Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic sales team to drive growth in the paints and coatings market.
- Company: Join a leading company focused on sustainable solutions in the chemical industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, professional development, and a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team that values sustainability and customer relationships.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in sales with leadership experience; degree in Business or Chemistry preferred.
- Other info: Willingness to travel across Europe is essential for this role.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link
Select how often (in days) to receive an alert: Create Alert
Job Title: European Sales Manager – Paints and Coatings
Location: Europe
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Senior Business Director Europe – Performance Coating Group (PCG)
Job Summary
The European Sales Manager for Paints and Coatings will lead a team of sales professionals to drive revenue growth and strengthen partnerships across Europe. This role focuses on fostering customer intimacy, managing sales pipelines, and ensuring effective opportunity management while promoting sustainable business solutions and practices. The successful candidate will be a strategic leader with a deep understanding of the chemicals, paints and coatings market, exceptional team management skills, and a passion for building long-term, value-driven relationships with direct partners. Our solutions include a range of Hyper-Dispersants, Surface Modifiers, Resins and Polymers, Dispersions and Fluid Solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership and Development:
• Lead, mentor, and motivate a team of sales professionals based across Europe, fostering a high-performance, collaborative culture.
• Set clear performance goals, provide regular coaching, and conduct performance reviews to ensure team success.
• Develop training programs to enhance team skills in customer engagement, technical knowledge of paints and coatings, and sustainable sales strategies.
• Promote a customer-centric and sustainability-focused mindset within the team.
Customer Intimacy and Relationship Building:
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with direct partners (e.g. industrial clients & OEMs) in the paints and coatings manufacturing sectors.
• Act as the primary account manager for a selection of strategic key accounts, ensuring deep understanding of customer needs, challenges, and goals.
• Collaborate with partners to co-develop tailored solutions, leveraging the company’s portfolio of eco-friendly and high-performance solutions.
• Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and customer visits to strengthen brand presence and foster long-term partnerships.
Pipeline and Opportunity Management:
• Oversee the development and management of a robust sales pipeline, ensuring consistent lead generation and opportunity progression.
• Work with the team to identify, qualify, and prioritize sales opportunities, aligning with customer needs and market trends.
• Utilize CRM (Dynamics) to track pipeline health, forecast sales, and report on key metrics to senior leadership.
• Implement strategies to accelerate deal closures while maintaining profitability and alignment with customer expectations.
Sustainable Business Growth:
• Drive sustainable growth by promoting eco-friendly solutions that comply with EU regulations (i.e. REACH, PFAS restrictions).
• Partner with R&D and marketing teams to position sustainable products (i.e. PTFE-free) as competitive differentiators.
• Develop strategies to expand market share in key European regions, focusing on long-term partnerships that align with the company’s sustainability goals.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and regulatory changes to inform sales strategies.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Collaborate with marketing to develop targeted campaigns, technical collateral, and customer training programs.
• Working very closely with the PCG European management team on all aspects of business and resourcing.
• Work with supply chain and operations teams to ensure product availability and timely delivery to partners.
• Provide customer feedback to product development teams to drive innovation in paints and coatings solutions.
Qualifications and Skills
Education: Bachelor’s degree within Business, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field. MBA or equivalent is a plus.
Experience:
• 7+ years of sales experience in the chemical, paints and coatings industry, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of managing commercial teams and driving revenue growth in the European market.
• Experience in customer relationship management, pipeline development, and opportunity management in B2B settings.
Skills:
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to develop a high-performing team.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with fluency in English (additional European languages, e.g., German, French, or Spanish, are a plus).
• Strategic thinker with expertise in pipeline management, forecasting, and deal negotiation.
• Technical understanding of paints and coatings applications
• Proficiency in CRM software and Microsoft Office Suite.
Other Requirements
• Willingness to travel extensively across Europe (up to 60% of the time).
• Valid driver’s license and passport for international travel.
Personal Attributes
• Visionary leader with a passion for sustainability and customer-centric solutions.
• Relationship-driven, with a talent for building trust and long-term partnerships.
• Be a champion for Lubrizol values and standards, become a “Brand Ambassador”.
• Results-oriented, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and opportunity creation.
• Adaptable and resilient, able to navigate complex markets and regulatory environments
#LI-JS1
#LI-Hybrid
Job Segment: CRM, Supply Chain Manager, Brand Ambassador, Marketing Manager, Sales Management, Technology, Operations, Marketing, Sales
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Sales Manager Paints and Coatings employer: Lubrizol Corporation
Contact Detail:
Lubrizol Corporation Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sales Manager Paints and Coatings
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in the paints and coatings industry. Understanding eco-friendly solutions and EU regulations will not only enhance your knowledge but also demonstrate your commitment to sustainability, which is a key focus for us.
✨Tip Number 2
Network actively within the industry by attending trade shows and events. Building relationships with potential partners and clients can give you insights into their needs and challenges, making you a more attractive candidate for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills by discussing any previous experience in mentoring or developing sales teams. Highlighting your ability to foster a high-performance culture will resonate well with our expectations for this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Be prepared to discuss your experience with CRM systems, particularly Dynamics. Demonstrating your proficiency in managing sales pipelines and forecasting will be crucial in showing that you can effectively drive revenue growth for us.
We think you need these skills to ace Sales Manager Paints and Coatings
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in sales management, particularly in the paints and coatings industry. Emphasise your leadership skills and any achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive revenue growth.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for sustainability and customer-centric solutions. Mention specific examples of how you've built long-term relationships with clients and how you can contribute to the company's goals.
Showcase Your Technical Knowledge: Demonstrate your understanding of the chemicals, paints, and coatings market. Include any relevant technical knowledge or certifications that could set you apart from other candidates.
Highlight Your Leadership Experience: Detail your experience in leading and developing sales teams. Provide examples of how you've motivated your team and achieved performance goals, as this role requires strong team management skills.
How to prepare for a job interview at Lubrizol Corporation
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Sales Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and motivate a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on your coaching methods and how you foster a collaborative culture.
✨Understand Customer Needs
Be ready to discuss how you build and maintain relationships with clients. Highlight your experience in understanding customer challenges and how you've tailored solutions to meet their needs, especially in the paints and coatings sector.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Sustainable Practices
Given the emphasis on sustainability in this role, brush up on eco-friendly solutions and EU regulations relevant to the industry. Be prepared to discuss how you've promoted sustainable practices in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Prepare to talk about your approach to pipeline management and opportunity development. Share specific strategies you've implemented to drive revenue growth and how you've adapted to market trends in the past.
