About this role

ABOUT THE ROLE A seed-stage deeptech startup at the intersection of AI, robotics, and advanced materials discovery — focused on accelerating R&D for the energy and climate sectors — is looking for a Business Development Manager to join their Berlin team. This is a high-ownership commercial role in which you will translate cutting-edge scientific capability into real-world commercial impact. You will work directly with senior leadership to shape and execute sales strategy, own the full customer lifecycle from lead qualification through post-deal onboarding, and help build the repeatable processes that will underpin the company's next phase of growth.

The company is backed by prominent European and international venture investors and operates at the frontier of AI-driven materials science. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Bridge scientific capabilities and market needs to deliver scalable commercial outcomes in the climate and energy sectors. - Collaborate closely with the VP of Commercial and senior leadership to operationalize commercial efforts and drive growth strategy. - Act as the primary connection between customers and internal technical/operations teams, developing projects from initial scope through to signed agreement.

- Drive strategic sales by researching and pursuing key commercial opportunities across target markets. - Track pipeline movement and maintain a high-quality CRM with relevant reporting and insights. - Build and refine BD workflows, templates, and documentation to support repeatable, scalable success. - Identify customer needs, qualify inbound and outbound leads, and coordinate the qualification process. - Own post-deal activities, including partner onboarding and early-stage execution of new partnerships.

- Serve as the main point of contact for client relationship management and long-term account health. - Spot 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: - 1–7 years of experience in business development, technical sales, or account management roles.

- Demonstrated experience owning post-deal onboarding and early-stage execution of commercial partnerships. - Willingness and ability to represent the company at international exhibitions, fairs, and conferences — frequent travel expected. - Based in Berlin, Germany, or willing to relocate. - Fluency in both English and German (written and spoken). Strongly Preferred: - 3–5 years of experience specifically in international BD, account management, or technical sales, ideally within deep tech, advanced materials, or climate-related sectors.

- Strong technical or scientific foundation; graduate-level education in materials science, chemistry, physics, or chemical engineering is a significant plus. - Proven sales acumen and a track record of commercial success. - Experience working across technical and commercial teams and coordinating cross-functional projects. - Familiarity with CRM tools and standard sales tracking and reporting workflows. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills across both internal and external stakeholders.

- Additional European languages beyond English and German are a plus. - Comfortable navigating ambiguity in fast-paced startup environments. - Genuine interest in climate technology and science-driven innovation. LOCATION & WORK ARRANGEMENT This is a full-time, on-site role based in Berlin, Germany. The position requires frequent international travel for client engagement and industry events. Visa sponsorship is not available — candidates must already have the right to work in Germany.

ABOUT THE COMPANY This is a well-funded seed-stage deeptech company (Series Seed, backed by leading European VCs) founded in 2022 and headquartered in Berlin. The team brings together expertise from world-class research institutions, global industrial companies, and pioneering climate tech organizations. The company operates an autonomous laboratory platform powered by physics-informed AI and robotics, designed to dramatically compress materials discovery timelines for the energy and climate transition — from decades to years.

Source listing: ashby_clera