard distributor partners or agents in key regions, and establish strong relationships with them. Implement performance dashboards to monitor channel sales and profitability; take decisive action to address underperformance or market changes.
• Product Portfolio & New Product Development: Drive innovation and product portfolio management. Leverage market insights and customer feedback to develop a pipeline of new prepared body products that differentiate the business and fuel growth. Continuously review the existing product portfolio – phase out low-performing or slow-moving SKUs to reduce complexity and improve inventory/cash position. Lead pricing and product positioning strategies to enhance gross margin and competitiveness.
• Sales Management & Key Account Ownership: Provide hands-on sales leadership. Manage and develop a small sales team (two Sales Managers) – setting clear objectives, coaching, and building capabilities. Personally lead sales for strategic key accounts and major distributor/retailer relationships, serving as the face of the business line with top customers. Establish a performance culture with rigorous tracking of sales KPIs and proactive measures to achieve targets.
• Operational Oversight & Performance: Collaborate closely with production and operations teams to ensure the manufacturing side of the business is aligned with commercial objectives. Monitor production KPIs (quality, cost, output) and inventory levels; actively drive inventory optimization and working capital improvements (e.g., reducing excess stock, improving inventory turnover) to enhance cash generation. Identify and advocate for operational improvements that support the commercial strategy, ensuring that supply can meet the evolving demands of the market. Oversee S&OP for the Prepared Bodies business, ensuring demand forecasts, production planning, and inventory levels are fully aligned with market needs.

Candidate Profile:
We are seeking a dynamic, high-potential business leader with approximately 5–10 years of experience and a track record of driving growth and strategic initiatives. Key attributes include:

• Educational & Professional Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field. MBA is a plus. 5–10 years’ experience in commercial or business management roles, ideally including P&L responsibility or business ownership (e.g., product management, business development, or strategy roles). Experience in B2B industrial or technical products (e.g., materials, chemicals, building products) is preferred.
• Strategic and Analytical Skills: Exceptional analytical ability – able to dissect financials (revenues, margins, pricing) and market data to draw insights and set direction. Strategic mindset with the capability to identify growth opportunities, segment markets, and formulate winning strategies. Comfortable dealing with complex business cases and “big picture” planning while also managing detailed execution.
• Entrepreneurial Drive: Self-starter with a proactive, ownership mentality. Takes initiative to drive projects and is hands-on in execution when needed. Brings creativity and resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles and seizing new opportunities.
• Leadership & Influence: High energy and leadership potential, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Able to lead and motivate a small team, influence cross-functional colleagues (e.g., production, R&D, finance), and manage external partners or distributors. Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions and cultures in a global context.
• Results Orientation: Bias for action and results. Proven ability to deliver tangible business outcomes (e.g., sales growth, improved margins, successful product launches). Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Data-driven decision-making combined with a pragmatic focus on execution.
• Industry & Market Knowledge: Strong interest in manufacturing, industrial processes, or ceramics materials (experience in ceramics or related sectors is a plus). Quick learner able to become a subject matter expert in a new domain, understanding technical product details and customer requirements.
• English – proficient verbal & writing 
• German – proficient verbal & writing is required

This is a high-visibility role with significant growth potential for the right candidate. It offers the opportunity to lead a global business line end-to-end – from strategy through execution – and to make a measurable impact on the company’s performance. The position is ideal for a sharp, entrepreneurial leader eager to accelerate their career by delivering tangible business results.

Employee Type:

Why Join Us?

Sibelco is more than a workplace—it’s a community that encourages growth, innovation, and collaboration. Here’s what you can look forward to when you join our team:

• Meet Our People: Careers

• Learn About Our Recruitment Process: Learn More

• Discover Our Sustainability Goals: Sibelco priorities

We also welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments to support you through the selection process.

How to Apply

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X and Facebook to learn more about life at Sibelco. Submit your application in the Apply option.

Please note: We do not require agency services as we have a dedicated Global Talent Acquisition Team.