Advanced Materials Solutions Lead Technical Sales

Adecco Portugal; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Pension

Life assurance

Sick pay

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Free onsite parking

Team events

Job summary

Adecco Group UK & Ireland is seeking a Materials Solutions Lead to manage complex, high-value opportunities from enquiry to close. This hybrid role combines technical materials expertise with commercial responsibility and works alongside Account Managers to develop and close tailored solutions.

The ideal candidate has a strong materials science or engineering background with a proven sales track record in technical B2B environments, and is able to coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver

Qualifications

• Degree in Materials Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or related STEM.
• Significant experience in technical sales or related roles.
• Proven track record of closing complex high-value opportunities.
• Experience leading proposals, pricing strategies, negotiations, and contract closure.
• Strong commercial awareness including pricing and margins.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex, high-value opportunities from qualification through to commercial close.
• Understand customer requirements and translate technical challenges into practical solutions.
• Lead proposals, pricing strategies, and commercial negotiations to secure new business.
• Coordinate technical, sourcing, and quality specialists to deliver successful outcomes.
• Provide technical and commercial expertise on specialist opportunities.
• Support strategic projects and business growth initiatives.
• Mentor and support colleagues within the wider team.
• Maintain momentum throughout longer, technically focused sales cycles.
• Deliver exceptional customer service and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Technical sales

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Solution selling

Education

Degree in Materials Science / Engineering / Chemistry

Tools

CRM (Salesforce)

Job description

MATERIALS SOLUTIONS LEAD Materials Science & Technical Sales

Location: Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire (Hybrid Working Available)

Job Type: Full Time Hybrid: 3-4 Days On-Site

Salary: 55,000 - 65,000 plus commission

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Advanced Materials Solutions Sales Lead to manage complex, high-value opportunities from initial enquiry through to successful completion. This role combines technical expertise with commercial responsibility and is ideal for someone who enjoys working with customers, developing tailored solutions, and driving projects through to completion. This newly created position reflects continued growth and investment within the business. It does not initially involve line management responsibilities, instead focusing on building and developing a pipeline of complex opportunities. Working alongside Account Managers, who maintain ownership of customer relationships, you will take ownership of complex technical opportunities from enquiry through to commercial close. You will work closely with technical, sourcing, and quality specialists to develop innovative materials solutions and deliver exceptional customer outcomes across advanced engineering and scientific sectors.

This opportunity is best suited to a commercially focused technical sales professional with a strong materials science or engineering background. Whilst materials expertise is essential, broad experience across every material family is not. Supported by specialist technical, sourcing, and quality teams, you will focus on understanding customer requirements, developing solutions, and successfully closing complex, high-value opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage complex, high-value opportunities from qualification through to commercial close.
• Understand customer requirements and translate technical challenges into practical solutions.
• Lead proposals, pricing strategies, and commercial negotiations to secure new business.
• Coordinate technical, sourcing, and quality specialists to deliver successful outcomes.
• Provide technical and commercial expertise on specialist opportunities.
• Support strategic projects and business growth initiatives.
• Mentor and support colleagues within the wider team.
• Maintain momentum throughout longer, technically focused sales cycles.
• Deliver exceptional customer service and stakeholder engagement.

Essential

• Degree qualified in Materials Science, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related STEM discipline.
• Significant experience in technical sales, solution sales, applications engineering, or a commercial role within advanced materials, engineering, manufacturing, speciality chemicals, or a comparable technical B2B environment.
• Proven track record of managing and closing complex, high-value, technically led sales opportunities.
• Experience leading proposals, pricing strategies, commercial negotiations, and contract closure.
• Strong commercial awareness, including pricing, margin management, and negotiation.
• Experience within materials science, advanced materials, engineering, manufacturing, or related technical industries.
• Ability to lead and coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver customer solutions.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.

Desirable

• Experience selling advanced materials or highly engineered products and solutions.
• Knowledge of metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, composites, or glass.
• Experience within advanced materials, engineering, manufacturing, or scientific sectors.
• Exposure to materials testing, analysis, or microfabrication.
• Experience integrating new services, capabilities, or teams.
• Procurement, supplier management, or sourcing experience.
• Experience using Salesforce or a similar CRM system.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on technically challenging and commercially significant projects.
• Exposure to innovative engineering and scientific applications.
• A collaborative, supportive, and forward-thinking environment.
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.
• The chance to make a real impact within a growing specialist team.

Benefits

• 22 days annual leave, increasing to 25 days with service.
• Company-funded private healthcare.
• Company pension with employer contribution.
• Critical illness and life assurance cover.
• Company sick pay scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Free onsite parking and complimentary refreshments.
• Regular social and team events throughout the year.

The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.