Product Manager - Chloorkop at AECI Limited

Job Description

• Managing a portfolio of specialty and commodity polymer raw materials strategically into the Polymer industries nationally e.g. Engineering Polymers for the Automotive Industry and Polymers for Barrier Film/Packaging applications.
• Sound knowledge of plastics processing and conversion processes. (Injection Moulding and Blown Film Extrusion etc.)
• Managing a portfolio of key account customers.
• Managing a portfolio of Technology Partners.
• Strategically growing the portfolio of products for each Technology Partner
• Strategically adding Technology partners
• Strategizing the business outlook for 3 – 5 years and ensure materialization of objectives
• Margin growth on portfolio.
• Profitability growth year on year
• Working capital management
• 12 month and 24 month Budgeting
• Assisting the sales team with technical briefs
• Ensuring a healthy working platform of new products for each Technology Partner
• Ensure materialization of working platform through sales team
• Price negotiations at senior levels.
• Joint calling with sales team.
• Travel on a regular basis, nationally visiting customers and internationally attending trade shows and visiting Technology Partners.
• Attending internal meetings.
• Promotion of company products and image.
• Key account management.
• Responsible for advertising and editorial on a monthly basis and submitting articles on time.
• New business development.
• Technical presentations at customers on new product launches.
• Communicate product trends with the national sales team and accounts when necessary and be able to advise and advocate product strategies aligned with Technology Partners.
• Propose & make recommendations for any applicable Polymers solutions which are fundamental to the unique value proposition offered by Technology Partners in their chemistry technology offering.
• Industry/market knowledge within the Plastics/Polymers markets.
• Provide regular summaries and analyses of product and market trends, stock movements, profit trends, threats and opportunities as well as competitor activities
• Growing customer base year on year in terms of volume, revenue and margins.
• Attending conferences as needed within the Plastics/Polymers industry.
• Strategically adding new raw materials to the existing product portfolio.
• Responsible for forecasting and purchasing of raw materials on a monthly basis.
• Actively looking for opportunities outside the current portfolio for possible acquisitions.

Qualifications & Experience

• Matric / Grade 12.
• Tertiary qualification related to Polymer Chemistry and Plastics Technology.
• 3 - 5 years Product Management or Sales Management experience compulsory (polymer raw materials).
• 3 - 5 years Sales experience within the Polymer/Plastics industries.
• 3 – 5 years Technical experience related to the polymers industry.
• Polymer Raw Material Purchasing experience compulsory.
• Strong price negotiation skills.
• Must have sound understanding of pricing structures.
• Must currently be in Polymer/Plastics industry and calling on customers.
• Must be energetic and attention to detail is important.
• Enthusiastic and willing to be a team player and have a culture of empowering, knowledge sharing and having AECI Specialty Chemicals interests in mind at all times
• Must be able to manage multiple projects.
• Experience with SAP, CRM, MS Office tools.