Sales Manager

Sales Manager 

Full Time Permanent

Location: Europe (based in France, Spain, Benelux or Germany and close to a Main International Airport)

We’re looking for a Sales Manager to join the INEOS Acetyls team in Europe. We need highly motivated individuals who want to be part of our growing business.

INEOS Acetyls is a global chemicals business producing acetic acid and a range of derivatives across Europe, Asia and America. We’re part of INEOS - one of the largest petrochemical companies in the world, employing around 26,000 people across 194 sites in 29 countries.

Our EU business, which is the largest producer of acetic acid, acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate in Europe. The products we produce are essential building blocks used in almost every industry, including renewable power, automotive, pharmaceuticals, coatings and textiles.

Our UK site is also home to the business's global Technology Development and Support Team and is based on the 370-acre Saltend Chemicals Park - a cluster of world-class chemicals and renewable energy businesses at the heart of the UK's energy estuary.

Be part of our journey to net zero

Sustainability is at the heart of our business, and we have created a road map to achieving net zero.  We’re investing in this sustainable future right now you could be part of our journey. 

The opportunity

Our ideal candidate will have extensive, proven experience in a sales management role.  You will have responsibility for managing a customer portfolio in Western Europe and providing sales support and account management.  The role includes implementing contract management strategies and negotiating supply agreements; finding new opportunities within the current customer base as well as finding new applications and/or customers within the specified territory or industry and working to support the overall success of the Sales team with the ultimate aim to maximize and grow margin opportunities.

If you thrive on a challenge and are prepared to push yourself, then INEOS’ open and non-hierarchical approach to business will give you the opportunity to quickly develop your career. We value daily collaboration and teamwork, reaping the benefits of working on site/office based.  

Key accountabilities

Business Planning

• Accurate forecasting of sales and pricing by customer on a weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual basis
• Assist management in developing annual sales budget and target accounts.
• Management of customer offtake to balance production volumes/inventory with customer demand
• Maintain a detailed knowledge of market developments (including competitor activities) and customer applications and opportunities for competitive advantage.

Contract Management & Margin growth.

• Understand in detail your customer contracts and work collaboratively to ensure compliance and define and implement a plan to maintain/grow margin in your assigned territory.
• Clearly define your customer requirements to our customer service team and work closely to ensure we meet your customer expectations to ensure high customer satisfaction.
• Work with the business team to find ways to grow margin and profitability.
• Closely manager our credit exposure and payment performance of our customer whilst finding opportunities to reduce credit terms.

Relationship management

• Perform routine account management functions such as client site visits, manage price adjustments, timely submission of commercial proposals, long term development of client relationships, assist the Customer Service Representative in support of the account.
• Establish a sales relationship with all targeted customers, stabilizing and securing the existing business.
• Work closely with our technical and logistics teams to build relationships in some of our high service accounts and follow through with after-sale technical support to facilitate development of a broad and deep relationship base with multiple contact points at each customer.
• Provide direction to Customer Service department; resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
• Prepare complete, clear, and concise quotes/proposals/bids for customers.
• Demonstrate an overall knowledge of company’s product line, modes of transportation, end uses, manufacturing processes, technical information and competition.
• Write sales reports based on all interactions (visits/calls) with current or potential customers and share with relevant colleagues.

Business Development & Sustainability

• Understand in detail your customer requirements on sustainability and work with our Business. teams to develop offers that enhance margins and drive competitive advantage competitive advantage.
• Ensure our customer volume demands are aligned with our production capability and optimised to maximise margin.
• Other duties as may be required from time to time.

About you

You will bring with you your previous sales experience and management of large blue-chip accounts, ideally gained in the chemicals industry. The role will utilize your honed selling and negotiations skills as well as test your ability to identify and quickly assess potential opportunities.

You’ll possess excellent communication, interpersonal and management skills to contribute to our open communication culture.  Through data analysis and observations identify methods to improve sales performance and effectiveness through better territory management and sales skills.

Given our customer base, we can flex on your base location however you will need to live within a reasonable commuting distance of a main international airport.

Language skills should include fluency in French and or Spanish as well as English, other additional European languages are advantageous.

Level of education & Experience in general

• Degree level education in science or business.
• Previous sales experience and management of large blue-chip accounts, ideally in chemicals industry.
• Extended experience in technical and commercial functions – sales, marketing, purchasing.
• High level of business/commercial acumen together with strong analytical skills.
• Strong language skills, fluent in English and one of French or Spanish
  • German and other languages advantageous
• 50-80% travel, primarily to customer locations and operations sites, INEOS Acetyls plant location and INEOS Acetyls head-office.

Technical Skills

• Very strong analytical and data science skills.
• Strong understanding and ability to deal with regulation, politics, governance, and standards within the chemical sector at national and international level.
• Highly developed selling and negotiation skills.
• Ability to rapidly understand and interpret information on market dynamics.
• Sound understanding of financial data.
• Strong competence with standard business software (Excel / Word / PowerPoint / SAP / Notes).
• Good understanding of the chemistry and production processes.

Behavioural Skills

• Creative and entrepreneurial.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship building and networking skills.
• A team player.
• Comfortable operating in areas with a significant level of autonomy.
• Able to identify and quickly assess potential opportunities.
• Ability to handle multiple projects/account dialogs/negotiations in parallel.
• Highly motivated, self-reliant, and proactive mindset.
• Must be exceptionally comfortable and effective in a group presentation setting and possess excellent presentation skills that demonstrate product and market knowledge and confidence.