Ireland | Regular Travel Across Ireland and Europe

The opportunity

Laborare Group is supporting a leading international distributor and solutions provider within the specialty chemicals and ingredients sector in the appointment of a Commercial Manager for Ireland.

This is a broad, high-impact commercial leadership position combining P&L responsibility, business growth, operational performance, strategic partnerships and business development.

The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting the continued growth of an established Irish business while identifying new commercial opportunities across Ireland and the wider European market.

Reporting into the Commercial and Operational Excellence function, you will work closely with the local Managing Director, UK colleagues and senior stakeholders across the wider group.

The role

As Commercial Manager, you will help drive the commercial and operational performance of the Irish business while developing new growth opportunities across Ireland and Europe.

Approximately 70% of the position will focus on business performance and growth.

You will:

• Support the delivery of P&L performance and profitable growth for the Irish business.
• Contribute to business strategy and operating plans, translating these into measurable commercial outcomes.
• Develop and grow the animal nutrition portfolio across EMEA through market mapping, strategic partnerships and pipeline development.
• Work closely with the Managing Director and wider management team to drive performance across key areas of the business.
• Identify opportunities to improve commercial and operational performance.
• Lead agreed growth, change and integration initiatives.
• Support the alignment of systems and processes across the Irish and UK operations.
• Ensure teams are effectively supported through systems and process changes while maintaining business continuity.
• Maintain strong governance, controls and regulatory compliance.

Approximately 30% of the position will focus on business development and strategic relationships.

You will:

• Support the performance and growth of the wider Irish operation in partnership with UK Business Unit Managers.
• Identify new business, acquisition and partnership opportunities across Ireland.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of commercial opportunities, taking ownership of their progression through to conversion.
• Develop strong relationships with key customers, suppliers and strategic partners.
• Represent the business within the Irish market and engage confidently with customers, suppliers and industry contacts.
• Identify major business-development opportunities and contribute to, or lead, customer proposals and pitches.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Ireland, the UK and wider European operations.

The position requires a commercially driven leader who can move confidently between strategic planning, financial performance, operational improvement, people leadership and external business development.

About you

You will be a commercially focused leader who combines strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach.

You will bring:

• Strong commercial and management experience, ideally gained within distribution, ingredients, chemicals or another operationally focused environment.
• A proven track record of managing P&L responsibility and delivering profitable growth.
• A strong understanding of market dynamics, customer behaviour and competitive pressures.
• Experience working within entrepreneurial or founder-led businesses, particularly as part of a larger group or matrix structure.
• Experience leading systems, process or organisational change while maintaining business continuity.
• Strong financial awareness and confidence using management information to inform commercial decisions.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder-management skills.
• The credibility and confidence to represent a business with customers, suppliers and industry contacts.
• Proven people-management experience and a genuine commitment to developing high-performing teams.
• A resilient, adaptable and solutions-focused mindset.
• The ability to operate effectively in an environment where priorities may evolve and a degree of ambiguity exists.
• The willingness and ability to travel regularly across Ireland and Europe.

Experience within specialty chemicals, food ingredients, feed ingredients, chemical manufacturing or chemical distribution would be particularly relevant.

What we offer

This appointment offers the opportunity to take ownership of a highly visible commercial leadership position within an established international organisation.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Influence the commercial strategy and future direction of the Irish business.
• Take responsibility for P&L performance and profitable growth.
• Develop the animal nutrition portfolio across EMEA.
• Identify and progress new business, acquisition and partnership opportunities.
• Build strategic relationships with customers, suppliers and industry partners.
• Lead growth, change and integration initiatives.
• Work closely with senior leadership across Ireland, the UK and Europe.
• Support the development of high-performing teams.
• Contribute directly to the continued growth and expansion of the wider organisation.

This is an opportunity to combine commercial ownership with genuine business-development, operational and leadership responsibility.

Location

The position is based in Ireland.

Regular travel will be required across Ireland and Europe to meet customers, suppliers, strategic partners and colleagues across the wider group.

Apply

If you are an experienced commercial leader with P&L responsibility and relevant experience within specialty chemicals, ingredients, manufacturing or distribution, please apply using your CV or LinkedIn profile.

All applications will be treated confidentially. Laborare Group will not share your details with the client without your prior knowledge and consent.