Account Manager - Microbial Protection

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity as Account Manager of our Microbial Protection Business Line within Ashland’s Personal Care business within the US. This is a very visible, significant role within Ashland and the personal care business.  This position will report to the General Manager, Personal Care, NA.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage Microbial Protection business & customers’ interface within North America –
• Apply Microbial Protection strategy at the accounts under her/his responsibility
• Delivers the business plan for the assigned territory and accounts: sales volume, revenues, and profits
• Present, promote and sell products to existing and new customers within a defined territory
• Identify & deliver new opportunities to grow business in the designated territory
• Develop strong partnerships with prospective customers, existing clients, market influencers, and other relevant partners to generate new leads and brand recognition within North America
• Proactively seeks information about Customers strategy and product launches.
• Coordinates activities related to the projects with the Customer on the products application and development.  Closely cooperate with Technical Experts to make sure project meets Customer needs
• Contributes his/her insights and guidelines to the regional strategy and account plan. Implements accordingly

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree preferred in biological or chemical science, relevant work experience can supersede this
• 3-5 years sales experience in personal care ingredients, Microbial Protection experience a plus
• Ability to function within ambiguity and be self driven
• Strong team player, good interpersonal skills, enthusiastic, positive attitude and self-motivated
• Negotiation skills, quick issue solver
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken
• Excellent communication skills
• Willingness to travel (approx. 50%)
• Driving license

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

• Good knowledge of the personal care market and customers in the Region

• Strong presentation and communication skills