Technical Sales Manager, Coatings Europe

About Us

Elementis is a global specialty chemical company, with 1,300 employees operating 17 manufacturing sites across the globe. At Elementis, we bring a distinctive combination of expertise, innovation, and teamwork to every formulation challenge. We create high-value specialty additives that enhance the performance of our customers' products and make a positive change in the world. Combining our leading positions in the science of materials flow, surface modification, and formulation with access to unique natural materials, Elementis delivers unique chemistry, sustainable solutions to customers in a wide range of markets, including cosmetics, anti-perspirants, decorative and industrial coatings, automotive and ceramics.

Job Description Summary

This is a position within the business segment Coatings in the EMEA region, with a specific focus on MEA and Southern European countries, with the possibility to further expand to other countries. The aim of the position is to achieve business growth by understanding market needs and customers goals, providing technical insights on how to achieve such goals and finally finding solutions which are both technically and commercially viable with Elementis products. The Technical Sales Manager builds and maintain relationship with key customers and Distributors, works closely with Sales Managers in the regions, cooperate with Marketing and R&D functions in order to build strong value proposition with Elementis products and drive future Innovation. In addition, the position will work on a number of projects within the organization.

Job Description

Responsibilities

- You drive business growth by developing solutions for customers with Elementis products.

- You develop and enhance technical relationship with current and new customers. - - - You provide technical support and regular training to the Coatings sales team, distributors and customers in the Region.

- You identify and line-up New Business Opportunities in line with the business strategy.

- You support the Sales Managers to accelerate New Business Opportunities at all level through regular customer visits.

- You provide after sales support, visit customers, answer technical questions, ensure customers remains satisfied with Elementis technical support, including technical complaints management.

- You identify markets and customers’ needs and develop sound value propositions. - - You participate and/or co-lead new product launches and various projects in cooperation with Marketing and R&D.

Job Competencies

Communicates effectively: Effective communication enables you to articulate the questions and requirements of the customers and be clear when presenting to customers.

Action oriented: Must be able to work independently, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency to ensure customer’s questions are addressed in a timely manner. This is crucial to ensure customer satisfaction.

Plan and align: Planning, aligning and organization is crucial in managing the multiple tasks and projects this role will have to undertake at once. It enables you to execute the tasks with precision, maximize productivity and achieve desired outcomes. Flexibility will be key in addressing change of  priorities.

Collaboration:  Effective collaboration ensures you can properly work with Regional Sales Managers and all other Support Functions, mainly Marketing and R&D. 

Drives results: Paying close attention to detail and being results and performance driven helps supports the region to maximize Sales. A roll-up-your-sleeves work style would be effective; a results-oriented perspective is integral to the success of this candidate.

Decision making

- Balancing risk, commercial considerations, and customer expectations.

- Balancing Technical Feasibility vs. Commercial Viability.

- Making Decisions Under Uncertainty.

- Prioritizing High-Value Opportunities.

Additional Job Description

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Experience should include a strong customer orientation and demonstrate flexibility in addressing changing priorities and demands. 
• Demonstrated ability to function in an action-oriented environment, which is dependent on cross-functional cooperation is imperative. 
• Candidates should be entrepreneurial in nature and collaborative in personality yet they must be polished and able to achieve results by influencing others,
• A proven problem-solver, who anticipates and addresses business issues, is critical. The ideal candidate will be one who is energized by problem resolution and looking for a new challenge every day. 
• Solid interpersonal and communication skills in both written and verbal form are essential.
• Technical understanding of the Coatings market is a must, additional knowledge in Market Adjacencies (i.e. Adhesives & Sealants, Construction, Water Treatment, Plastics) is a very valued plus.

Position Requirements

- Bachelor or Master’s degree, preferably Chemistry, Chemical Engineering along with Business or equivalent.

- Minimum of 5 years experience in technical service or R&D preferably in the field of Coatings, Adhesives and Sealants and Construction.

- Demonstrated project management skills with a success record to develop a broad set of relationships, to work collaboratively and to succeed in a dynamic and challenging environment.

- Strong interpersonal skills, networking, communication and presentation skills Experience with managing customer focused projects and providing technical solutions.

- Experience with creative technical presentation.

- Strong analytical skills, planning, prioritizing and realizing (long) term goals.

- Excellent networking, communication and presentation skills with both internal and external partners.

- The position requires regular international travel Fluent in English, other language is a plus.