Key Account Manager
Specialty Polymers & Coatings
Full-cycle account management in specialty chemical manufacturing.
A leading global chemical manufacturer specializing in specialty polymers and additives placed a Key Account Manager to manage existing accounts and drive new business development selling into textile mills, fiber manufacturers, and other industrial production facilities across the Eastern United States.
This is a remote role with 50 percent field travel to customer manufacturing facilities. The placed candidate manages existing chemical supply relationships, quotes pricing and contract terms, and identifies adjacent market opportunities with new manufacturing accounts. Base salary is $170,000 to $180,000 with a 20 percent uncapped commission structure. Year 1 on-target earnings: $250,000+.
A global chemical manufacturer with category leadership in specialty polymers.
Our client is a leading global specialty chemicals and polymers manufacturer with operations across Europe, North America, and Asia, producing high-performance specialty polymers and additives for coatings, construction, adhesives, and other industrial applications. A U.S. innovation and technical center focuses on application development and custom synthesis for customer manufacturing processes.
The chemical manufacturing side is organized into divisions by market segment. The role reports to the VP of Consumer Materials for the Americas. The division has a strong market position selling specialty polymers and coatings additives into textile mills and fiber manufacturers across the Southeast and Carolinas.
"More agile in the marketplace than the largest category players. Close relationships with manufacturing customers and the ability to deliver custom chemical solutions are competitive edges."
Specialty chemical polymers and additives into manufacturing operations.
The primary customer base is textile mills and fiber manufacturers who purchase specialty polymers and coatings additives for their manufacturing processes: fiber sizing, treatment, finishing, and processing applications. Secondary markets include tire and rubber manufacturing facilities, carpet and flooring manufacturers, and other industrial production operations using specialty chemical inputs.
The role manages supply contracts, pricing agreements, rebate structures, payment terms, and volume commitments with existing manufacturing accounts, alongside developing new business through consultative selling.
Sales cycles are complex and multi-month. Technical teams, manufacturing operations managers, and procurement stakeholders are all involved in buying decisions. The role requires both relationship management and technical chemistry fluency.
Account management and new business development in manufacturing accounts.
Manage chemical supply contracts, pricing, rebates, and terms. Run pipeline reviews with manufacturing customers. Develop cross-sell and upsell opportunities within existing textile mills and manufacturing facilities.
Work through the company's lead list to identify and contact new manufacturing accounts and textile mills. Run discovery calls with plant operations and procurement. Qualify opportunities that fit the specialty polymer and coatings product portfolio.
Manage accounts receivable against targets and manufacturing payment terms. Monitor working capital and volume commitments. Track pipeline and conversion metrics in Salesforce.
Uncapped commission tied directly to territory growth.
A full-cycle account manager with specialty chemical sales experience.
- Minimum 5 years of sales in specialty chemicals, polymers, or closely related technical products
- Proven experience selling into or working within textiles, wovens, or fiber industry
- Full-cycle account management capability and new business development track record
- Strong relationship management skills with technical and commercial buyers
- Valid driver's license; able to travel 50 percent
- Works Eastern time zone and accessible to Southeast customer base
- 10+ years of specialty chemical or polymer sales
- Direct sales experience in textiles, wovens, carpet, or fiber industry
- Tire and rubber industry experience
- Existing customer relationships in Carolinas, Ohio Valley, or Southeast
- Experience negotiating pricing, rebates, terms, and supply agreements
- Salesforce or comparable CRM proficiency
A real growth opportunity with infrastructure to back you up.
- Incumbent territory with inherited customer base and a defined new-business lead list
- Multi-month transition overlap with predecessor for knowledge transfer and customer introductions
- Global supply chain with inventory depth and regional flexibility
- U.S. innovation center means customers can be brought on-site for application development and testing
- Global parent company with resources, but an agile Americas team that moves faster than larger category competitors
- Uncapped commission with public commitment to high-performer earnings
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