Technical Business Partner - Coil and Extrusion

We supply the sustainable and innovative paints and coatings that our customers, communities – and the environment – are increasingly relying on. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and have set our sights on becoming the global industry leader. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering paints company that’s committed to science-based targets and is taking genuine action to address globally relevant challenges and protect future generations.

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com.

© 2023 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this role is to provide technical support and training on the use and application of company products, services, equipment, and documentation in acquiring new business and in maintaining existing customers. And support Regional Sales Manager to ensure that adequate resources and capability (people and processes) reside within the business to deliver on the financial and non-financial targets by managing business relationships with customers / accounts (current customers and new prospects) especially strategic customers.

Key Accountabilities

 

• Provide total technical support to customers.
• Problem solving. Analyses product-related issues, including on-site analysis and actuations. Performs laboratory analysis of the issues when needed. Communicates with RS Lab and/or Quality Control department to stablish corrective actions. 
• Manage complex customer complaints.
• Gather customer needs and requirements in cooperation with Sales & Marketing organization to help build the customer strategy plans. 
• Actively participate in key phases of the sales process to prospects.
• Proactively prevent and solve problems of a technical nature occurring at existing customers. 
• Attend the testing process as well as the implementation of new products and technologies. 
• Develop and maintains relationships with customer technical staff, in order to keep and to extend the business.
• Use reporting tools as CRM, up-dates the key customers’ databases with valid, accurate and complete information (visits reports, action reports, cases, regulatory requests…)
• Deliver periodical progress reports, proactively submit information regarding trends within the market and provide recommendations regarding the improvements in the approach to the market.
• Monitor competitive activities at customers’ facilities.
• Promote the positive company reputation and develops long-term relations with customers. Hold and defend the values of the company.
• Get familiar with all the applicable corporate as well as site policies/procedures with regard to personal behaviour / HSE standards and acts in compliance with all their regulations.

 

Together with Regional Sales Manager: 

• Manage a portfolio of customers, in a designated area, to execute sales plan. Support execution of Account/Customer plans aligned with Regional / Global Segment & Marketing plan if applicable.
• Screening customer base for new opportunities, generates leads and maintains pipeline.
• Collect, report and analyses the customer feedback / information on present as well as future market trends in the context of possible further market penetration.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams including relevant teams at the key accounts to prioritize new developments, make plans for trials, etc.
• To establish the contacts with “Specifiers” in the market and planning “BackSelling” actions which creates demand from the end-users.
   

Experience & Role Requirements

 

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or related field. Masters of Science in related field and/or business administration will be a strong preference. 
• Paints & Coatings industry experience, any B2B industry environment, customer / segment profiling, 4-5 years of work experience in technical services and support and in commercial roles, sales and key account management, sales to strategic accounts 
• Problem solving, stakeholder management, creating value propositions, communication and presentation, commercial and business acumen, basic understanding of financial concepts related to sales and cost to serve.
   

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for o