Sales Area Manager, South Asia

Job Description

Grace is seeking an Area Sales Manager to be based in Mumbai or Chennai, reporting to the General Sales Manager. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in specialty chemicals and additives for coatings, inks, and plastics. This role covers sales growth across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh, with responsibilities including key account management, distributor performance, opportunity pipeline development, and market penetration. The candidate should be adept at building influential relationships, achieving gross margin and collection targets, providing first-level technical support, and leveraging CRM tools like Salesforce for customer and channel partner management.

Responsibilities

• Sales Professional with Exposure to Specialty Chemical, Additives in Coatings, Inks and Plastics segments
• Achieve AOP  growth in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh
• Accountable for maintaining share at Key Accounts, direct customers and be responsible for distributors growth and performance
• Developing an opportunity pipeline and drive Growth projects.
• Develop a network of relationships at all levels with key influencers in the decision making process at Direct and Key Accounts
• Achieve Gross Margin and collection targets.
• Penetrate new markets , promote sales of new products
• Provide first level technical support to customers
• Manage commercial aspects of the sales process
• Provide sales forecast and customer visit reports
• Provide information on market trends and competitor activities by being able to get information from customers, market place and industry associations
• Use  CRM tools like Sales Force  regarding customers & channel partners, account information, names of influencers and key contacts
• Generate Call Reports post each interaction with external stake holders

Required Qualifications

• A Science Graduate preferably Chemical Engineer or equivalent.
• Minimum of 10 years of familiarity, knowledge or experience within the Specialty Chemicals and or Petrochemical industry

Required Skills

• Ability to present technical information in an effective, professional manner to existing and potential customers.
• Ability to liaise and communicate effectively throughout all levels within a matrix organization
• Must travel > 50 % of the time outside of base to meet customers
• Exhibit skill to ferret information of customers plans competition activity from multiple touch points at key customers
• Experience in selling specialty products to Paints & Inks , ,Petrochemicals & Plastics industry.
• Experience in working in a multi-disciplined team and the ability to work in cross cultural teams.
• Demonstrated ability to sell into a competitive market place and achieve value pricing by communicating the Grace Value proposition to customers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interface effectively with other  support functions to move projects forward .
• Key Account Management skills
• Channel Management skills

Benefits

• Medical Insurance 
• Group Life & Accident Insurance  
• Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
• Annual Bonus
• Educational Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  
• Relocation Support
• Health Checkup