Business Development Manager - Technical Sales

Henkel; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Work-Life Balance

401k matching

Employee share plan with Henkel shares

Annual performance bonus

Parental leave

Job summary

Henkel, a global leader in adhesives, is seeking a seasoned technical sales professional to drive downstream sales across the Midwest region. You will work with the Adhesive Technologies unit to execute plans, build customer loyalty, and deliver measurable sales results.

You will negotiate agreements, coordinate with account teams and technical services, and manage distributor and third‑party representation while ensuring strong in‑store brand presence.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of technical sales experience in oil, gas, or energy industries.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to negotiate terms and close deals.
• Networking skills to maintain relationships and make informed decisions.
• Flexibility to navigate complex organizations and guide customers through a multi-level sales process.

Responsibilities

• Work within the infrastructure, protection, and repair division with a focus on downstream sales in the mid-west region.
• Execute sales plans and strategies to maintain existing customers and win new business.
• Develop and execute action plans for each customer based on their roadmap."
• Deliver sales and distribution targets in territory and defined accounts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers and implement feedback.
• Coordinate with Key Account Managers and Sales team on tasks and priorities.
• Coordinate with technical customer service to conduct line trials and address requests/complaints.
• Execute pricing and promotional actions.
• Manage distributor salesforce and 3rd party representation.
• Ensure execution at point of sales with proper merchandising and brand representation.
• Conduct field visits and monitor store implementation and stock levels.
• Coordinate education with technical advisors.
• Take and process customer orders and negotiate agreements; handle reporting and contracts.

Skills

Technical sales

Customer relations

Negotiation

Communication

Job description

About this Position

At Henkel, you’ll be part of an organization that’s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persil®, ‘all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and our cutting-edge technologies, you’ll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow.

This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit – where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings.

Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel.

What You´ll Do

• Work within our infrastructure, protection, and repair division with a focus on downstream sales in the mid-west region


• Execute sales plans and strategies in line with business unit to maintain existing customers and acquire new business


• Develop and execute action plan for each customer based on customer roadmap to enhance loyalty and long-term partnership


• Delivers sales and distribution targets (KP OSG and PC % / GP %) in territory and at defined account


• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, develop customer centric initiatives & implement their feedback


• Communicate with Key Account Managers and Sales team on specific customers tasks and priorities


• Coordinate with technical customer service to conduct line trials, (re)solves customer requests and complaints


• Execute pricing and promotional actions


• Manage and steer distributor salesforce and 3rd Party Representation


• Ensure execution in excellence at point of sales; ensure merchandising and brand representation in stores


• Conduct field, market, jobsite or store visits; follow up on store implementation/promotion, in-store stock levels, and identify gaps


• Coordinate education implementation and sales impact with technical advisors


• Take and processes customer orders; negotiate customer agreements; carry out admin tasks related to reporting and contract management


• Steer the overdue payments, block orders if needed, and leverage CRM tools, data analytics, and automation to enhance sales performance

What makes you a good fit

• 5+ years of technical sales experience, preferably within oil, gas, or energy industries


• Strong verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with clients and internal teams


• Ability to negotiate terms, close deals, and establish mutually beneficial partnerships


• Networking skills with the ability to maintain relationships and make well informed business decisions.


• Flexibility and ability to change as customers, markets, and applications change - navigate complex organizations and walk customers through a multi-level sales process

Some benefits of joining Henkel

• Health Insurance: affordable plans for medical, dental, vision and wellbeing starting on day 1


• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including sick, vacation, holiday and volunteer time, flexible & hybrid work policies (depending on role), and vacation buy / sell program


• Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares, annual performance bonus, service awards and student loan reimbursement


• Family Support: 12-week gender neutral parental leave (up to 20 weeks for parents giving birth), fertility support, adoption & surrogacy reimbursement, discounted child and elderly care, and scholarships


• Career Growth: diverse national and international growth opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement

The salary range for this role is $100,000.00 and $130,000.00. This range represents the good‑faith minimum and maximum wages the Company reasonably expects to offer for this role at the time of posting. In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for incentive pay or other forms of compensation, as applicable. The Company also offers a comprehensive benefits package as described above. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate’s skills, experience, education, training, and work location. This posting is intended to comply with all applicable state and local pay transparency laws.

Henkel does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Henkel property and therefore, Henkel will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral.

At Henkel, we come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe the uniqueness of all our employees is the power in us. Henkel is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.