The portfolio includes a global strategic account for Air Liquide Group and is therefore an ideal opportunity for a high potential candidate seeking international challenge and exposure.
Job Summary
The LI Commercial Director is responsible for leading and developing Air Liquide Large Industries' commercial strategy and operations within South Africa, driving profitable growth and ensuring customer satisfaction in the large industrial gas market.
Job Responsibilities
* Develop and implement a comprehensive commercial strategy for Large Industries in South Africa, aligning with regional and global objectives.
* Lead, motivate, and develop the commercial team, including sales, account management, and business development personnel.
* Identify and pursue new business opportunities, securing long-term contracts with key industrial customers.
* Manage existing customer relationships, ensuring high levels of satisfaction, retention, and growth within the assigned portfolio.
* Negotiate and finalize complex commercial agreements, including gas supply contracts, equipment sales, and service agreements.
* Conduct market analysis, competitor intelligence, and customer segmentation to identify trends and opportunities.
* Prepare and manage the commercial budget, ensuring financial targets are met or exceeded.
* Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, engineering, finance, and legal teams to deliver integrated solutions to customers.
* Ensure compliance with all internal policies, ethical guidelines, and relevant external regulations.
* Represent Air Liquide Large Industries at industry events, conferences, and with key stakeholders.
* Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; an MBA is highly preferred.
* Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in commercial roles within the industrial gas, energy, or chemical sectors, with at least 5 years in a leadership position.
* Proven track record of successfully developing and executing commercial strategies and achieving significant sales growth.
* Extensive experience in negotiating complex, long-term B2B contracts with large industrial clients.
* Strong understanding of the South African industrial market and customer landscape.
* Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
* Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
* Proficient in financial analysis and budget management.
* Fluent in English; knowledge of other local languages is a plus.
* Willingness to travel extensively within South Africa and occasionally internationally.
Our Differences make our Performance
At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.
We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or related field
- MBA
- 10-15 years progressive commercial experience in industrial gas, energy, or chemical sectors
- At least 5 years in a leadership position
- Proven track record developing and executing commercial strategies and achieving sales growth
- Extensive experience negotiating complex, long-term B2B contracts with large industrial clients
- Strong understanding of the South African industrial market and customer landscape
- Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders
- Proficiency in financial analysis and budget management
- Fluent in English
- Knowledge of local languages
- Willingness to travel extensively within South Africa and occasionally internationally
Air Liquide Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Air Liquide and has not been reviewed or approved by Air Liquide.
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Healthcare Strength — Health insurance and life coverage are broadly provided under a global common care baseline that includes inpatient and outpatient healthcare. Dental and vision coverage are present in many locations, and short-term disability provisions have been enhanced.
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Parental & Family Support — Policies provide at least 14 weeks of fully paid maternity leave globally and paid parental leave for non-birthing parents in the U.S. Childcare benefits are available in some countries as part of the package.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Annual incentive bonuses, performance bonuses for exceeding goals, and profit-sharing are integrated into the total rewards structure. Feedback suggests additional earning avenues like overtime can further augment pay in eligible roles.
Air Liquide Insights
What We Do
A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 75 countries with approximately 66,400 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902.
