Market Sales Manager, Automotive

Market Sales Manager, Automotive

Axalta has remained at the forefront of the coatings industry by continually investing in innovative solutions. We engineer technologies that protect customers’ products – whether they are battling heat, light, corrosion, abrasion, moisture, or chemicals – and add dimension and beauty with colourful finishes. We have a vast and ever-evolving portfolio of brands primed to play an important part in everything from modernizing infrastructure around the world to enabling the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles. 

The Market Sales Manager (MSM) drives sustainable and profitable volume growth within a geographic market. The MSM leads a high-performance team of sales, account and product specialists (between 5-10 direct reports depending on market) by providing the direction, coaching and support needed to promote growth while solidifying long-term retention of the existing customer base. The MSM is responsible for managing the team’s results for revenue, profitability, new gains, customer retention, and distributor management and operates with a high sense of urgency, playing a key role in new business acquisitions, territory budgeting, and accurate forecasting. 

Please note: This is a fully remote role, ideally based in MN, and covers a territory from MN to SD/ND. It is expected that you reside within the assigned region and are legally eligible to work in the U.S. without restriction or sponsorship. We are an equal opportunity employer and will not be offering visa sponsorship for this role.

Travel required: approx. 30% throughout assigned territory plus attendance at regional/broader team meetings and events.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leads by example; acts as peer-mentor; encourages accountability; develops cohesion among the team; effectively motivates and keeps the team focused on territory and business objectives. 
• Leads the team in developing and executing a comprehensive plan consistent with business objectives; ensures people have the authority, understanding, and resources to execute the plan. 
• Present business proposals with key contacts and distributor partners in a multi-level sales environment and negotiates agreements.
• Fosters teamwork and collaboration and promotes a unified approach across team and region and beyond. 
• Hones-in on customer and jobber needs, responds quickly to resolve problems, and considers how actions will affect current customers and new business gains.
• Understands customer base requirements and appropriately applies value-added offerings to meet regional goals while keeping Axalta’s best interests in mind. 
• Manages distribution within territory and administers the distributor program elements, acting as the primary point of contact. Consistently conducts effective monthly distributor and team meetings to achieve desired results.
• Pioneers new, innovative opportunities and takes on challenges that will contribute the territory’s success. 
• Maintains a balance of building strong, collaborative relationships with distributors and customers while keeping Axalta’s interests and goals as a top priority.
• Manages team spending relevant to end users’ investment, distributor credits, event sponsorship, and direct report(s) Selling Expenses. 
• Understands current and future business environment and industry trends in order to prioritize, target, and effectively retain current customers and sell to new customers.
• Understands and accurately communicates the key attributes and advantages of our product, color, and services offer through designed proposals.
• Implements disciplined standards of work setting performance expectations and holding team accountable for results and behavior.
• Uses sales tools and learning resources to operate efficiently and for continuous improvement.
• Commits to excellence and motivates team to strive to top performance. 
• Provides coaching and real-time feedback to team and demonstrates and fosters teamwork with peers and others to meet customer needs.
• Embraces change in all business aspects including emerging industry trends, new technology, and innovative ideas to improve territory results. 

Job Qualifications: 

The ideal candidate has an extensive refinish background in technical support and/or sales roles with a strong track record of sales achievement and customer support, combined with a proven ability to assimilate into a local sales team while leading by example. 

• Bachelor’s degree and/or at least 5-10 years of industry experience.
• Previous experience in managing and developing people strongly preferred. 
• Sound working knowledge of collision repair shop business fundamentals to effectively discuss and evaluate the sal