Commercial Territory Sales Manager - Automotive Refinish; South/Central Illinois

PPG Industries; Springfield (IL); Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

PPG Industries, a leader in automotive refinish coatings, seeks a Commercial Territory Manager to drive profitable sales growth within Southern/Central Illinois and to strengthen customer relationships with direct accounts and distributors.

You will expand market presence by applying technical product knowledge, building strategic territory plans, and delivering top-tier customer support aligned with the Automotive Refinish portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of commercial coatings or automotive refinish sales experience.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Define and grow sales within a defined territory including direct accounts and distributor-managed accounts.
• Serve as the primary representative for PPG Commercial Coatings in the territory.
• Prospect and convert new leads for direct and distribution channels.
• Develop and maintain a robust commercial sales distribution network.
• Assess distributor capabilities and collaborate with the sales team to review targets and strategies.
• Lead opportunity cadence calls and joint customer visits with distributor reps.
• Support and train PPG's digital tools at distribution and end user customers.
• Utilize CRM tools to track territory activities and plan sales actions.
• Deliver presentations and training sessions on PPG products and value propositions.
• Develop, write and maintain SOPs as needed.
• Travel up to 50% overnight to support sales activities.

Skills

Territory management

Sales growth

Coatings knowledge

CRM tools

Presentation skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Commercial Territory Manager (CTM)

As a Commercial Territory Manager (CTM) on PPG's Automotive Refinish team, you will guide profitable sales growth and strengthening customer relationships within a defined territory covering Southern/Central Illinois . You will focus on commercial refinish solutions, with an emphasis on fleet, industrial, and commercial vehicle refinishing applications, supporting customers who demand high‑performance coatings, technical expertise, and reliable partnership. Reporting directly to the Commercial Regional Manager, the CTM operates remotely and serves as the primary commercial contact for both direct customers and distributor partners. You will expand PPG's market share by building strategic territory plans, applying technical product knowledge, and delivering customer support aligned with the Automotive Refinish portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow sales within a defined territory, including existing direct accounts and distributor-managed accounts using a disciplined and defined approach.
• Serve as the primary representative and knowledge source for PPG Commercial Coatings in the assigned territory.
• Prospect, qualify, and convert new leads for both direct and distribution sales channels.
• Develop and maintain a robust commercial sales distribution network.
• Assess distributor capabilities and work to improve their performance through training and support collaboration with the sales team to review targets, develop strategies, and manage sales opportunities.
• Lead opportunity cadence calls and joint customer visits with distributors representatives to strengthen customer relationships and identify growth opportunities.
• Support and train PPG's digital tools at distribution and end user customers.
• Utilize CRM tools effectively to strategize, track, and manage territory activities.
• Deliver presentations and training sessions to distributors and end user customers on PPG products and value propositions.
• Develop, write and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as needed.
• Monitor and understand the competitive landscape to form sales strategies.
• Manage and control an expense account responsibly.
• Demonstrate a proactive sales attitude with a focus on ethical decision-making and customer satisfaction.
• Handle multiple sales opportunities at various stages of the sales process simultaneously.
• Coach and support sales partners to enhance their effectiveness.
• Commit to continuous learning and complete all required training on time.
• Travel as necessary, up to 50% overnight, to support sales activities and distributor engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in commercial coatings sales, automotive refinish, or an adjacent industrial market.
• Experience in sales development, negotiation, with the ability to establish engagement with prospects, customers, and distributor partners.
• Hands‑on technical capabilities related to substrate preparation, painting processes and application.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel.

About us:

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD ®Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com and follow @PPG on X.The PPG Way 2030We are customer championsProactive. Bold. Trustworthy. Everything we do starts with our customers. We listen, move fast and don’t stop until we solve their biggest challenges. When our customers win, we all grow.

We act with purpose and speedAgile. Data-driven. Empowered. We take smart risks to stay ahead of the competition. We work proactively with agility, using quality data to develop solutions that create value.

We are excellent operatorsProductive. Collaborative. Accountable. No matter our role, we identify problems, take ownership and always bring solutions. We are both proactive and responsive to drive continuous improvement and deliver results. We support our frontline, the faces of PPG to our customers.

We compete to winFuture-focused. Driven. Ambitious. We are passionate about growing our business and winning with our customers. We deliver results, embrace new technologies and leverage agility and speed as strengths.

We are PPG proudStrong. United. Passionate. We work safely, act with integrity and value our diverse perspectives. We celebrate achievements and take pride in the positive impact we create together to protect and beautify the world.

At PPG we use AI in the hiring process to make the process more efficient. AI tools do not make hiring decisions. You can learn more by going to us/en/candidate-resources .

PPG provides equal opportunity to all candidates and employees. We offer an opportunity to grow and develop your career in an environment that provides a fulfilling workplace for employees, creates an environment for continuous learning, and embraces the ideas and diversity of others. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, pregnancy, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability status, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

If you need an adjustment due to a disability, please email .

PPG pay ranges and benefits can vary by location which allow us to compensate employees competitively in different geographic markets. PPG considers several factors in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, qualifications and education, licensure and certifications, and other organizational needs. Other incentives may apply.

Our employee benefits programs are designed to support the health and well‑being of our employees. Any insurance coverages and benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents. Benefits will be discussed with you by your recruiter during the hiring process.

PPG values your feedback on your recruiting process. We encourage visit Glassdoor.com and provide feedback on the process so that we can do better today than yesterday.