Head of Business Development

About Travertine

Travertine is a Climate Tech start-up based in Boulder, CO, that is rapidly scaling a technology for low-waste, carbon-negative production of critical elements, focusing on phosphoric acid production for our go-to-market.  Our electrochemical process converts phosphate rock into phosphoric acid for EV batteries and fertilizers, as well as cementitious materials using carbon dioxide captured from the air. Travertine was spun out of UC Berkeley in 2022 to scale this process to gigatons of permanent CDR while massively reducing industrial waste.

Since its founding, Travertine has raised over $25M in capital, including over $5M in US Federal and State government grants. As one of the first companies to receive pre-purchases of CDR from the new Stripe-led $1B Frontier fund, and as founding members of the Carbon Removal Alliance, we are committed to industrial decarbonization at scale. We were named C&EN 10 startups to watch in 2022, a Bloomberg NEF Pioneer in 2023, and RMI Third Derivative 1st Gigaton Captured program participants in 2024. Today we are focused on scaling up commercial deployments of our technology, starting with a Demonstration Plant to be commissioned in mid-2025. We believe in developing practical approaches to solving the climate crisis.

Role Overview:

The Head of Business Development will be responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and closing  long-term commercial contracts in key markets such as chemicals, agriculture, food & beverage, LFP battery supply chain, metals/minerals, and carbon dioxide removal credits. This role requires a hands-on closer with a proven track record in business development, deal execution, and market strategy particularly in the chemicals industry.

• Secure bankable offtake agreements for Travertine’s products, particularly purified phosphoric acid (PPA), supplementary cementitious materials, and carbon dioxide removal credits. 
• Develop and execute sales strategies targeting industries such as agriculture, chemicals, food & beverage, LFP battery supply chain, and metals/minerals.
• Close large commercial deals, ideally $10M+ in annual contract value.
• Lead go-to-market strategies, customer outreach, strategic partnerships, and JDAs.
• Build and maintain relationships with key industry stakeholders, including manufacturers, regulatory bodies, and corporate buyers.
• Drive lead generation efforts, including cold outreach and customer engagement.
• Articulate the value proposition of Travertine’s green and sustainable solutions, navigating multi-stakeholder negotiations.
• Support licensing and royalty agreement strategies where applicable.
• Provide input on marketing efforts, overseeing the development of B2B sales materials and technical documentation.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the executive team, providing insights into market trends and opportunities.
• Work hand-in-hand with internal and external project development teams to ensure alignment between offtake agreements and development plans.

• 10+ years of experience in business development, with a focus on chemicals, ag inputs, food & beverage, battery supply chain, or metals/minerals.
• Proven track record of closing large commercial deals ($1M-$10M+).Experience securing bankable offtake agreements for novel industrial products.
• Hands-on closer with strong deal execution capabilities.
• Prior startup experience is highly preferred.
• Experience in the purified phosphoric acid industry is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with PPA product grades and food-grade certifications is beneficial.
• Experience selling or licensing innovative, sustainable technology is a plus.Strong leadership potential, with the ability to manage and grow a business development team over time.

• Mission-aligned and passionate about sustainability.
• Creative, dynamic, and able to think outside the box.
• Honest and forthright, with the ability to provide strategic insights.
• A team player willing to take on a range of tasks.
• Resourceful, execution-oriented, and proactive in driving business growth.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, startup environment.

• Competitive pay
• Stock options
• Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• 401k with 100% match up to 3% of salary
• Flexible time off policy