External Account Manager

Brenntag; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dynamic multicultural work environment

Competitive and fair salary

Retirement savings plan

Professional development opportunities

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Brenntag seeks an External Account Manager for the Coatings & Construction market to grow an established customer portfolio and strengthen relationships while delivering profitable sales growth through collaboration with internal teams.

The role demands 5–8 years in external sales, a commercial mindset, CRM proficiency and willingness to travel regionally to engage customers and drive revenue with high service standards.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years’ experience in external sales, account management or business development within the chemical, coatings, construction and adhesive industry.
• Experience managing a portfolio of customers and delivering against sales and gross profit targets.
• Demonstrated ability to retain and grow existing accounts while developing new business.
• Experience within paints, coatings, adhesives, construction chemicals or related markets would be advantageous.
• Experience working with CRM and sales forecasting systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow an assigned portfolio of customers within the Coatings & Construction market.
• Maintain and strengthen existing customer relationships while identifying opportunities to increase sales and profitability.
• Identify, develop and convert new customers and business opportunities.
• Broaden Brenntag’s product range with existing and new customers.
• Achieve agreed sales, gross profit and margin targets.
• Develop a strong understanding of customer requirements, applications and purchasing behavior.
• Maintain regular customer engagement through structured visits, calls and follow-ups.
• Promote relevant products and solutions and support customers with product and application information.
• Identify opportunities to introduce short-dated or slow-moving stock where commercially appropriate.
• Maintain an accurate sales pipeline, customer information and forecasts within the relevant CRM/business systems.
• Prepare and submit required sales reports, forecasts and customer visit plans.
• Ensure pricing, quotations and conditions of sale are accurate and up to date.
• Work collaboratively with internal commercial, technical, supply chain and customer service teams to deliver a strong customer experience.
• Adhere to Brenntag policies, procedures and Rules of Procedure (ROP).

Job description

Your Role

As an External Account Manager – Coatings & Construction , you will be responsible for managing and growing an established portfolio of customers within the Coatings & Construction market. The role focuses on strengthening customer relationships, retaining and growing existing business, identifying new customer and product opportunities, and delivering profitable sales growth.

You will work closely with customers and internal stakeholders to understand market requirements, expand Brenntag’s product offering and provide commercially relevant solutions.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow an assigned portfolio of customers within the Coatings & Construction market.
• Maintain and strengthen existing customer relationships while identifying opportunities to increase sales and profitability.
• Identify, develop and convert new customers and business opportunities.
• Broaden Brenntag’s product range with existing and new customers.
• Achieve agreed sales, gross profit and margin targets.
• Develop a strong understanding of customer requirements, applications and purchasing behavior.
• Maintain regular customer engagement through structured visits, calls and follow-ups.
• Promote relevant products and solutions and support customers with product and application information.
• Identify opportunities to introduce short-dated or slow-moving stock where commercially appropriate.
• Maintain an accurate sales pipeline, customer information and forecasts within the relevant CRM/business systems.
• Prepare and submit required sales reports, forecasts and customer visit plans.
• Ensure pricing, quotations and conditions of sale are accurate and up to date.
• Work collaboratively with internal commercial, technical, supply chain and customer service teams to deliver a strong customer experience.
• Adhere to Brenntag policies, procedures and Rules of Procedure (ROP).
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Your Profile

You are a commercially driven sales professional who enjoys building long-term customer relationships and identifying opportunities for growth. You understand the importance of regular customer engagement, disciplined account management and delivering against sales and profitability targets.

You are proactive, customer-focused and comfortable developing both existing and new business within a competitive B2B environment.

Skills

• Strong customer relationship and account management skills.
• Commercial awareness with a focus on sales growth, margin and profitability.
• Strong prospecting and new-business development capability.
• Good negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong planning, organizational and follow-up skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple internal functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
• SAP knowledge advantageous.
• Valid driver’s license and own vehicle.

Experience

• 5–8 years’ experience in external sales, account management or business development within the chemical, coatings, construction and adhesive industry
• Experience managing a portfolio of customers and delivering against sales and gross profit targets.
• Demonstrated ability to retain and grow existing accounts while developing new business.
• Experience within paints, coatings, adhesives, construction chemicals or related markets would be advantageous.
• Experience working with CRM and sales forecasting systems.

Education

• Matric or equivalent qualification.
• A tertiary qualification in Commerce, Sales, Marketing, Chemistry or a related field.
• SAPMA qualification advantageous.

Our Offer

• Dynamic multicultural work environment
• Competitive and fair salary
• Retirement savings plan
• Professional development opportunities
• Hybrid work environment

Brenntag provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees of all backgrounds and identities to create a workplace where difference is valued because it forms a resilient and more innovative organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion or belief, parental and family status, or any other protected characteristic. We welcome applications from women, men and non-binary candidates of all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds.