Technical Sales Manager - UK & Ireland

INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT & HR EXPERTS ACROSS THE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, SPECIALITY CHEMICALS, LIFE SCIENCES, BIOPOLYMER, FOOD ADDITIVES & INGREDIENTS, ENERGY AND RECYCLING SECTORS SINCE 1975.

Technical Sales Manager – UK & Ireland

Location: Remote, anywhere in the UK or Ireland
Territory: United Kingdom and Ireland
Reporting to: European Sales Director / Commercial Director
Company: Arla Plast Group

Job ref: AZ/64581

The Opportunity:

Arla Plast Group is a leading European manufacturer and supplier of extruded semi-finished plastic sheets, supplying customers across more than 50 countries. The Group manufactures technical plastic sheet products in polycarbonate (PC), ABS, PETG and PMMA, serving a diverse range of industrial, commercial and specialist applications.

We are seeking an experienced Technical Sales Manager / Business Development Manager to take responsibility for developing and growing Arla Plast's business across the UK and Ireland.

The individual will be responsible for protecting and developing existing business, while reactivating old and identifying new customers, applications and market opportunities. 
The role will involve selling through distributors as well as developing direct relationships with converters, thermoformers, fabricators, OEMs and end users.

Supported by the Group's commercial, technical, customer service, manufacturing and distribution infrastructure, the appointed person will have full ownership of the strategic direction of the Uk & Ireland business.

Key Responsibilities:

Sales & Business Development:

·    Take full commercial responsibility for the UK and Ireland sales territory.
·    Develop and implement a structured sales strategy to achieve agreed revenue, margin and growth targets.
·    Manage and grow existing customer accounts while actively re approaching and developing new business.
·    Identify new customers, applications and market sectors for Arla Plast's product portfolio.
·    Develop relationships at multiple levels within customer organisations, from purchasing and sales through to technical, engineering, production and senior management.
·    Generate new business through proactive prospecting, customer visits, networking, referrals and market intelligence.
·    Develop opportunities from initial enquiry through technical evaluation, sampling, trials, quotation, negotiation and commercial agreement.
·    Increase Arla Plast's share of wallet within existing accounts.
·    Identify opportunities to replace competing materials or suppliers with Arla Plast products.
·    Develop project-based sales opportunities where Arla Plast sheet can be specified into new products or applications.
·    Maintain a healthy and measurable sales pipeline and provide accurate sales forecasts.

Distributor Management:

·    Develop and manage relationships with key UK and Irish distributors and stockists.
·    Work with distributors to increase sales of Arla Plast products rather than simply processing orders.
·    Identify gaps in distributor product portfolios and introduce appropriate Arla Plast products.
·    Support distributors with product training, technical information, application knowledge and sales tools.
·    Jointly develop target-account plans with distributors.
·    Monitor competitor activity, pricing, availability and product positioning.
·    Ensure distributors understand the breadth of the Arla Plast portfolio and identify opportunities to introduce additional materials and grades.
·    Direct Customers & End Users

Technical Sales:

·    Understand the characteristics, benefits and limitations of PC, ABS, PETG and PMMA.
·    Recommend appropriate materials based on application requirements.
·    Understand the principles of thermoforming, vacuum forming, fabrication, machining, cutting, bending and other downstream processing techniques.
·    Work with customers to identify material-selection opportunities.
·    Support customers during product trials and qualification processes.
·    Liaise with Arla Plast's technical and manufacturing teams when customer requirements require bespoke solutions.
·    Translate customer technical requirements into commercially viable product solutions.
·    Support customers in developing new applications for Arla Plast materials.

Market Development:

·    Develop a detailed understanding of the UK and Irish market for semi-finished thermoplastic sheet.
·    Identify emerging applications and growth sectors.
·    Monitor competitor products, pricing, capacity, lead times and market positioning.
·    Identify opportunities arising from material substitution, sustainability requirements, legislation and changes in manufacturing processes.
·    Build and maintain a target-account database.
·    Identify high-potential prospects and develop structured approaches to convert them into customers.
·    Provide market intelligence to Arla Plast's European commercial and product-management teams.

Candidate Profile:

·    Commercially strong, technically credible sales professional who can operate independently across the UK and Ireland.
·    Proven B2B sales experience, selling semi-finished plastics, plastic sheet, polymers or technically engineered materials into industrial customers.
·    Experience selling to industrial customers rather than purely transactional/commodity sales.
·    Demonstrable success in new business development and account growth.
·    Experience managing a geographically dispersed customer base.
·    Experience selling through distributors, stockists or channel partners.
·    Experience of managing a sales territory with responsibility for revenue and margin.
·    Strong commercial negotiation skills.
·    Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout the UK and Ireland.

Education:

·    Commercial track record and relevant industry experience will be considered more important than academic qualifications.
·    The candidate does not need to be a polymer scientist or plastics engineer, but must have sufficient technical understanding to sell on application and value. 
·    Training and mentoring will be provided

The role would suit those that work well independently and demonstrate the ability to make key strategic decisions.   

For reasons of better legibility, the simultaneous use of the language forms male, female and diverse (f/m/d) is avoided. All personal designations apply equally to all genders.

For UK roles, candidates must be eligible to work and live in the United Kingdom. Proof of eligibility will be required with your application.

Why select Listgrove?
·    Five Decades of Market Intelligence
·    Unrivalled Industry Networks
·    Recognised International brand
·    HR Qualified Professionals

To hear from our clients on how we have supported their search for talent and HR needs, please visit Listgrove’s Case Studies page.  

Throughout 2025, you can meet with Listgrove at the following exhibitions:
Packaging Innovations, JEC World, European Coatings Show, Kunststoffenbeurs, K2025, Plastics Live Ireland

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