Technical Commercial Manager

About Glass Futures

Our Vision: A world where materials industries are clean, circular, and driven by digital innovation, powering a sustainable future for people and planet.

Core Values: Collaboration | Innovation | Integrity | Safety

Glass Futures Limited is a high-profile organisation supporting the global glass industry and wider foundational industries in delivering net zero, circularity, and advanced manufacturing through collaborative R&D, industrial-scale facilities, and strong industry partnerships.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced, commercially driven Technical Business Development Manager to play a leading role in growing Glass Futures’ commercial pipeline, membership base, and funded project portfolio.

This role is suited to a senior professional with a strong track record of winning and delivering complex commercial or collaborative R&D opportunities within a technical, industrial, or engineering-led environment. You will act as a trusted partner to industry, funding bodies, and internal technical teams, shaping strategic opportunities and securing commercial and grant-funded income.

The successful candidate will operate with a high degree of autonomy and contribute to commercial strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial & Strategic Growth

• Lead the identification, development, and conversion of high-value commercial opportunities, memberships, partnerships, and funding streams.
• Shape and execute commercial strategies aligned with Glass Futures’ technical capabilities, sustainability objectives, and long-term growth plans.
• Contribute to pricing, commercial models, and contract negotiations.

Technical & Industry Engagement

• Act as a technical-commercial interface between industry members, internal R&D teams, academic partners, and funders.
• Translate complex technical capabilities and research outcomes into compelling commercial and strategic value propositions.
• Represent Glass Futures at industry meetings, conferences, and stakeholder forums.

Proposal & Funding Leadership

• Lead the development of complex commercial proposals, collaborative R&D bids, and government-funded project submissions.
• Oversee proposal structuring, consortium building, and commercial terms.
• Ensure high-quality, competitive submissions aligned with funder and customer requirements.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with senior stakeholders across industry, government, academia, and the innovation ecosystem.
• Act as a trusted advisor to members, supporting repeat business and long-term collaboration.

Market & Opportunity Insight

• Monitor industry trends, policy developments, and emerging technologies to identify strategic opportunities for Glass Futures.
• Provide market intelligence and insight to inform organisational strategy and investment decisions.

Required Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience in business development, commercial management, or partnership roles within a technical, industrial, or engineering environment.
• Strong understanding of industrial R&D, technology commercialisation, and collaborative innovation models.
• Proven track record of securing commercial contracts, memberships, and/or grant-funded projects.
• Ability to engage credibly with technical experts and C-suite stakeholders.
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant technical or scientific discipline.
• Strong commercial acumen, including proposal development, negotiation, and contract awareness.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship management skills.

Desirable

• Experience in the glass manufacturing sector or adjacent heavy industry.
• Strong knowledge of decarbonisation, industrial energy systems, and circular economy principles.
• Experience working with not-for-profit, research, or innovation organisations.