Sales Manager EMEA

Milliken & Company is an innovation company that has been exploring, discovering, and creating ways to enhance people’s lives since 1865. Headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with a global presence through their manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., U.K., Belgium, France, China and sales and service operations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Their 8000 engaged associates all have an unwavering commitment to deliver sustainable solutions for their customers and communities.

The company gained a solid expertise across a breadth of disciplines including specialty chemicals, floor covering and performance materials that enhance people’s lives, improve health and safety and make the world more sustainable.

Their aim to positively impact the world has been supported by the Ethisphere Institute for 15 consecutive years where Milliken & Company was named to the World’s Most Ethical Companies.

In order to strengthen their EMEA Business for their Plastic Additives, which is of high importance for their global revenue, they are currently engaging a: Sales Manager EMEA - Upstream/Plastic Additives.

The EMEA Plastic Additives Business, existing out of both upstream & downstream activities, consists out of additives sales to polypropylene & polyethylene producers combined with sales of additives, colorants and masterbatches to masterbatch and converter companies. The Sales Manager EMEA will manage and induce the commercial strategy, aligned with the group business objectives, whilst taking into account local market and/or industry specifications & needs. Your main accountabilities are related to sales - & key account management, driven by an outstanding leadership and people management approach.

• You will translate the overall commercial strategy into a tangible operational action plan, ensuring clear goals and KPI’s are in place.
• Together with your team, existing of advanced & senior account managers, you will be accountable for managing and consolidating all Key Accounts Upstream in EMEA.
• You will insure and foster a solid client & partnership culture securing early involvement, a healthy new project pipeline and a strong network across the clients organization.
• You will secure a high standard of sales excellence by improving sales operations and processes ensuring profitability and sustainability. You ensure the business targets are met and exceeded by regular performance management and KPI monitoring.
• Through accurate sales forecasting & budgeting you support the supply planning activities.
• You will keep abreast of market intelligence data, related to the use of Milliken’s products, to identify and determine market opportunities, increase the business market share and secure further market penetration.
• You will coach, strengthen and empower your team and will play an active and supportive role in all key account development activities across EMEA.
• You cultivate and maintain strong internal & external relationships.
• You will have a direct reporting line to the Sales Director EMEA.
• You will be based at the Ghent site (BE) and are flexible towards travelling within EMEA approximately 50% of your time.

• You have a Bachelor’s or Master ‘s Degree (Chemical/Bio-Engineering or a commercial major).
• You have a solid commercial and managerial experience (min 10 years) within the chemical industry. Knowledge of the polypropylene & polyethylene industry is considered a huge advantage.
• You are an inspirational and high energy leader with a great sense of ownership and solid and profound judgement skills.
• You are used to working in an international, industrial environment with a strong business acumen and the ability to adapt and respect cultural diversity.
• Demonstrated success of developing and implementing successful commercial strategies that achieve sales and revenue targets, maximize profitability, and drive growth is required.
• Outstanding leadership, people management and communication skillset with the ability to motivate and further develop teams.
• Strong internal- and external stakeholder management capabilities with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships across all levels.
• Your enthusiasm, strong negotiation skills and helicopter view make you a credible and solid partner for both clients, your team and colleagues.
• You exhibit a sense of urgency and initiative towards accomplishing objectives.
• Flexible with the ability to travel 40-50% of your time across EMEA.
• You are fluent in English and Dutch. Other languages are an asset.