Technical Sales Lead Europe, Food

Avery Dennison Smartrac; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global solutions provider is seeking a Technical Sales Lead for Europe within the Food sector. This role involves providing technical expertise and driving sales growth. Responsibilities include identifying new business opportunities, training the sales team, and collaborating with department leaders. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in business development, a solid understanding of RFID technology, and excellent communication skills. This position offers flexibility and a supportive environment focused on innovation and teamwork.

Benefits

Attractive salary package

Workplace & work hours flexibility

Structured learning and development program

International environment

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in business development, sales, or product development.
• Strong project management and organizational skills required.
• Demonstrable ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop business account opportunities.
• Drive new revenue opportunities in growth accounts.
• Manage training and support for regional team members.

Skills

Strong knowledge of RFID technology

Ability to drive revenue and identify new opportunities

Strong influencing and storytelling skills

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Technology, Communication, Marketing, Business, or related

Job description

Company Description

Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science and digital identification solutions company. We make possible products and solutions that help advance the industries we serve, providing branding and information solutions that optimize labor and supply chain efficiency, reduce waste, advance sustainability, circularity and transparency, and better connect brands and consumers. We design and develop labeling and functional materials, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, software applications that connect the physical and digital, and offerings that enhance branded packaging and carry or display information that improves the customer experience. Serving industries worldwide — including home and personal care, apparel, general retail, e-commerce, logistics, food and grocery, pharmaceuticals and automotive — we employ approximately 35,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Our reported sales in 2024 were $ billion.

We’re not just a global leader in materials science and branding solutions; we’re a team of passionate individuals committed to bringing brands to life and transforming how businesses connect with their customers. Whether through our Embelex platform, empowering creativity with on-product branding, or our Aftermarket solutions, optimizing apparel production and supply chains, we work together to solve complex challenges and create a more sustainable future.

Our vision unites us: Together, we connect the physical and digital to solve some of the world’s most complex challenges.

Job Description

As the Technical Sales Lead Europe, Food you will be responsible for providing technical expertise while driving top‑line growth and new opportunities within your region as a player and coach for our existing sales team. You will work closely with the Commercial Sales, Product Line Management, Marketing and Business Development organizations to identify and evaluate opportunities that convert into new or incremental sales, while also leading the team of individual sales contributors in Europe.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, assess, develop and manage short and long‑term business account opportunities, while also leveraging Avery Dennison’s intelligent label product portfolio.
• Align solution‑selling strategy across key retail brands.
• Drive new revenue opportunities in white space and growth accounts.
• Deep understanding of customer‑specific solution landscape. Including competitors, growth areas, and market influences.
• Manage training and support and provide day‑to‑day leadership for regional team members.
• Drive key account growth through opportunity identification and market insights.
• Partner with the Account Management team on prioritization of high visibility and cross‑market programs.
• Align with Commercial Sales on account pipeline and partner with PLM on new solution brief intakes.
• Communicate with customers on the key value propositions and differentiators within the IDS RFID / Food solutions portfolio.
• Incorporate knowledge of the industry to partner with stakeholders to develop market‑right products, support materials and pricing recommendations across all solutions.

Program Qualification

• Vet and qualify programs and build a rolling pipeline.
• Stay abreast of industry trends by attending trade shows, events and staying on top of market insights as well as global branding trends.
• Surface new ideas, product applications and solutions to development teams.
• Explore technologies that could complement our offerings as part of a thought‑leadership effort.

Long‑Term Business Strategies

• Develop and maintain working relationships with business partners at all levels of the customer’s organizations.
• Collaborate with other business units to evaluate volume, identify trends, and ensure quality.
• Participate in building the requirements for growth in our annual operating plan (AOP).
• Drive entrepreneurial speed and flexibility with global consistency on the following functions for new solutions: pipeline development and management, creation and presentation of specific solution proposals, solution understanding and education, voice of the customer feedback to innovation, new use‑case creation and vetting, enable accurate and speedy development and deployment.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of RFID technology.
• Ability to drive revenue and identify new opportunities.
• Established experience driving opportunities through the sales pipeline.
• Strong entrepreneurial capability to lead and thrive in a cross‑functional organization.
• Ability to understand customer objectives and translate complexity into solution requirements.
• Demonstrable ability to work both independently and as part of a team and leading by both hierarchy and influence.
• 15+ years of experience in business development, sales, product development or strategy preferred.
• Detail‑oriented with strong project management and organizational skills required.
• Strong influencing skills and storytelling skills, and ability to champion projects both cross‑functionally and vertically within the organization.
• Ability to perform technical product trainings to customers and internal teams.
• Solid understanding of finance and ROI analysis.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, presentation, interpersonal, and virtual.
• The ability to be able to self‑direct and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to travel frequently and the ability to lead impactful virtual selling and marketing events.
• Bachelor’s degree with a major in Technology, Communication, Marketing, Business, or a related field, or similar experience preferred.

Benefits

• Attractive salary package.
• Workplace & work hours flexibility.
• Structured learning and development / mentoring program.
• International environment.
• Events such as International Women’s Day, Earth Day, etc.
• A growing and welcoming team with good spirit!

Who we are! – Our Story

Being open to every voice, every day, brings our value of diversity to life and makes Avery Dennison a vibrant and engaging place to be. We understand diversity and equal opportunities as enrichment for our future‑oriented work. Across our diverse, global team, every voice makes us stronger. When we listen to and learn from each other, there is no limit to what we can achieve together. Each of us is unique, and we appreciate bringing together different personalities and talents.

Equal‑Opportunity Employer

Avery Dennison is an equal‑opportunity employer.

Employee Resource Groups (EMEA)

• EmpoWer - focusing on the engagement, mentoring, and promotion of women.
• Mental Health - striving to provide a safe space for employees to discuss mental health issues in the workplace.
• Unite - supporting the LGBTQI+ and ally community in the EMEA region.
• DiverseAbility ERG - Championing inclusivity for people with disabilities.