VHR Consultancy Hiring! Full Time Sales Manager in Pulau Pinang - Ricebowl

Our Client:

An established advanced materials manufacturer serving electronics, automotive, semiconductor, electrical, photo-optics and green energy applications, with a strong focus on technical innovation, customer-specific solutions and regional export markets.

Role Overview:

The Sales & Marketing Manager will lead the company’s commercial direction by overseeing Sales, Marketing and R&D-related commercial alignment to drive sustainable business growth, strengthen customer relationships, expand market opportunities and enhance product positioning. This role reports directly to the Managing Director and is expected to provide strong strategic leadership while remaining hands-on in business development, customer engagement, market expansion and cross-functional execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the overall sales, marketing and commercial strategy in alignment with the company’s growth objectives, ensuring all departmental plans contribute towards sustainable revenue growth, customer retention, product innovation and long-term market competitiveness.
• Lead the Sales, Marketing and R&D-related commercial direction by aligning customer needs, market trends, product development priorities and go-to-market execution, ensuring new and existing products are positioned effectively across target industries and customer segment.
• Set clear sales targets, revenue objectives, customer development plans and market expansion priorities, while closely monitoring sales performance, pipeline progress, customer conversion, pricing strategy, margin performance and overall business result.
• Drive new business development by identifying potential markets, strategic accounts, industry applications, channel opportunities and partnership prospects, particularly within manufacturing, chemical, materials, polymer, electronics, automotive, semiconductor and high-tech industrial sector.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, business partners and strategic stakeholders, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction, technical responsiveness, commercial support and long-term account retention.
• Lead customer engagement activities involving technical products and solution-based selling, working closely with internal technical, R&D, production and quality teams to understand customer requirements and translate them into commercially viable solution.
• Oversee marketing strategy, branding direction, market positioning, product messaging and promotional initiatives to strengthen market visibility, enhance product awareness and support sales growth across relevant B2B market.
• Ensure effective market research, competitor analysis, pricing intelligence, customer segmentation and product positioning are carried out to support business planning, product development and commercial decision-making
• Drive marketing campaigns, digital marketing initiatives, customer communication materials, product presentations and market development activities that support lead generation, customer engagement and sales conversion.
• Provide leadership to sales and marketing teams by setting clear expectations, reviewing performance, guiding account strategies, coaching team members and ensuring disciplined execution of departmental priorities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation and customer focus across Sales, Marketing and R&D-related functions, ensuring teams work cohesively to deliver business objectives and customer commitment.
• Manage departmental budgets, forecasts, KPIs and commercial reporting, ensuring proper tracking of sales performance, marketing effectiveness, business risks, customer activities and improvement initiative.
• Prepare timely reports, business reviews, market updates and strategic recommendations for top management, providing clear insights on sales progress, market opportunities, competitive threats, product performance and commercial priorities.
• Support recruitment, development, performance management and succession planning within the commercial team, ensuring the company has the right capability and leadership bench strength to support future growth.
• Work closely with the Managing Director and senior management team to support business planning, annual budgeting, growth initiatives and operational alignment across the organization.

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in a technical discipline, preferably Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Applied Science or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of working experience within manufacturing and chemical-related industries, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership, managerial or department head capacity.
• Proven experience in sales, marketing and/or R&D-related commercial leadership within a relevant technical, chemical, materials, polymer, advanced materials or high-tech manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of B2B technical sales, solution selling, customer application requirements, product positioning and commercial development within industrial or manufacturing sector.
• Demonstrated track record in developing sales strategies, expanding markets, managing key accounts, building strategic partnerships and delivering measurable business grow
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and working closely with R&D, technical, production, quality and operations teams to deliver customer-driven product or market solutions.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to interpret market trends, customer needs, competitor activities, pricing dynamics and product lifecycle considerations to support commercial decision-maki
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence internal teams, senior management, customers and external business partner.
• Analytical, innovative and results-oriented, with strong problem-solving capability and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle management, technical product development, B2B industrial marketing and customer-specific solution development will be an added advantage.
• Candidates with experience in chemical, materials, polymer, advanced materials, electronics, semiconductor, automotive or high-tech manufacturing sectors will be highly preferred.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.