Our client is a French-funded company, it has nearly 50 years’ experience and extensive know-how in formulation and production of thermoplastics, making it market leader in this sector. The range of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and PVCs has been specially formulated to provide original solutions for applications in the building, automotive, cabling, and manufacturing and footwear industries.

Title:               Sales Manager TPE Compounds

Location:         Shanghai

Purpose of the job:
?        Introduction of our company and product range towards our customers, both OEM and           First / Second Tier Suppliers.
?        Project management and follow-up of the material introduction.
?        Highly technical oriented customer discussions, including test runs on both pilot and   industrial lines.
?        Commercial follow-up of the projects in very close cooperation with colleagues.
?        Market analyzes.
?        Dedicated to IP and interior applications.

Primary Accountabilities:
Marketing
Tasks:
1.       Visit OEM/TR1 for technical introduction and new project discussion.
2.       Collect marketing related info and competitor activity info
3.       Market analysis and prediction.
4.       Prepare for company’s marketing activities (seminar, expo, show…)
Responsibilities:
1.       Propose sales budget to Sales Manager for approval.
2.       Realize budgeted sales.
3.       Responsible for potential customer development of IP applications, and Interior as well.
4.       Responsible for new project follow-up and customer demands feedback
5.       Responsible for maintaining good relationship with (potential) customers
6.       Responsible for sending China customer info to global.
Authorities:
1.       Negotiate with customers directly within China within prices set by the sales manager.
2.       Propose and decide together with manager the marketing strategies and activities. Execute approved action plan.
3.       Inquire support from the parent related departments and distributor.
4.       Propose and decide together with manager the customers visit plan and business entertainment activities based on budget, ethical principles, customer position and China culture.

Sales Support/Tasks:
1.       Make quotations and conduct commercial negotiation.
2.       Know customers’ real demands and detailed requirements.
3.       Manage and control distributors step by step.
4.       Have clear view on company sales strategy.
Responsibilities:
1.       Responsible for sales target realization within working scope (together with distributor).
2.       Understanding of customers’ detailed requirements, sales volume and price.
Authorities:
1.       Decide sales tactic and method.
2.       Decide customer visit and entertainment activities.

Technical /Tasks:
1.       Grasp company’s core expertise and application cases. Follow up with TPE technology progress and new applications. Become technical expert in responsible area step by step.
2.       Organize and lead technical discussion with customers. Clearly explain the technical advantages of TPE products.
3.       Respond customer’s technical requests and provide technical solution to new projects.
4.       Provide technical support for test, tryout, and pilot. Track and respond the quality issues in production.  
5.       Support OEM’s homologation.
Responsibilities:
1.       Responsible for reaching the budgeted sales
2.       Responsible for technical introduction to (potential) customers.
3.       Responsible for technical discussion before sales.
4.       Responsible for process support and issue shot after sales.
5.       Responsible for tests and OEM’s homologation.
6.       Responsible for competitor’s technique analysis and prediction.
7.       Take technical lead in all working scope.
Authorities:
1.       Obtain full technical support from R&D
2.       Obtain full technical support from process and quality dept.

Yearly targets will be proposed by the jobholder, discussed and mutually agreed upon with the Manager.
1.       Sales volume target:
2.       Become technical expert in working scope,
3.       Introduction of company material to more OEMs
4.       Complete marketing plan for Seals.
5.       Update documents and reports on time.

Background:
?        M.Sc or M.Eng with polymer science or mechanical engineering.    
?        Problem solving approach, looking for solutions.
?        Ca. 5 years of automotive engineering/sales experience.

Training
?        Followed training program since joining;
?        Technical training in France
?        Influence-based selling
?        Training program proposal by the Jobholder;
?        Negotiation skills
?        TPE Process training