Business Development Manager (Purchasing) at Vanden Recycling | May 2024

Business Development Manager - Recyclable Plastic 

Based in Africa, Tanzania

Be part of something special. Join the circular economy with Vanden. 

At Vanden, we’re passionate about transforming waste into a valuable commodity, buying, selling and recycling scrap plastic. Our mission: “Build the world’s largest recycled plastics commodities company”. 

Since we started on our journey, back in 2005, we’ve developed a worldwide presence, serving hundreds of customers in over 50 countries. And we’ve grown a strong, talented team who are highly trained, dedicated and loyal. 

What You’ll Do   

Participate in putting plastic back into the circular economy, your role will be to secure diverse, stable supplies of scrap plastic commodities generated from the Waste Management and Recycling industry. This is a purchasing side role, but it is not a simple sourcing position. This is a sophisticated commodity trading role, so you’ll be collaborating internally and externally. 

You’ll have ownership of a market territory, focusing on building mutually beneficial relationships with all possible suppliers, controlling material quality by visiting and inspecting suppliers’ goods, and closing deals constantly. You’ll be communicating with our teams across the world every day in the deal-making process, so you’ll need to be flexible, hungry, and collaborative. 

A typical day involves issuing multiple material offers to our global sales teams. Quality checking materials in person and assessing commercial viability prior to offering to market. 

We look forward to seeing you 

We’re not looking for the ordinary, you’ll need to be an A-player with an optimistic and persistent approach, always open to giving and receiving feedback on performance. 

• Utilising your research and business development experience, cold calling and meeting new suppliers to purchase quality scrap plastic. 
• Following internal procedure & policy (CRM, Admin, Trial Policies, Customer Onboarding) 

• Growing into the role and contributing to Vanden’s mission. 
• Expanding your technical knowledge in and all-around plastic. 

• Significant commodity Sales experience based ‘on the road’, exceeding financial targets, and a track record in developing a high volume of new material from current and new suppliers. 
• A successful track record in selling commodities or products in a fast-changing market. 
• Experience in successfully managing existing accounts and hunting for new ones at the same time. 
• A can-do entrepreneurial attitude with a high level of integrity. 
• A strong ability to negotiate with customers maximising margins and closing deals. 

Here’s the best things about this role 

• Uncapped commission scheme – get what you put in; we reward hard work. 

• Join a Values driven international business: we encourage our people to be intensely curious and to challenge boundaries and ways of working, here you have a voice. 
• Grow with us: we are expanding and have an ambitious mission, we will provide the resources, training and support for you to stretch yourself and learn new skills and enhance your career – you are our most valuable asset. 
• Join a good cause: not only do we generate revenue we actively help to build a global circular economy. 

Here’s why it is great for some but not everyone 

• You will join a challenging fast paced environment that will force you out your comfort zone, and you will need to develop and build new commercial and technical skills. 
• The first 6 months is intense, you will spend a lot of time learning about plastic, you will become obsessed with quality and accuracy, to be able to deliver certainty to our customers.  
• You will spend a lot of time travelling and visiting customers sometimes 3 days a week meeting potential suppliers and current accounts, you’ll be being the face of Vanden, a job on the road isn’t for everyone.