Sales Director Material Science North

Job role

The Sales Director leads the sales strategy, execution, and performance across the assigned Material Science sub-industry/application in EMEA. This role translates product basket and portfolio strategies into account-specific sales plans, pricing execution, and pipeline growth. The Sales Director partners closely with IMM, Product Management, Supply Chain, Operations, and Technical teams to drive revenue, GP margin, and customer value through solution-selling and market activation. The position is central to developing market insights, identifying growth opportunities, and supporting Material Science’s long-term strategic direction.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

Sales Strategy, Account Leadership, and Pipeline Management (50%)

• Translate product baskets and portfolio guidance into regional sales plans with clear revenue, GP margin, and share-of-wallet targets.

• Define priority customer segments and target accounts; lead account planning, territory design, and coverage models.
• Build and manage a healthy opportunity pipeline; drive opportunity qualification, stage progression, and conversion rates.
• Lead sales teams to push revenue and profit growth across targeted product baskets and identify customer demands beyond existing product portfolio
• Collaborate with operations and supply chain teams to drive efficiency and productivity.
• Ensure CRM discipline, forecast accuracy, and sales performance governance; run monthly/quarterly business reviews.
• Coordinate with Account Managers and Sales Managers to execute strategic campaigns, new product introductions, and customer value propositions.
• Cultivate senior-level relationships at key customers; act as a trusted advisor representing Brenntag’s technical and commercial capabilities.
• Identify risks (resource constraints, market shifts, competitive moves) and implement mitigation plans for sales execution.

Industry/Application Know-How and Market Activation (30%)

• Develop deep market and application expertise to co-create strategies with IMM aligned to the Material Science Industry Market Management framework.

• Identify trends and technologies with commercial potential, define priority segments and growth areas, and convert insights into actionable sales plays and strategic narratives
• Spot portfolio gaps and align with Industry Market Management to ensure strategic coverage and market relevance.
• Define themes and priorities for trade fairs, webinars, and customer events; represent Material Science at regional exhibitions and customer meetings and events.
• Activate campaigns and technical storytelling to support the sales organization and accelerate adoption of new solutions.
• Monitor portfolio balance and alignment with internal stakeholders to avoid conflicts and ensure compliance with regulatory and quality requirements.

Pricing Execution and Margin Management (20%)

• Implement pricing guidance derived from IMM’s market intelligence and supplier input

• Maintain accurate pricing information in relevant systems; monitor price/mix development and drive margin optimization initiatives.
• Provide feedback loops to IMM and Product Management on competitive dynamics, customer willingness-to-pay, and price realization.
• Coordinate with Product Management on supply agreements and execution; ensure sales commitments align with sourcing strategies.

Education and Experience

• University degree in a relevant field (Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Business, or similar).

• Extensive experience in specialty chemical distribution or manufacturing, with significant leadership in sales and commercial management.

• Strong technical and commercial knowledge in Material Science applications (e.g., polymers, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, construction chemicals, composites, additives).

• Experience collaborating with Product Management, Procurement, or Application Development; familiarity with VAS solution-selling is preferred.

Key Performance Indicators

• Revenue growth and GP margin improvement versus plan.

• Pipeline health (coverage, stage distribution) and conversion rates.

• Forecast accuracy and CRM data quality.

• Share-of-wallet expansion within priority accounts.

• VAS attach rate and cross-selling across the portfolio.

Travel

Up to 50% travel required, depending on customer visits, supplier meetings, internal sessions, and project needs.

Brenntag provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees of all backgrounds and identities to create a workplace where difference is valued because it forms a resilient and more innovative organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion or belief, parental and family status, or any other protected characteristic. We welcome applications from women, men and non-binary candidates of all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds.

Brenntag TA Team

About Brenntag

Brenntag is the leading global distributor of chemicals and ingredients, committed to connecting customers and suppliers within networks. We add value for our customers and partners every step of the way: through our product knowledge, innovation, and sustainable solutions, combined with our passion for service excellence and commitment to safety.

Headquartered in Essen, Germany, and with more than 17,500 experts at about 600 locations in 72 countries, our two global divisions, Brenntag Essentials and Brenntag Specialties, offer a full range of industrial and specialty chemicals and ingredients. Therefore, our clients and partners can count on us for global reach combined with local agility and execution.

As an employer, we embrace diversity and foster a sense of community and collaboration in an environment where employees are encouraged to share ideas and work together. We engage our employees in the company’s mission for collective success, by building long-term stability and safety through trust and clarity across the organization. We believe in empowering our employees to reach their full potential and shape the future.

For more information, please visit www.brenntag.com