Head of Sales, Americas - Tape

Ahlstrom; Kaukauna (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ahlstrom, based in Wisconsin, is seeking a Head of Sales to lead the sales team and budget, delivering commercial results and elevating the organization through data-driven decision making and strategic customer leadership.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in Paper Science/Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Business and at least 10 years of leadership experience, with strong communication skills to guide cross-functional initiatives and commercial launches of products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Paper Science, Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Business is required.
• Minimum of 10 years in technical and business leadership roles with proven success.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Data-driven decision maker—identify KPIs, translate data into insights, and support decisions.
• Strong communicator and influencer—build credibility with customers and communicate priorities internally.
• Driver of commercial excellence and execution—establish processes, tools, and follow-up.
• High ownership mindset—accountability and urgency to deliver results.
• Strategic commercial leader—develop robust key account plans and align customer actions with BU strategy.
• Talent developer and coach—develop sales team capabilities and set clear expectations.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Paper Science/Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Business

Job description

You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people, like you, by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth.

Do your values align with ours? Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere!

We strive to meet the highest standards of corporate citizenship by protecting the health and safety of our team, safeguarding the environment, and creating a long-lasting, positive impact on the communities where we do business. Are you with us?!?

The Head of Sales leads a sales team in the business unit by executing the sales plan while overcoming technical and commercial challenges to grow faster than the market. This individual Manages the sales area accounts, the team and budget. An Oversees sales, customer relationships and participates in commercial launches of product improvements, new products and brands.

We are seeking a Head of Sales who can deliver commercial results but also elevate the overall commercial organization through data-driven decision making, strategic customer leadership, operational discipline, talent development and strong business acumen. The successful candidate should operate as a key member of the BU leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Data-driven decision maker – Able to identify the right KPIs, translate data into insights, and support business decisions with fact-based analysis (e.g., pricing, profitability, volume-growth trade-offs).
• Strong communicator and influencer – Capable of building credibility with customers while clearly communicating priorities, insights and recommendations internally.
• Driver of commercial excellence and execution – Brings structure, discipline and accountability; ensures adoption of key processes and tools (CRM, IBP, account planning, forecasting) and drives rigorous follow-up on actions and commitments.
• High ownership mindset – Demonstrates accountability, urgency and willingness to go the extra mile to deliver results and solve problems proactively.
• Strategic commercial leader – Moves beyond transactional account management to build strategic customer partnerships, develop robust key account plans and align customer actions with the BU strategy.
• Talent developer and coach – Raises the capability of the sales organization through coaching, negotiation excellence, best-practice sharing and development of a strong commercial excellence culture while setting clear expectations, holding individuals accountable and making timely decisions when performance does not meet required standards.

Experience & Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Paper Science/Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Business required
• Minimum of 10 years experience in technical and business management leadership roles with proven success
• Ability to manage multiple initatives
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

About Us.

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials segments, along with the Performance Materials Cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2025 amounted to EUR 2.9 billion and we employ some 7,000 people.

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