Sales Manager, EMEA, Food Oleochemicals

Sales Manager, EMEA, Food Oleochemicals – Germany (Remote) - Multibillion Euro Manufacturer

Irving Knight has partnered with a 120-year-old, family owned €5b manufacturer of specialty chemicals to identify a Sales Manager (individual contributor), within the global Ester business unit; focused primarily on sustainably sourced oleochemicals. This role will be focused on the Tobacco Food market(s). Our client has seven continental HQs, with sheer global reach. My client possesses an exceptional culture with incredible staff retention figures. They provide each employee with the freedom to implement their own ideas, no matter their position within the business.

The management board are simply wonderful, with overawing passion for their trade, whilst they possess a 50/50 gender diversity split across all commercial functions. This role will lead the growth of the Ester Business Unit across EMEA, selling to globally renowned names in the Food industry. This role should also materialize into a Business Unit Manager role within two years, so applicants should have potential leadership capabilities.

If you would like to work for a company that puts employees first, heavily focuses on diversity/sustainability, and work in a truly collaborative environment, this could be the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Head of Business Unit (Esters), you will be solely responsible for driving the growth of the business unit across EMEA, with a focus on Food accounts; with up to 70% travel.
• Utilize product knowledge and sales/product management experience to clearly deliver the value proposition.
• Sustain and improve upon the level of service offered to customers via unique and new service initiatives.
• Stay on top of and provide analyses of industry changes, emerging markets, and market shifts as well as new products and competitive landscapes.
• Attend (as required) and recommend participation in industry tradeshows and other events.
• Represent your employer as a leader in the industry through conferences, industry events, social media platforms, etc.
• Incorporate appropriate sales techniques when prospecting new customers, ensuring effective communication of the brand and market presence.
• Move prospects through the sales process to secure new business.
• Prepare and deliver sales presentations and product demonstrations, where applicable, either in person or virtually.
• Secure in-person customer visits with purchasing, RD, and sales and marketing contacts at potential customers.
• Address customer questions, concerns, and inquiries with a sense of urgency and accuracy.
• Send quotes to new/existing customers and sample requests, etc., as required.
• Participate in new product introductions, training, joint sales calls, and testing.
• Issue timely reporting of customer issues, meetings, and opportunities through call reports, emails, and other means of communication.
• Liaise closely with product management, pricing, and RD teams in Germany.

Qualifications

• A technical degree in Chemistry, Engineering or similar is not absolutely essential, but will work in your favor.
• Three to five years of experience selling Oleochemicals and/or other Chemicals to the Food industry.
• The ability to speak English fluently essential. German and/or Italian would be preferred.
• Self-motivated, high energy, and engaging level of enthusiasm and positive outlook.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, and ability to adapt communication style to the audience as needed.
• Software knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point.
• Must have a valid drivers license and evidence of insurability.
• An existing network of customers within the Tobacco and/or Food industry.
• Must be willing to travel 70% of the time, including four trips to Northwest Germany per year for sales meetings.

Our offer to you

• A competitive annual salary and bonus based on experience and value you could bring to the business (up to €105,000 base and two months salary bonus) with Company phone and laptop.
• Company Car: taxed 1% of the value of the car per year for petrol/diesel and 0.5% on hybrid/electric.
• Full private healthcare benefits.
• A young, cosmopolitan, and thriving workplace with state-of-the-art facilities.
• A fun, ambitious and collaborative environment.
• Implementation of home office/all equipment required.