Consumer Care Sales Director

SUMMARY:
Our client, a key player in the distribution of high-performance synthetic chemical ingredients into the personal care and homecare industries, is seeking to appoint a Sales Director who will be responsible for driving growth across national and regional markets.  The individual will work closely with R&D, global suppliers, and key cosmetic sectors to introduce new technologies, expand market reach, and build a high-performance sales organisation.

POSITION INFO:
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership

• Translate Board-level strategy into practical commercial execution plans.
• To pursue markets, customers and products, which can deliver long-term profitability and sustainability of the business and satisfy the identified needs of customers who require our products throughout South Africa and appropriate global markets.
• Identify market trends, emerging technologies, and new opportunities across personal care, home care, and cosmetic sectors.
• Lead national sales strategy, ensuring sustainable growth across all product categories

• Drive revenue growth in existing and new markets.
• Expand key account relationships and open new channels to industry sectors that depend on high-performance lubrication chemistry.
• Develop annual budgets, forecasts, and sales targets aligned with business objectives.
• Implement structured sales processes, reporting tools, and customer management disciplines.

• Work closely with R&D team to evaluate and commercialise new emollient technologies as well as Synthetic and Biodegradable Sustainable Lubricants sourced globally for a South African market.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with international principals and technology partners.
• Oversee product launches, positioning, pricing, value propositions and technical sales support.

• Lead, coach, and develop a national sales team.
• Create a performance culture centred on accountability, client service excellence, and technical credibility.
• Ensure alignment between Sales, R&D, Technical, Operations and Supply Chain.

• Build and maintain industry credibility with clients, suppliers, technical bodies, and regulatory authorities.
• Represent the business at conferences, technical events and key customer forums.

• Experience in emollient technology, speciality chemicals or advanced Functional chemistry.
• Exposure working with high-performance lubricants, synthetic chemistries, additives or related engineered products.
• Commercial Track Record
• 5+ years in senior sales leadership roles in the same or a similar industry.
• Demonstrated ability to take a mandate/strategy and convert it into a viable and profitable business outcome.
• Proven success in market development, account expansion and commercialising technical products.
• Strong experience managing budgets, forecasts, and long-cycle B2B sales cycles.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong operational execution capability.
• Highly credible, polished communicator with the ability to influence at all organisational levels.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on, practical implementation skill.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and inspire high performance.

• Degree in Sales, Business or related field; (and/or)
• Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related technical field (advantageous)
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel nationally/internationally.

• Entrepreneurial thinker with strong commercial instincts.
• High integrity, professional presence, respected in the industry.
• Analytical, methodical, and results-driven.
• Strong relationship-builder and communicator.
• Passion for technology adoption, innovation, and continuous improvement.