Global Commercial Director

Umicore; Grenoble; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Umicore is seeking a senior commercial leader to design and execute the strategy for the Tool Materials business line. You will drive sales, budgets and forecasts while leading the Sales team across four production sites with a global customer base.

Collaboration with production, R&D, finance, and logistics will be essential to success. The candidate will manage key accounts, negotiate contracts, and push for business development and market insights through industry engagement.

Qualifications

• Master degree in Engineering Materials, Industrial or Chemical Sciences, completed by a business degree.
• Minimum 10 years experience in a similar position in an international industrial environment.
• Excellent communication skills in English and French; German & Dutch knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define the commercial strategy, budgets and forecasts for the Business Line Tool Materials.
• Lead the Sales team to deliver safe, high-quality outcomes and growth.
• Translate priorities into actionable sales plans and allocate resources.
• Ensure robust market analysis and governance, reporting to BU management and BL members.
• Drive continuous improvement and digital enablement in Sales; monitor KPIs.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Multitasking

Education

Master degree in Engineering Materials / Industrial or Chemical Sciences

Business degree

Job description

About Umicore

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Umicore

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

What We Offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?

About Cobalt & Specialty Materials

Mastering the cobalt value chain. Umicore’s expertise covers the sourcing, production and distribution of cobalt and nickel products. Umicore’s materials are at the heart of products we use every day such as rechargeable batteries, tools, paints and tyres. Our recycling and refining processes give new life to cobalt and other metals and reduce environmental impacts. To meet the demands of our customers we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new ideas. Which is where you come in.

What You Will Be Doing

You will lead the development and execution of the commercial strategy of the Business Line Tool Materials. The business line consists of 4 production sites of a wide range of value added fine metal powders, with a global customer base, active in 2 main industrial applications, hard metals and diamond tools.

Your role will encompass all commercial aspects (strategical & operational) of the business line.

You will report to the Business Line Manager of Tool Materials.

Your Key Accountabilities

• Leads and develops the Sales team to deliver safe, high-quality outcomes, setting clear objectives, feedback, and growth plans.
• Translates functional priorities into actionable plans for the Sales area, allocating resources and removing delivery obstacles.
• Ensures robust market analysis and business acumen across the department, meeting quality, cost, and timeliness targets.
• Embeds governance, internal controls, and compliance standards, monitoring risks and implements corrective actions promptly.
• Drives continuous improvement, standardization, and digital enablement in Sales, tracking KPIs and delivering year‑on‑year performance gains.
• Partners with cross-functional stakeholders to align priorities, resolve escalations, and improve end-to-end processes.

Responsibilities

• You will define the commercial strategy, commercial budgets and forecasts.
• As member of the business line management team, you will actively contribute to the long-term development of the business and lead a series of strategic projects.
• You will manage sales, sales administration and reporting.
• You will coach the team of Sales Managers.
• You will ensure an efficient document flow for quotes, orders, logistics, credit management and responses to customers, by establishing a model and routine for commercial reporting towards BU management and key BL members.
• You will define targets for commercial KPI’s and ensure their follow up.
• You will be responsible for the key customers relationships for both markets (contract negotiation, follow up and visits (existing accounts and new ones)).
• You will work on increasing Business Development and Market Knowledge via new partnerships, via analysis of competitors, via participation in key industry conferences and meetings, and via development of new products for the concerned markets.
• You will actively interact with production, R&D, finance, supply and planning/logistics teams.

Who We Are Looking For

• You have a Master Degree in Engineering Materials, Industrial or Chemical Sciences, completed by a business degree and/or minimum 10 year experience in a similar position in an international industrial environment.
• You have excellent communication skills in English and French. German & Dutch knowledge is a plus.
• You are an effective leader, able to inspire and motivate your team, involve its members in decision making, taking ownership and committing to continuous improvement.
• You are action-oriented, entrepreneurial, committed to quality and integrity.
• You are a skilled project manager, with strong attention to detail and able to multitask.
• With your ability to communicate in a flexible, fast paced environment, you build trust and collaboration through transparency and open communication with internal and external customers
• You value teamwork.
• You are willing to travel.