Account Manager

Teknor Apex; Pawtucket, Northern (RI, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Teknor Apex is seeking an Account Manager for the Eastern Midwest Territory in the United States. You will drive profitable growth for Engineered Plastics and Elastomers, managing existing customers and developing new opportunities with OEMs and processors across the Ohio Valley region.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in B2B plastics sales, a strong understanding of polymer compounding and conversion processes, and the ability to present value-based solutions.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of B2B sales, account management, or business development in plastics or related technical industries.
• Strong track record of profitable growth within complex accounts and selling cycles.
• Solid understanding of polymer compounding and extrusion/injection molding processes.
• Ability to provide technical product guidance and value-based selling.
• Experience managing customers relationships across organizations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM tools; strong communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree required; technical degree preferred.
• Travel up to 50% within the territory.

Responsibilities

• Own the commercial strategy and performance for an assigned territory, driving revenue, margin, pricing discipline, and profitability.
• Develop and execute strategic account and prospect plans to expand Teknor Apex’s regional presence.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities with OEMs, processors, and partners.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support material selection, trials, and commercialization.
• Translate customer requirements into value-based material recommendations and proposals.
• Deliver compelling sales and technical presentations to educate customers and close opportunities.
• Maintain regular communication with customers to address needs and resolve issues.
• Develop customer-specific value programs and gather competitive intelligence.

Skills

B2B sales

Account management

Polymer knowledge

CRM proficiency

English communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

CRM software

Job description

About Teknor Apex

Teknor Apex, founded in 1924, is a privately held global custom compounder with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company partners with manufacturers to develop custom polymer solutions and is guided by seven core values: integrity, partnership, sustainability, innovation, accountability, safety, and respect.

Position Summary

The Account Manager, Eastern Midwest Territory, is responsible for driving profitable growth for Teknor Apex’s Engineered Plastics and Elastomers product withing the geographic region. This role manages an assigned territory and customer base while identifying, developing, and winning new business with OEMs, processors, contract manufacturers, and strategic partners. The territory is the Ohio Valley (OH, Eastern IN, Western PA, Kentucky, Western Tennessee and West Virginia)

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of complex sales cycles, commercialization timelines, and the technical, quality, and regulatory requirements that influence purchasing decisions at companies that specify and use engineering thermoplastics and elastomer. Success in this role requires the ability to drive material specifications at OEMs and specifiers while building and sustaining relationships with processors across the assigned sales region.

Responsibilities

Own the commercial strategy and performance for an assigned territory, with responsibility for revenue and volume growth, margin improvement, pricing discipline, and long-term account profitability.

• Develop and execute strategic account and prospect plans that expand Teknor Apex’s position in the assigned region
• Identify, develop, and commercialize new business opportunities through share gain at existing customers and prospecting at new customers.
• Build strong relationships across procurement, supply chain, engineering, quality, regulatory, manufacturing, executive, and commercial stakeholders within target accounts.
• Partner with Sales Management on forecasts, pricing strategies, business reviews, contract development, and major commercial negotiations.
• Work closely with Application Development, Technical Service, Product Management, Marketing, Sales Development, Supply Chain, Operations, and global teams to support material selection, trials, qualifications, commercialization, and issue resolution.
• Translate customer performance, processing, and compliance requirements into value-based material recommendations and commercial proposals.
• Create and deliver effective sales and technical presentations that educate customers, differentiate Teknor Apex solutions, and advance opportunities to close.
• Communicate regularly with customers to uncover needs, drive growth plans, resolve open issues, and ensure strong ongoing account support.
• Develop customer-specific value programs, including vendor-managed and other service-oriented programs, where appropriate.
• Gather and communicate competitive intelligence related to products, pricing, market activity, compliance trends, and competitive threats.
• Represent Teknor Apex at trade shows, industry events, customer meetings, sales meetings, and training events.
• Train, coach, and mentor other commercial team members as appropriate.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of successful B2B sales, account management, or business development experience in plastics, polymers, specialty compounds, chemicals, or a closely related technical industry.
• Proven track record of profitable growth within complex accounts and complex selling cycles.
• Strong working knowledge of polymer compounding and an understanding of extrusion, injection molding, and related conversion processes.
• Ability to confidently provide technical product guidance and develop compelling value-in-use / value-based selling cases.
• Demonstrated success managing customer relationships up, down, and across the organization.
• Strong planning, forecasting, budgeting, account strategy, and pipeline management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint and Excel, along with CRM and account-management tools.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English; additional languages are a plus.
• High self-motivation, accountability, and effectiveness in an independent remote role.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; a technical degree in engineering, chemistry, polymer science, materials science, or a related field is preferred.
• Routine travel up to 50% within the assigned territory is required; valid driver’s license required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with TPV, TPE, and/or engineering plastics, nylon specifically.
• Experience selling into specifiers and processors the assigned region.

Key Traits / Success Profile

• Customer-focused and trustworthy
• Technically curious and eager to learn applications in depth
• Collaborative and effective across functions
• Resilient and persistent in pursuit of growth
• Strong listener and clear communicator
• Team-oriented with the ability to build lasting internal and external relationships

Essential Functions:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with applicable standards.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 15 lbs.
• Must be able to talk, listen, and speak clearly on telephone and virtual media.

Equal Opportunity

Teknor Apex is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status under state or federal laws. Must be 18 years of age or older to work at Teknor Apex.