Growth Success Manager

Location: Remote (U.S. Based) — Chicago, IL preferred

Department: Revenue Operations

Reports to: Vice President

Industry: Specialty Chemicals

At Ascent, our employees are our superpower. It’s your grit, hustle, and drive to win that will power our success—earning and retaining customer loyalty, unleashing our fullest value for our shareholders, our employees, and the communities in which we operate. The future ahead is bright, and it will be shaped by each of you.

We don’t wait for Moments That Matter—we create them and win.

Guided by customer needs, we deliver tailored specialty‑chemistry solutions at scale across an array of high‑value segments. We at Ascent are building a platform that solves real problems across the value chain — not just by providing products or capacity, but by offering a full suite of services: formulation development, reaction capabilities, blending, packaging, logistics, regulatory support and reliable delivery.

We believe in Outcomes Over Everything—we strive for success and deliver.

Job Summary

Ascent Industries Co. is seeking a strategic, execution‑focused Growth Success Manager to lead and accelerate the internal execution of commercial opportunities. This role is central to launching new supply chains, commercializing customer‑driven opportunities, and managing internal responses — with an unwavering focus on safety, speed, operational readiness, and cross‑functional alignment.

The ideal candidate combines strong project leadership with business and financial acumen, enabling them to assess opportunity value, understand cost drivers, and make data‑informed decisions that support commercial objectives. This role also requires exceptional stakeholder communication skills to align cross‑functional teams, manage expectations, and ensure transparency throughout the execution lifecycle.

In addition to managing current initiatives, this individual will be responsible for building and standardizing a best‑in‑class launch and new product development (NPD) process — driving scalability, repeatability, and efficiency across the organization.

This is a non‑customer‑facing role that serves as the internal engine behind commercial success.

Key Responsibilities

Project Execution & Acceleration

• Drive Fast Execution of Commercial Opportunities
• Translate customer requests and commercial wins into executable internal projects. Manage timelines, coordinate deliverables, and escalate barriers to maintain momentum. Incorporate commercial impact and business case evaluation into execution priorities.
• Accelerate Supply Chain Launches
• Project manage the rapid stand‑up of new supply chains (raw materials, manufacturing, tolling, logistics) in support of commercial opportunities, with a strong focus on cost, speed, and risk mitigation.
• Expedite New Product Development
• Lead internal cross‑functional teams (R&D, operations, sourcing) to quickly evaluate, develop, and scale new product requests from the commercial team. Ensure alignment with business priorities and financial feasibility.

Process Design & Ownership

• Build a Best‑in‑Class Launch Process
• Design, implement, and continuously improve a standardized, scalable process for launching new products, supply chains, and capabilities that supports strategic growth and profitability.
• Develop a Robust NPD Framework
• Improve existing NPD processes — including stage gates, feasibility assessments, cost modeling, technical reviews, and go‑to‑market readiness.
• Institutionalize Cross‑Functional Workflows
• Formalize internal collaboration models and responsibilities to ensure clarity, accountability, and speed. Leverage strong communication skills to drive alignment and ownership across all stakeholders.

Governance & Communication

• Own Project Tracking & Communication
• Create clear project plans, milestone tracking tools, and progress reports. Provide consistent updates to leadership and cross‑functional teams on launch status, risks, and trade‑offs, ensuring visibility and alignment at every stage.
• Conduct Rapid Feasibility Assessments
• Lead structured evaluations of new opportunities, considering technical capability, regulatory impact, cost structure, margin potential, capacity, and speed‑to‑market.
• Ensure Regulatory & Quality Readiness
• Partner with regulatory and quality teams early to ensure all new products and supply chains meet compliance requirements (e.g., REACH, TSCA, GHS, SDS).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Supply Chain, or a related technical/commercial field
• 8+ years of experience in the specialty chemicals industry in roles such as commercial/business operations, technical project management, or product development
• Demonstrated business and financial acumen , with experience interpreting commercial priorities, cost drivers, and opportunity value
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional projects and build scalable internal processes
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills across technical and business teams
• Experience with implementing and optimizing chemical supply chains
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives under tight timelines

Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet) and Microsoft Office Suite

Citizenship or permanent residency (e.g., Green Card) required

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the specialty chemicals industry
• Experience with custom manufacturing or toll processing
• PMP or Lean Six Sigma certification

Success Metrics

• Reduction in time‑to‑launch for new supply chains and commercial opportunities
• Successful implementation and adoption of standardized launch and NPD processes
• Stakeholder satisfaction with process clarity, speed, and outcomes
• Number of process improvements or efficiency gains driven by the role

Increased visibility and alignment of commercial priorities through effective communication