Sales Development Manager (100%)

KLK Kolb is one of Europe's leading alkoxylation companies, specializing in surfactants and chemical specialties. They are seeking a Sales Development Manager to drive international sales, acquire new customers in Eastern Europe, and provide application-related consulting while ensuring sustainable growth in the market.

Responsibilities:

• International sales of KLK Kolb’s chemical surfactant portfolio
• New customers acquisition and sales development in Eastern Europe region
• Volume, turnover and contribution margin - responsible for the allocated customers in coordination with and as specified by the Business Manager
• Providing intensive application-related consulting and support to existing and new customers in close cooperation with Product Management, Marketing, Research & Development and other business units
• Cultivating and developing long-term customer relations and acquiring new customers; developing new areas of application and introducing new products and technical solutions in the allocated focal areas
• Assuring sustainable, profitable growth in the corresponding markets through actively collaborating in the development and implementation of operational measures and projects in cooperation with the appropriate internal departments
• Market and competitor observation and market potential analyses; developing authoritative plans on short and mid-term business development
• Drawing up bids; pricing in line with internal specifications; reporting and correspondence in line with internal specifications
• Initiating and coordinating the implementation of solutions in defined business areas; assuring the provision of final reports to customers
• Maintaining margins while simultaneously increasing the sales volume
• Collaborating in strategic projects in accordance with specifications issued by the Commercial Team Management
• Complaint handling in close cooperation with the relevant internal departments
• Attending seminars, conventions and trade fairs including booth supervision

Requirements:

• Chemical education (FH/Uni)
• Solid experience in sales or another customer-related activity in the field of surfactants for detergent markets such as Home Care and I&I
• Experience in Personal Care and/or other technical markets such as coatings, EP, Agro, MWF, lubricants and textile is a plus
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with a confident demeanour
• You can organise yourself well and have high team competences in order to achieve optimal results for our customers in cooperation with other internal departments
• Connected thinking, able to grasp complex information and communicate in a concise manner
• Fluency in English is needed; additionally fluency in French or German, Eastern European Language skill is a plus
• Willingness to travel up to 50%-60%, primarily in Eastern Europe