Technical Sales Manager
Sector: Plastics
Function: Sales & Marketing
Location: UK
Ref: AZ/64581
INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT & HR EXPERTS ACROSS THE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, SPECIALITY CHEMICALS, LIFE SCIENCES, BIOPOLYMER, FOOD ADDITIVES & INGREDIENTS, ENERGY AND RECYCLING SECTORS SINCE 1975.
Based in:
UK & Ireland
The Company:
Arla Plast Group is a leading European manufacturer and supplier of extruded semi-finished plastic sheets, supplying customers across more than 50 countries. The Group manufactures technical plastic sheet products in polycarbonate (PC), ABS, PETG and PMMA, serving a diverse range of industrial, commercial and specialist applications.
The Role:
We are seeking an experienced Technical Sales Manager / Business Development Manager to take responsibility for developing and growing Arla Plast's business across the UK and Ireland.
The individual will be responsible for protecting and developing existing business, while reactivating old and identifying new customers, applications and market opportunities.
The role will involve selling through distributors as well as developing direct relationships with converters, thermoformers, fabricators, OEMs and end users.
Supported by the Group's commercial, technical, customer service, manufacturing and distribution infrastructure, the appointed person will have full ownership of the strategic direction of the Uk & Ireland business.
Responsibilities:
Sales & Business Development
Take full commercial responsibility for the UK and Ireland sales territory.
Develop and implement a structured sales strategy to achieve agreed revenue, margin and growth targets.
Manage and grow existing customer accounts while actively re approaching and developing new business.
Identify new customers, applications and market sectors for Arla Plast's product portfolio.
Develop relationships at multiple levels within customer organisations, from purchasing and sales through to technical, engineering, production and senior management.
Generate new business through proactive prospecting, customer visits, networking, referrals and market intelligence.
Develop opportunities from initial enquiry through technical evaluation, sampling, trials, quotation, negotiation and commercial agreement.
Increase Arla Plast's share of wallet within existing accounts.
Identify opportunities to replace competing materials or suppliers with Arla Plast products.
Develop project-based sales opportunities where Arla Plast sheet can be specified into new products or applications.
Maintain a healthy and measurable sales pipeline and provide accurate sales forecasts.
Distributor Management
Develop and manage relationships with key UK and Irish distributors and stockists.
Work with distributors to increase sales of Arla Plast products rather than simply processing orders.
Identify gaps in distributor product portfolios and introduce appropriate Arla Plast products.
Support distributors with product training, technical information, application knowledge and sales tools.
Jointly develop target-account plans with distributors.
Monitor competitor activity, pricing, availability and product positioning.
Ensure distributors understand the breadth of the Arla Plast portfolio and identify opportunities to introduce additional materials and grades.
Direct Customers & End Users
Technical Sales
Understand the characteristics, benefits and limitations of PC, ABS, PETG and PMMA.
Recommend appropriate materials based on application requirements.
Understand the principles of thermoforming, vacuum forming, fabrication, machining, cutting, bending and other downstream processing techniques.
Work with customers to identify material-selection opportunities.
Support customers during product trials and qualification processes.
Liaise with Arla Plast's technical and manufacturing teams when customer requirements require bespoke solutions.
Translate customer technical requirements into commercially viable product solutions.
Support customers in developing new applications for Arla Plast materials.
Market Development
Develop a detailed understanding of the UK and Irish market for semi-finished thermoplastic sheet.
Identify emerging applications and growth sectors.
Monitor competitor products, pricing, capacity, lead times and market positioning.
Identify opportunities arising from material substitution, sustainability requirements, legislation and changes in manufacturing processes.
Build and maintain a target-account database.
Identify high-potential prospects and develop structured approaches to convert them into customers.
Provide market intelligence to Arla Plast's European commercial and product-management teams.
The Candidate:
Commercially strong, technically credible sales professional who can operate independently across the UK and Ireland.
Proven B2B sales experience, selling semi-finished plastics, plastic sheet, polymers or technically engineered materials into industrial customers.
Experience selling to industrial customers rather than purely transactional/commodity sales.
Demonstrable success in new business development and account growth.
Experience managing a geographically dispersed customer base.
Experience selling through distributors, stockists or channel partners.
Experience of managing a sales territory with responsibility for revenue and margin.
Strong commercial negotiation skills.
Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout the UK and Ireland.
Please understand that due to the expected high number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the country where the role is located. Evidence of the right to work may be required during the recruitment process.
For reasons of readability, gender-specific language has been simplified. All references to individuals apply equally to people of all genders.
Throughout 2026 & 2027 you can meet with Listgrove at the following exhibitions:
Interpack, France Innovation Plasturgie, Interplas UK, Plast Milan, Fakuma, ArabPlast, NPE 2027.
Listgrove Limited Registered in England No: 01197713