Commercial Director

Job Title: Commercial Director

Location: Cheshire UK

Salary: £120K - £135K + 20% Bonus + Car Allowance

Hrs: 08:30 - 17:00hrs (flexibility required) + extensive travel

Contract: Permanent

Company and Role

Our client is a highly reputable $1.6B Global Company, specialising in developing, producing, and distributing a broad range of specialty Chemicals, Minerals & Niche Products for Consumer and Specialities industries.

We are seeking a Commercial Director to be responsible for Key Major Account handling and European Commercial Sales for Fabric Care. You will also drive growth in revenue & profits with key major clients in addition to new clients, to deliver an aspirational goal of additional $30M profitable business in a span of 3-5 years.

Key Responsibilities of the Commercial Director;

General;

• Interface with key customer contacts periodically to maintain a healthy business relationship especially with Global Major accounts. Periodically review prices and proactively manage price-volume.
• Manage distributors to ensure regional strategies are executed.
• Growth in business with existing (both multinational and regional companies) through marketing existing technologies as well as developing new technologies.
• Research and contact new prospects, develop projects with these prospects and convert projects into new business.

Prospecting

• Undertake Market survey's and conduct market analysis.
• Continuously interact with key/major customers to understand trends and needs.
• Drill down/prioritize to most suited projects based on the company's strengths and growth plans.
• Develop proposals for customers after working with Global/Product Line Management, R&D, Engineering, and Operations Teams.

Commercial management (Including Trials)

• Provide volume and price forecasts per company standards, meeting key deadlines.
• Periodically review price-volume by accounts and take corrective action as deemed necessary.
• Coordinate with company's support resources including R&D to develop technical & commercial proposal.
• Develop initial trial order at the new/existing account. Organise for right equipment, people and product for trials.
• Once successful trials are completed, negotiate for the regular sales.
• Work with R&D and Operations team to develop standard procedures, specifications and equipment (including Capex proposals) so that product reliability is maintained after commercialisation.

Performance management and training

• Track revenue and profits at customer level.
• Track improvement projects.
• Implement training and development activities for stake holders when trials are undertaken.
• Identify operational challenges customers face, translate them into led solutions, especially on quality.

Continuous improvement

• Forecast emerging trends within key competitors, the current market.
• Periodically initiate 'Voice of customer' programs to ensure the business gets feedback from customers for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with regional commercial leadership, and functional leaders (i.e. manufacturing and R&D) to implement product strategies that would be in line with customer demands.

As the Commercial Director, you will have the following skills & qualifications;

• Minimum of 10 years Sales experience, ideally to household segment OR manufacturing/quality control experience in a detergent manufacturing company.
• Knowledge about detergent formulations, surfactants, dyes, perfumes etc. would be advantageous.
• A strong Chemistry or Chemical Engineering background is desired.
• Strong understanding of P&L dynamics and a commercial bias is required.
• Must be a "hands-on" and independent individual with a systematic problem-solving approach.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and a strong technical competency.

Additional Information;

• This role is a self-directed role with a wide geographical scope.
• Applicants must the ability to work with different time zones and cultures.
• Extensive global travel is envisaged, therefore, candidates must have a valid passport and full UK driving licence.