Technical Paint Sales Representative - Coatings & R&D

rag-talent; Pinetown; Hybrid; ZAR 420,000 - 650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Incentives based on performance

Opportunity to influence R&D

Autonomy in a fast-paced environment

Job summary

rag-talent seeks an experienced Technical Paint Sales Representative to manage key client relationships and drive revenue growth across retail, industrial, construction, and contractor sectors. The role bridges commercial strategy and product development, consulting with clients to tailor chemical coatings solutions and transferring lab formulations to trials.

The position involves traveling to client sites, evaluating technical requirements, monitoring market trends, and delivering coatings

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on technical or commercial experience within the paint and coatings industry.
• Formal qualification (Diploma or Degree) in Applied Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or a related scientific field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Proven expertise in paint and coating formulation, product optimization, and surface application processes.
• Demonstrated track record in technical sales, account management, and client problem-solving.
• Strong project management, time management, and organisational abilities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and formal presentation skills, with comfort communicating technical data to senior executives.
• Physically fit and active, with excellent hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and full visual acuity (including precise color distinction).
• Valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle for regular client travel.

Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and convert prospective account opportunities within the retail, industrial, building, and contractor markets.
• Nurture and expand existing client accounts while consistently meeting monthly and annual revenue targets.
• Visit customer sites to assess technical applications, address operational challenges, and recommend appropriate coating formulations.
• Conduct technical product demonstrations, deliver quotations, negotiate commercial terms, and oversee customer trials for newly developed products.
• Collaborate with internal R&D to update pipelines and transfer products from testing to client application.
• Manage consignment and stock levels at client facilities and retail stores, with periodic inventories.
• Investigate and complete non-conformance reports regarding customer complaints on trial products.
• Support promotional activities, trade shows, events, product launches, and social media initiatives.
• Gather market intelligence, track competitor movements, and generate sales reports and forecasts.

Skills

5+ years industry experience

Technical sales

Account management

Client problem-solving

Project management

Time management

Organisational abilities

Excellent communication

Education

Diploma or Degree in Chemistry

Advanced degree in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering/Polymer Science

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

A leading paint and coatings manufacturer is seeking an experienced Technical Paint Sales Representative to manage key client relationships and drive revenue growth across retail, industrial, construction, and contractor sectors. Acting as a crucial bridge between commercial strategy and product development, this role involves consulting with clients to understand complex technical challenges and delivering tailored chemical coatings solutions. The successful candidate will manage existing accounts, prospect for new business, support product launches, and assist in transferring newly developed formulations from the laboratory to commercial trials. This role requires traveling to client locations, evaluating technical requirements, monitoring market trends, and resolving product queries to ensure complete customer satisfaction.

Working Hours: Standard full-time office and field operational hours (Monday to Friday).

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and convert prospective account opportunities within the retail, industrial, building, and contractor markets.
• Nurture and expand existing client accounts while consistently meeting monthly and annual revenue targets.
• Visit customer sites to assess technical applications, address operational challenges, and recommend appropriate coating formulations.
• Conduct technical product demonstrations, deliver quotations, negotiate commercial terms, and oversee customer trials for newly developed products.
• Collaborate closely with the internal R&D laboratory to update project pipelines, prioritise development initiatives, and transfer products from initial testing to client application.
• Manage consignment and stock levels at client facilities and retail stores, conducting periodic inventory counts.
• Investigate and complete non-conformance reports regarding customer complaints on trial or newly introduced product lines.
• Support promotional activities, trade shows, customer events, product launches, and social media engagement initiatives.
• Gather market intelligence, track competitor movements, and generate accurate sales reports, customer visit documentation, and sales forecasts.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of hands-on technical or commercial experience within the paint and coatings industry.

Formal qualification (Diploma or Degree) in Applied Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or a related scientific field, or equivalent industry experience.

Proven expertise in paint and coating formulation, product optimization, and surface application processes.

Demonstrated track record in technical sales, account management, and client problem-solving.

Strong project management, time management, and organisational abilities.

Exceptional written, verbal, and formal presentation skills, with comfort communicating technical data to senior executives.

Physically fit and active, with excellent hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and full visual acuity (including precise color distinction).

Valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle for regular client travel.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced tertiary qualification in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Polymer Science.

Established network of commercial contacts across retail, contractor, and industrial coatings segments.

Required Software Skills

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) CRM software and database management systems

Benefits

• Competitive base salary structured around experience and industry expertise.
• Performance-aligned incentives and target rewards.
• Opportunity to influence product R&D and work directly with cutting-edge coating technologies.
• Comprehensive technical and commercial autonomy in a fast-paced, innovative environment.