Account Manager - Microbial Protection

Ashland Inc.; Bridgewater Township (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashland Inc. is seeking an Account Manager for Microbial Protection within the Personal Care business in the United States. You will manage the NA customer interface, drive the business plan, and promote products to existing and new customers in a defined territory.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience), 3–5 years in personal care ingredients sales, and a willingness to travel up to 50%. Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in biological or chemical science; relevant work experience can supersede it.
• 3–5 years sales experience in personal care ingredients; Microbial Protection experience a plus.
• Ability to function within ambiguity; self-driven and proactive.
• Strong team player with good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel ~50% and driving license required.

Responsibilities

• Manage Microbial Protection business and customer interface across North America.
• Delivers the business plan: sales volume, revenues, and profits.
• Present, promote, and sell products to existing and new customers within the territory.
• Identify new opportunities to grow business in designated territory.
• Develop partnerships to generate leads and brand recognition across North America.
• Coordinate product development information with customers and work with Technical Experts to meet needs.
• Provide insights to regional strategy and account plans and implement accordingly.

Skills

Fluent English

Negotiation skills

Interpersonal skills

Self-motivation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology/chemistry

Job description

## Account Manager - Microbial ProtectionApply: US-NJ-BRIDGEWATER: Full time: Posted Today: 2026 - 0694Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GPAre you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?Are you always solving?Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.Ashland has an exciting opportunity as **Account Manager** of our Microbial Protection Business Line within Ashland’s Personal Care business within the US. This is a very visible, significant role within Ashland and the personal care business. This position will report to the General Manager, Personal Care, NA.**The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:*** Manage Microbial Protection business & customers’ interface within North America –* Apply Microbial Protection strategy at the accounts under her/his responsibility* Delivers the business plan for the assigned territory and accounts: sales volume, revenues, and profits* Present, promote and sell products to existing and new customers within a defined territory* Identify & deliver new opportunities to grow business in the designated territory* Develop strong partnerships with prospective customers, existing clients, market influencers, and other relevant partners to generate new leads and brand recognition within North America* Proactively seeks information about Customers strategy and product launches.* Coordinates activities related to the projects with the Customer on the products application and development. Closely cooperate with Technical Experts to make sure project meets Customer needs* Contributes his/her insights and guidelines to the regional strategy and account plan. Implements accordingly**In order to be qualified for this role, you *must possess* the following:*** A minimum of a bachelor’s degree preferred in biological or chemical science, relevant work experience can supersede this* 3-5 years sales experience in personal care ingredients, Microbial Protection experience a plus* Ability to function within ambiguity and be self driven* Strong team player, good interpersonal skills, enthusiastic, positive attitude and self-motivated* Negotiation skills, quick issue solver* Fluent in English, both written and spoken* Excellent communication skills* Willingness to travel (approx. 50%)* Driving license**The following skill sets are *preferred* by the business unit**:* Good knowledge of the personal care market and customers in the Region* Strong presentation and communication skillsIn more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer. At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do. Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty. Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.