Sales Manager – Polymers, Plastics, and PVC

The Practice Centre; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

The Practice Centre in Johannesburg seeks a skilled Technical Sales Specialist to expand the polymers, plastics, and PVC portfolio across Southern Africa. You will drive business development, promote specialty additives, and provide formulation support to processors and manufacturers.

You'll build strong customer relationships, lead product presentations, and coordinate with supply chains to ensure timely availability of samples.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in polymer/ plastics/ chemical engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in technical sales or application development in plastics, rubber, PVC, or masterbatch.
• Strong knowledge of formulation science and material behaviour in polymer processing.
• Experience with ZHFR compounds or related masterbatches is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive business development and technical sales across plastics, rubber and PVC compounding sector in the assigned region.
• Promote portfolio of specialty additives and raw materials including stabilizers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, processing aids, lubricants, ZHFR additives, pigments, and master batches.
• Provide technical support, including formulation advice, product trials, troubleshooting, and performance analysis.
• Build and manage strong relationships with key decision makers in PVC, polymer compounding, and plastics manufacturing companies.
• Collaborate with R&D teams, compounders, and application engineers to propose and customize innovative solutions.
• Identify new product opportunities and market trends in PVC and plastic processing.

Skills

Technical sales

Formulation science

Additives knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Job description

To drive sustainable growth of our client's polymers, plastics, and PVC portfolio by expanding customer and supplier partnerships and developing value-added solutions for plastics processors and manufacturers.

Key Responsibilities (Not Limited to)

• Drive business development and technical sales across the plastics, rubber and PVC compounding sector in the assigned region.
• Promote company's portfolio of specialty additives and raw materials including stabilizers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, processing aids, lubricants, ZHFR additives, pigments, and master batches.
• Provide technical support, including formulation advice, product trials, troubleshooting, and performance analysis.
• Build and manage strong relationships with key decisionmakers in PVC, polymer compounding, and plastics manufacturing companies.
• Work collaboratively with R&D teams, compounders, and application engineers to propose and customize innovative solutions.
• Identify new product opportunities and market trends in PVC and plastic processing.
• Maintain and grow a robust customer pipeline through proactive outreach and follow-up.
• Deliver compelling product presentations and technical documentation to clients.
• Coordinate with supply chain and global principals to ensure timely availability of products and samples.
• Report on sales performance, customer feedback, and market developments.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in technical sales or application development in plastics, rubber, PVC compounding, or masterbatch manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of formulation science, additives, and material behaviour in polymer processing.
• Hands-on experience with ZHFR compounds, colour and additive masterbatches, or similar specialty applications.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Highly organized, self-driven, and capable of managing multiple projects.
• Fluent in English; Afrikaans or a local language is a plus.
• Willingness to travel regionally (20–40%) within South Africa and occasionally into neighbouring countries.