Job Openings: Technical Sales Manager

ALTANA•Louisville, OH

About The Position

The Technical Sales Manager drives profitable growth in the Liquid Coatings market, focusing on Automotive and Industrial segments. The role builds a strong technical presence with ECKART America customers, influencers, and prospects in collaboration with key account and MTS colleagues. It supports market development through research, technically oriented sales calls, customer training and contact, and identification of sales opportunities in the assigned territory. The position develops market knowledge, monitors competitors, maintains market intelligence in CRM, and reports on sales volume, potential sales, and active opportunities. It communicates customer needs internally and leads efforts to find technical solutions. The manager contributes to regional and global market-segment strategies, develops business relationships across Automotive and Industrial Coatings subsegments, represents the company at industry events, and supports marketing surveys and new product launches. The role also presents and demonstrates products, coordinates with Technical Marketing, Laboratory, and Customer Service to resolve customer issues, uses CRM to communicate within the organization, and operates within budgeted expenses. Other duties may be assigned and agreed upon.

Requirements

At least five years of field technical experience in the Automotive or Industrial Coatings industry.
A verified portfolio of existing contacts in the Automotive or Industrial Coatings industry, including major coatings companies such as S-W, PPG, RPM, Akzo, and Axalta.
An undergraduate science or engineering degree, or appropriate tenure and experience in the specialty chemicals industry.
Customer focus and ability to establish and maintain strong personal relationships.
Proven ability to drive sales and generate profits through technical expertise and innovative approaches.
Business acumen and analytical skills, with the ability to develop competence in strategic planning, sales and target account planning, profitability analysis, price negotiations, contract and supply agreements, and claims resolution.
Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Strong organizational, time-management, and presentation skills.
Proven problem-solving skills.
Ability to develop, implement, and manage complex technical projects.
Ability to foster teamwork among colleagues and across organizational functions.
Proficiency in Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams), and Business Objects.
Willingness to travel regularly to customer locations, EA facilities, and regional trade events, with travel exceeding 60% of the time.

Nice To Haves

An applications specialist background is noted as optional.

Responsibilities

Drive profitable growth in the Liquid Coatings market, particularly the Automotive and Industrial segments, by establishing a strong technical presence with customers, influencers, and prospects.
Conduct market research, technically oriented sales calls, customer training, and customer outreach; identify sales opportunities within assigned markets and territory.
Develop market knowledge and understanding of Automotive and/or Industrial Coatings segments, including development of StEP with MTS/TCM colleagues.
Monitor the competitive landscape, maintain market intelligence in CRM, and use import statistics as part of competitive analysis.
Prepare periodic reports and regularly update CRM with sales volume, potential sales, and the status of active opportunities.
Communicate market needs within the organization and spearhead the pursuit of technical solutions to customer problems.
Provide input to, support, and execute the EA Liquid Coatings Market Development plan as part of global and regional market-segment strategies.
Develop high-level business relationships in Automotive (OEM and Trim) and Industrial Coatings subsegments, including Aerosol, Powder, Anti-Corrosion, Consumer Electronics, Coil, Packaging, and GI.
Represent the company at industry trade shows, exhibitions, and meetings, and support marketing surveys.
Support new product launches by assisting with coordination and timing, identifying key partners, developing support tools, conducting training, arranging external product testing, and driving demand.
Deliver customer presentations and product demonstrations that highlight value-added benefits.
Work with Technical Marketing, Laboratory, and Customer Service to resolve customer issues and provide solutions.
Communicate effectively within the organization, including through the CRM tool.
Operate within budgeted expenses and perform other duties as assigned and agreed upon.