Technical Sales Manager

Synthomer plc is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Job Purpose

As Technical Sales Manager, you’ll be the commercial lead for our existing customer base while spearheading business development activities in target growth markets. You’ll play a pivotal role in delivering our 5-year strategy for composites, combining sales leadership with technical service to unlock new opportunities and strengthen our global presence.

Key responsibilities:

• Primary commercial contact for PVAc sales into Composites, CASE, and Agrochemical applications across Europe & Americas.
  • Deliver annual sales plans by maintaining existing accounts and developing new customers.
  • Travel across the region to build strong, insightful relationships with key decision makers.
  • Optimise gross margin & sales through pricing, terms, product positioning, and market differentiation.
  • Forecast accurately using CRM tools to manage opportunities and customer interactions

• Lead global business development of sales into the composites market, driving growth in line with our 5-year plan.
  • Promote technology through technical presentations, prospect scouting, and securing new market opportunities.
  • Identify unmet customer needs and provide tailored technical and commercial solutions.
  • Stay ahead of market trends and competitive products to add value to our business.

• Serve as lead technical contact for PVAc & Specials portfolio, offering guidance on specifications, compliance, and product use.
  • Deliver training and expertise internally and externally to enhance product knowledge.
  • Coordinate complaint management with production, technical, quality, and sales teams to ensure effective resolution.

This role is perfect for:

• Candidates with a technical background ready to step into direct sales accountability
• Experienced sales professionals eager to expand technical expertise into new markets and products

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or similar.
• 3+ years of technical and/or sales experience in the chemicals industry.
• Strong understanding of the sales cycle, negotiations, and pricing strategy.

• Outstanding interpersonal skills and confidence in presenting technical and commercial information.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and align resources to meet customer needs.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to analyse data and extract key business insights.
• Cultural awareness and adaptability to operate confidently across diverse regions.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% (Europe, North America)
• Fluent in English.

Why This Role Matters:

This is more than a sales position—it’s a chance to shape our global composites strategy, strengthen customer partnerships, and bring technical innovation to life. If you’re ready to combine commercial drive with technical expertise, this role offers the platform to make a real impact.