Technical Sales Manager

Thomas Brooke International; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international wood products company is looking for a Project Manager based in France. You will play a crucial role in technical support and business development, focusing on high-end architectural wood projects. The ideal candidate has strong expertise in the wood industry and sales experience, with a willingness to travel across France and potentially Southern Europe. This is a full-time position offering significant growth potential.

Qualifications

• Experience or knowledge of cladding, decking, joinery applications very helpful.
• Ability to work independently with effective time management skills.
• Ready and willing to travel approximately 60% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support in the French market by visiting distributors and architects.
• Develop new accounts for distributors and conduct joint visits.
• Identify new segments or applications for the Company’s products.

Skills

Technical expertise in architectural wood

Sales responsibility experience

Ability to explain products

Training distributor sales teams

English language skills

Job description

Overview

Project Manager at Thomas Brooke International

The Opportunity

• High-end architectural wood products manufacturer: join a high-growth public company, that is ramping up production and building a team of sales people to capitalize on expanded capacity and market potential.
• Exciting new role, where you'll play a key part in driving significant business expansion in a territory with huge potential, including high-end architectural wood projects.
• Contribute to raising the visibility of a brand already well-known and respected in other parts of Europe and around the world through top-tier architect-led projects.
• Work in a high-energy environment with strong marketing support, including a dedicated France-focused marketer and expanding digital marketing.
• Enjoy long-term potential with opportunities for growth, such as helping in Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal) and the possibility of adding more team members as the business embeds and expands.
• Thrive in a collaborative, agile culture where you'll work closely with international teams in the UK, USA, Germany, and Benelux, focusing on awareness-building and balanced sales development to achieve 20-30% growth targets.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support in the French market by visiting distributors, manufacturers, end users, architects, and all people who specify products, especially in big cities like Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux.
• Develop new accounts for distributors, conduct visits to industries, train distributor sales teams, and perform joint visits with distributor sales teams.
• Identify new segments or applications for the Company’s products.
• Have contacts with marketing, customer service, and quality control.
• Explain products to customers, distributors, merchants, and manufacturers.
• Certify via the approved manufacturer program by visiting end users to ensure they understand the product.
• Expand the system supplier network for items like hardware and wood coatings.
• Collaborate closely with teams in the UK, USA, and parts of Europe including Germany and Benelux.
• Work independently and organize your time correctly.
• Spend half your time working with distributors to drive business through existing ones (two or three main) and the new one, ensuring they understand, are excited about, and know how to sell all products.
• Spend half your time on specifications, visiting architects to introduce products, raise awareness, and make sure people know about the Company’s unique product technology and capabilities.
• Travel throughout France, and potentially visit and help customers in Italy, Spain, or Portugal if you speak Italian or Spanish.

Candidate Profile / Qualifications

• Technical expertise in architectural wood is the core requirement. Background from wood industries, sawmills, companies manufacturing cladding or decking, joineries, wood coatings manufacturers, or wood specialist distribution companies.
• Experience or knowledge of cladding, decking, joinery applications very helpful.
• Ability to explain products to architects, specifiers, end-use customers, distributors, merchants, and manufacturers.
• Experience training distributor sales teams, conducting joint visits is strongly preferred (or experience working for a wood products distributor).
• Sales responsibility experience at a level comfortable managing 20-30% growth targets.
• English language skills compulsory due to contacts with English-speaking people.
• Italian or Spanish language skills not necessary but very helpful.
• Ability to work independently with effective time management skills.
• Ready and willing to travel (about 60% initially), shake hands, and visit new leads. Travel in France but also potentially Italy, Spain, Portugal
• Based in France, preferably Lyon area (south/southeast), or acceptably eastern part of France or Paris.
• Collaborative and adaptable attitude, with high level of initiative, and thrive in a high-growth environment

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Sales and Business Development

Industries

• Chemical Manufacturing
• Wood Product Manufacturing