Account Manager, Functional Materials

The Account Manager will help drive sales for Vital Materials Functional Materials product sales.

Responsibilities:

• Maintaining current key contacts for designated customers in the assigned region/market segment
• Identifying and obtaining new business opportunities within the assigned territory/market segment
• Managing sales and service through extensive customer visits and trials
• Working in a team atmosphere interacting with customer service, research & development, technology, and other sales personnel
• Maintaining customer database and call reports
• Preparing sales forecasts for the assigned territory/market segment
• Garnering market intelligence (i.e. competitive information and industry trends)
• Attending regional and national trade shows
• Achieve volume, revenue & margin targets outlined in the annual fiscal budget for the established geographic area.
• Develop a territory growth plan that includes regular visitation to existing accounts as well as the identification, promotion and commercialization of prospect accounts to grow market share.
• Utilize the CRM tool in support of that growth plan to effectively manage the business, including keeping timely and detailed account records, advancing opportunities and cultivating prospect conversion.
• Regularly furnish call reports in a timely manner specified by management that contain high levels of qualitative and quantitative information that encompass pertinent account information and competitive market intelligence which can be disseminated internally and externally to drive increased awareness.
• Work proactively and collaboratively with Sales & Product Management to deliver on targeted customer and supplier goals for specific products, price, volume, and profitability goals.
• Provide sales management a monthly report of your activities.
• Establish a positive rapport with customers to be favorably disposed to enhance sales growth by maintaining a productive balance of customer interactions, including face-to-face calls, phone contact, virtual meetings, and email.
• Responsible planning for travel and customer meetings and overall expense control.
• Responsible for productive use of office time, with a balance of transactional/administrative tasks and time related to projects (supplier reviews, sales budgeting, variance analysis, etc.).
• Regularly renew and update existing customer forecasts, contracts, and other agreements for assigned accounts.
• Effectively collaborate on an inter-departmental and cross-functional basis to ensure that the needs of the company and the needs of the customer/principal are balanced.
• Participate in industry associations and related events as available.

Skills and Experience:

• 3 - 5 years of experience in sales of chemicals, food ingredients, metals or related industry
• Professional training in consultative sales is a plus
• Minimum 8 years professional work experience in technical sales, engineering, product marketing or product management.
• Minimum 4 years in a sales role with a track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets

• Valid driver's license with the ability and willingness to travel 25 to 50% of the time within the assigned territory
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a proven ability to interface across multiple levels of an organization
• Experience working alongside customer's technical and research & development staff
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite products including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience working with Salesforce or a similar CRM
• Deliver sales growth across diverse industries sales by prospecting for new business opportunities, while protecting current share, within named accounts
• Deliver and maintain accurate sales forecasts, reports, and account records.
• Develop a strong working knowledge of the PM product lines - selling the full portfolio of products, and seeking sales opportunities for other products
• Gain consensus with internal and external stakeholders to constantly advance and win the deal
• Technical lab or other chemistry related experience is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively remotely, with little or no supervision.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment with multiple departments.
• Able to solve problems independently with strong decision-making skills.
• Perseverance, patience, ability to sustain motivation long-term

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Business, Marketing, or a related field

Travel

Up to 50% domestic and occasional international travel is required.

***NO AGENCIES PLEASE***