Manager, Technical Services CFT

Albemarle Netherlands BV; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits package

Diverse resources to support you

Job summary

Ketjen Corporation in Europe invites a Technical Services Manager CFT to lead regional Technical Services for CFT catalysts. You will coordinate the regional team, align technical and commercial priorities, and strengthen customer relationships across Europe and Africa.

You will coach the regional team, validate proposals, and ensure high-quality service and documentation while advancing Ketjen’s digitalization strategy. Strong leadership and collaboration across functions are essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Chemistry, Engineering or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in Technical Services, business, marketing, research or related areas.
• In-depth knowledge of the catalyst business and refinery applications.
• Demonstrated leadership including coaching and developing technical professionals.
• Strong strategic, commercial, advisory, influencing, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Clear communication and ability to build networks in a large international organization.
• Strong presentation skills to explain technical and economic recommendations.
• Project-management experience with objectives, timing, resources and budgets.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate across functions, countries and cultures.
• Experience leading a regional or international Technical Services team.
• Experience managing complex customer issues and validating high-value proposals.
• Experience working across Technical Excellence, Sales, Marketing, R&D, and regional teams.
• Knowledge of languages relevant to the assigned region.

Responsibilities

• Own & set regional CFT Technical Services strategy and annual plan.
• Translate business priorities into technical priorities, resource plans and team objectives.
• Help reduce business risks and ensure high-quality service and materials.
• Lead as senior technical interface for key customers and build relationships.
• Provide high-quality technical support to assigned customers.
• Lead resolution of complex customer issues with cross-functional alignment.
• Approve or validate technical proposals and documentation before sharing with customers.
• Drive use of technical expertise, systems, and data to improve service quality.
• Ensure customer data is managed for model improvement and product development.
• Oversee complaints and ensure timely analysis, follow-up and closure.
• Represent Technical Services in customer presentations and publications.
• Develop regional Technical Excellence team including capacity planning and succession.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and safety requirements.
• Support development and regional implementation of Ketjen’s CFT digitalization strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentations

Analytical skills

Mentoring

Education

Master’s degree in Chemistry or Engineering or related field

Job description

Are you ready to move your career forward and help shape our company’s and customers’ futures? If you aspire to challenge yourself, work with the best in the industry and join a successful team where you can make a meaningful contribution, then we invite you to join us at Ketjen Corporation, a provider of advanced catalyst solutions to leading producers in the petrochemical, refining, and specialty chemicals industries. Together, we can create a legacy marked by innovation, excitement, and energy. Excited to grow your career? We value our talented employees and, whenever possible, strive to help employees grow professionally before recruiting externally. Our people make all the difference in our success.

Job Summary

Ketjen is hiring a Technical Services Manager CFT within the CFT Technical Excellence department in Europe. The role reports to the Technical Excellence Director CFT and leads the Technical Excellence Specialists supporting our customers in Europe and Africa. In this role, you will coordinate regional Technical Services for CFT catalysts, support commercial objectives, and ensure customers receive reliable, the required technical support. You will provide technical leadership, strengthen customer relationships, ensure the quality of proposals and documentation, coach the regional team, and personally support selected your own set of customers as well.

What You Will Do

• Own & set the regional CFT Technical Services strategy and annual plan, aligned with the Technical Excellence Director CFT and Regional General Manager CFT.
• Be accountable for translating business priorities into clear technical priorities, resource plans, and team objectives.
• Help to reduce business risks.
• Ensure the region delivers consistent, high-quality technical service, proposals, and customer-facing materials.
• Act as the senior technical interface for key customers, building management-level relationships and influencing technical and commercial decisions.
• Provide high quality technical support yourself to assigned customers.
• Lead the resolution of complex customer issues, ensuring technical, commercial, and cross-functional alignment.
• Approve or validate technical proposals, documentation, and recommendations before they are shared with customers.
• Drive effective use of technical expertise, systems, processes, and data to improve service quality and team productivity.
• Ensure customer and process information is validated, shared, and protected to support model improvement, product development, and future customer references.
• Oversee technical customer complaints and ensure timely analysis, follow-up, and closure.
• Represent Technical Services in customer presentations, seminars, publications, and product-support activities.
• Lead, coach, and develop the regional Technical Excellence team, including capacity planning, recruitment, succession, and workforce planning.
• Ensure the team operates in compliance with company policies and applicable environmental and safety requirements.
• Accountable to support the development and regional implementation of Ketjen’s CFT Technical Services digitalization strategy.

What You Bring

• Required Master’s degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• More than 10 years of relevant experience in Technical Services, business, marketing, research and technology, or a combination of these areas.
• In-depth knowledge of the catalyst business and customer-facing refinery applications.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including coaching and developing technical professionals.
• Strong strategic, commercial, advisory, influencing, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to build effective networks in a complex international organization.
• Strong presentation skills, including the ability to explain technical and economic recommendations to customers and colleagues.
• Project-management experience, including setting objectives and managing timing, resources, budgets, and implementation.
• Ability to work independently, manage conflicting interests, and collaborate across functions, countries, and cultures.
• Preferred Experience leading a regional or international Technical Services team.
• Experience managing complex customer issues and validating high-value technical proposals.
• Experience working across Technical Excellence, Sales, Marketing, R&D, and regional commercial teams.
• Knowledge of languages relevant to the assigned region.

Why This Role Matters

This role connects technical expertise, customer needs, and commercial priorities. It shapes the regional technical agenda, improves customer support, and develops the Technical Excellence organization.

Benefits of Joining Ketjen

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits package
• A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.

AS PART OF OUR GLOBAL TEAM, YOU'LL EXPERIENCE:

• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Hands-on technical experience
• Job variety and career flexibility
• Collaboration with seasoned employees at every level
• A proven record of innovation
• Company-wide focus on economic and environmental sustainability
• Deep commitment to our communities, education, and social development
• Concern and compassion for fellow employees
• Among the best safety records in the industry

We will make every effort to support your career goals and create opportunities for you to realize your full potential. This is our culture. This is our commitment.

The bottom-line: no matter where you apply your talent and training, Ketjen will provide the resources and support you need to succeed.

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