Head of Sales Specialties

LANXESS; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation packages

Comprehensive benefits including health programs

Flexible working arrangements

Training and development opportunities

Diversity and equal opportunity

Job summary

A leading specialty chemicals company is seeking a Director of Sales and Business Development to lead and coach a regional sales team. This role involves defining regional strategies, overseeing pricing, and driving new business development. Candidates should have a modern management approach and at least 8 years of B2B sales experience in the specialty chemicals or food ingredient industries, including proven leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in B2B sales, preferably in specialty chemicals or food ingredients.
• Proven leadership experience managing sales teams and distributors.
• Experience with S&OP, IBP, and CRM systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a regional sales team to achieve high performance.
• Define and implement regional sales strategies.
• Oversee pricing strategies and contract negotiations.
• Drive business development and market opportunities.

Skills

B2B sales experience

Leadership skills

Communication

Negotiation skills

Strategic thinking

Fluency in English

S&OP experience

CRM experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related field

MBA (preferred)

Job description

Job Highlights

• Lead, coach, and develop a regional sales team, fostering high performance, collaboration, and accountability
• Define and implement regional sales strategies aligned with global BU objectives, ensuring growth and profitability targets are met
• Oversee pricing strategies, contract negotiations, and margin optimization, ensuring alignment with corporate guidelines
• Drive new business development, identifying opportunities to expand the product portfolio and strengthen the BU’s market position
• Ensure robust execution of sales processes, including forecasting (IBP), S&OP, budgeting, and pipeline management
• Enforce discipline in CRM usage and ensure that call plans, visit reports, and account plans are consistently maintained and leveraged for decision‑making
• Continuously monitor market dynamics, customer needs, and competitive activity, translating insights into actionable strategies
• Work closely with Marketing and Global Key Account Managers to align regional priorities with global initiatives
• Represent the BU at industry events, trade shows, and professional associations, strengthening market presence and networking with key stakeholders
• Partner with internal functions including Marketing, Planning, Customer Service, and Credit to ensure seamless customer experience and efficient order‑to‑cash processes
• Collaborate with peers in other BUs who manage the same customer groups to ensure unified company representation and synergy in account management
• Coordinate with Global Key Account Managers within the BU to align pricing, service, and growth strategies across regions

Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred)
• Minimum 8 years of experience in B2B sales, preferably in the specialty chemicals or food ingredient industries
• Proven leadership experience managing sales teams and distributors
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and strategic thinking
• Experience with S&OP, IBP, and CRM systems
• Fluency in English; Spanish or Portuguese a plus

Who We Are

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with about 12,000 employees in 32 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, and consumer protection products. LANXESS has achieved leading positions in the Dow Jones Best‑in‑Class Index and the MSCI ESG and ISS ESG ratings, among others, for its commitment to sustainability.

What We Offer You

• Compensation: Competitive compensation packages inclusive of a global bonus program and an individual performance bonus program. Established pay range for this position is $XXX to $XXX.
• Comprehensive benefits: Retirement plans, health programs, life insurance, and medical care.
• Work‑life & flexibility: Support for maintaining a balance between working hours and personal life. Global “Xwork” program offers flexible working arrangements.
• Training & development: Commitment to your professional and personal development and encouragement of ongoing pursuit of education, training and knowledge.
• Diversity: LANXESS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religion, national origin, veteran status and political beliefs.

Job Details

• Requisition ID: 7553
• Location: Pittsburgh, PA, US
• Business Unit / Group Function: Flavors and Fragrances
• Work arrangement: Fully Remote
• Level of experience: Middle management
• Employee type: Regular
• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full‑time
• Job function: Sales and Business Development
• Industry: Chemical Manufacturing