Scientific Glass Commercial Lead
Location
GPE Scientific, Leighton Buzzard
Role Type
Full-time, Permanent
About the Role
GPE Scientific is looking for a Scientific Glass Commercial Lead to support the continued growth of our specialist glass manufacturing business.
This is a commercially focused role responsible for developing new markets, strengthening key customer, OEM and distributor relationships, and identifying new opportunities for our specialist glass products across scientific, industrial and technical applications. You will play a key role in expanding our market presence, developing long-term customer partnerships and helping shape the future growth of this area of the business, both domestically and internationally.
Success in the role comes from combining commercial awareness with technical understanding. Working closely with customers and our in-house manufacturing team, you will manage technical enquiries, translate customer requirements into practical manufacturing solutions and provide the specialist expertise needed to support high-value projects from initial enquiry through to delivery.
This role is ideally suited to someone who enjoys building relationships, identifying commercial opportunities and applying technical knowledge to solve customer challenges.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Growth & Market Development
- Develop new markets for GPE Scientific's specialist glass products across scientific, industrial and OEM sectors.
- Identify new applications, customer groups and routes to market where our specialist glass products can create value.
- Strengthen GPE Scientific's presence through strategic customer engagement, distributor development and commercial partnerships.
- Contribute to pricing, positioning and commercial planning for manufactured glass products.
- Monitor competitor activity, market trends and emerging applications to identify new opportunities.
- Help develop a structured pipeline of commercial opportunities to support long-term growth.
Key Account Development
- Develop long-term relationships with strategic UK, Ireland and international customers.
- Become the principal technical-commercial contact for key accounts.
- Identify opportunities to expand customer relationships through bespoke projects, repeat manufacture and standard product supply.
- Visit customers to understand future requirements and identify opportunities before enquiries arise.
- Work alongside the wider sales team to support strategic opportunities requiring specialist glass expertise.
Distributor & OEM Development
- Develop relationships with distributors, OEM partners and international customers.
- Identify and develop new export markets for GPE Scientific's specialist glass products.
- Support distributors through technical training, product knowledge and commercial guidance.
- Build long-term partnerships capable of generating sustainable sales growth.
- Represent GPE Scientific at exhibitions, customer meetings and industry events.
Technical Project Leadership
- Manage technically complex customer enquiries from initial discussion through specification, quotation, manufacture and delivery.
- Work directly with customers to understand application requirements and translate them into practical manufacturing solutions.
- Advise customers on technical feasibility, materials, geometry, tolerances, manufacturing considerations and product selection.
- Produce clear technical specifications and commercial proposals for bespoke and non-standard products.
- Coordinate closely with our in-house manufacturing team to ensure successful project delivery.
- Manage project priorities, customer expectations and production handovers.
Product & Application Development
- Review the existing manufactured glassware portfolio and identify opportunities to improve, expand or rationalise the range.
- Identify new products, applications and market opportunities by combining customer insight with manufacturing capability.
- Work with manufacturing and commercial teams to develop new product opportunities from concept through to launch.
- Support marketing through technical & application knowledge and customer case study input
- Feed customer, distributor and market insight into future product development and commercial planning.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who combines commercial drive with strong technical aptitude.
You may come from a background in technical sales, business development, key account management, product management, specialist manufacturing, precision engineering or another technical industry where customer relationships are built on technical credibility.
You do not need to be a glassblower or scientist, but you will be comfortable discussing technical requirements with engineers, scientists, production specialists, OEMs and commercial decision-makers. You will be confident translating those discussions into practical commercial opportunities and manufacturable solutions.
Most importantly, you will enjoy developing markets, building long-term customer relationships and helping grow a specialist manufacturing business through technical expertise and commercial awareness.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Experience in technical sales, business development, key account management, product management or another customer-facing technical-commercial role.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify new market opportunities.
- Experience developing relationships across scientific, industrial, manufacturing or OEM markets.
- Ability to interpret technical customer requirements and translate them into practical commercial and manufacturing solutions.
- Confidence discussing technical requirements with engineers, scientists, production specialists and commercial stakeholders.
- Ability to manage technically complex enquiries involving bespoke or non-standard products.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- Organised, proactive and able to manage multiple projects, accounts and opportunities simultaneously.
- Comfortable working across commercial, technical and manufacturing functions.
- Willing to travel across the UK and occasionally internationally.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience with scientific glassware, technical glass, precision components, laboratory equipment or specialist manufacturing.
- Experience selling into laboratories, universities, research organisations, pharmaceutical, chemical, industrial or OEM markets.
- Experience with export sales, distributor management or international business development.
- Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications and manufacturing documentation.
- Experience developing or launching technical products.
- Understanding of bespoke manufacturing or made-to-order production environments.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role will include:
- Growth in sales and market presence for GPE Scientific's specialist glass products.
- Strong, long-term relationships with strategic customers, distributors and OEM partners.
- New market opportunities successfully identified and developed.
- Growth in international sales and distribution networks.
- Increased awareness of GPE Scientific's specialist glass capability across scientific, industrial and technical markets.
- Complex customer requirements translated into successful commercial opportunities and manufacturable solutions.
- Successful delivery of technically demanding customer projects.
- New products and applications identified through customer and market insight.
Remuneration Package
- Competitive salary plus performance-related bonus.
- 25 days holiday.
- Company car.
- Laptop and mobile phone.
- Corporate pension scheme.
- Health policy and life insurance cover.
Why Join GPE Scientific?
This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of a specialist product area and play a meaningful part in its future growth.
You'll have the freedom to develop new markets, build strategic customer and distributor relationships, influence the direction of the product offering and see your ideas translated into tangible commercial results.
At the same time, you'll remain close to the technical side of the business. You'll work on creating impactful customer solutions, collaborate with an experienced in-house manufacturing team, and see your ideas take shape in the workshop - becoming a recognised commercial specialist within a unique area of UK manufacturing.
If you're looking for a role where you can combine commercial growth, technical problem-solving and genuine influence, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact.
Pay: From £60,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
