As the largest pureplay adhesives company in the world, H.B. Fuller’s (NYSE: FUL) innovative, functional coatings, adhesives and sealants enhance the quality, safety and performance of products people use every day. Founded in 1887, with 2023 revenue of $3.5 billion, our mission to Connect What Matters is brought to life by more than 7,000 global team members who collaborate with customers across more than 30 market segments in over 140 countries to develop highly specified solutions that enable customers to bring world-changing innovations to their end markets.

 

The Business Manager will hire and lead a dedicated Sales & technical service team to primarily grow new business and maintain existing business, drive expansion and extension of the core business and ensure that profitable growth targets are achieved. He will closely coordinate with the operations, finance & SC teams to ensure proper and timely business execution with full compliance. The role entails to manage the P&L responsibility

Primary Responsibilities

Delivering annual budget in sales CM & gross margins.Ongoing New Business DevelopmentAccount ManagementMargin managementPrice Management complying with FLIPBuilding OEM and allied supplier partnershipsChannel Management & implementation of right channel strategyMaintaining market and opportunity data in SFDCSuccessful commercialization of new products/servicesGlobal and regional coordination of strategic accounts/markets as appropriateManagement of P&L, gross margins and Working Capital as necessaryClosely aligning activities to ensure profitability, NWC with operations, finance & supply chainAligning with operations, finance for key CAPEX investments, office management, warehouse & logisticsEngaging with HR to define, manage and implement key people related policy in line with HBF standardsCoaching direct & indirect teams and driving a culture of high-level performanceRecruiting the best talent and driving people processes like talent management and succession planning with an eye to build a strong commercial team that would support implementation of business strategy.Personally, building strong business relationships with key decisions makers in all key customers – developing new business, trust & loyalty.

Key Metric Options (agreed annually)

Territory Sales Plan

Profitability management

Contribution Margin

Volume

Price

Win / Loss Ratio

Development Metrics (TBD)

 

PRIMARY DUTIES

CORE COMPETENCIES

AccountabilityCustomer FocusPerformance ExcellenceChange and Risk TakingInnovationTeamwork

ACCOUNTABILITY

Develops strategy and an account plan for short and long term to defend and grow the account, optimize profitability, and manage riskAccountable for delivering annual business results, aligned with business plan, sales, CM and volumeNegotiates pricing and margin (aligned with the business) using value selling and the flip pricing tool to capture the optimum price and margin for HBFOwns the contact matrix, ensuring that the expectations of all parties are set and met, internal & external

CUSTOMER FOCUSED

Drive customer intimacy by delivering HBF’s value proposition tailored to meet the needs of the customerIdentifies customer needs and translates into opportunities.Promote, quantify and expertly sell value, which differentiates HBF in the market and adds value to our customersConsistently deliver value to our customers to realize customer loyalty and minimize erosionProvide insight to the customer through expert application of skills and knowledge.  Anticipate current and future needs of the customer through deep understanding of the customer’s businessDemonstrates the ability to teach the customer on current market trends and issues, and is able to be a strategic partner to our customers on key issues such as industry and raw material trends

PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE (including BUSINESS ACUMEN)

Consistently manage activities to ensure all EHS requirements are followedImplement business pricing strategy, in consultation with business director, expertly delivers price increases and maintains the businessLeverage all sales processes, including salesforce.com.Identifies and prioritizes new business opportunities and communicates forecasting needs to the businessIntimately knows the industry, including developing new business pipelineManage time by balancing effort between existing business and new business pipelineUnderstands competitive landscape and how to position HBF for advantageDevelops and owns cross-functional relationships across the strategic account from the C-suite to plant levelManage impact on profitability by promoting the right products, negotiating terms and conditions, providing reliable forecasting, and managing the impact on working capitalManage T&E expenses to budget

CHANGE AND RISK-TAKING

Adapt easily to a dynamic environment and maintain high levels of motivation and engagementCredible leader in the sales team and positively influences  changeCreatively consider solutions for customers with a willingness for calculated risk-taking to win

INNOVATION

Partners with Technical and R&D to ensure voice of the customer is received and acknowledged in the HBF R&D pipeline. Accountable for transferring HBF innovation back to the customer, in collaboration with R&D.Promote and sell innovative HBF technologies that create competitive advantage and optimize value for customers and HBF

Collaborates with Global director and VP to develop & business strategyCoaches and influences team members to implement the strategyCoordinates all supporting resources for customer, including technical, field sales, R&D, quality, customer service, etcExpertly communicates across the business on all internal and external activities, in line with the strategic plan. Provides monthly updates to all stakeholdersPartners with, field sales, customer service, supply chain, and R&D to establish priorities, service levels and deliverables

SALES COMPETENCIES & BEHAVIORSNegotiating: Master negotiator and is sought out by others within the organization to handle or advise the most complex customer situations. Consistently negotiates solutions with maximum value for customer and HBF.Managing a portfolio: Manages fewer, but larger strategic, customers. Service levels are agreed and maintained per direction of the strategic account manager.Demonstrating strategic intent / Being Innovative: Engages the customer in the development of strategic plans with customer buy-in for implementation. Contacts are senior leaders inside the customer and HBF contacts are aligned functionallyPresenting: Expert presenter, who tactfully responds when faced with on-the-spot questions or challenges during or after presentations, and always progresses the agenda and teaches the customer.Questioning / Listening: Accurately assesses underlying causes and/or concerns of customers' through enhanced listening skills; listens for potential using skills of deduction to customers' issues and concerns.  Always in the here and now.Communicating: Delivers accurate, clear, and concise messages that inform and frequently persuade audiences to take action. Adapts to the needs of diverse audiences and/or complex situations.Prospecting: Aligns inside resources, including R&D, to longer-term business opportunities inside existing strategic customers.Being a team player: Rallies account teams in delivering action plans for customers. Able to communicate team effort and value back to the customer.

KNOWLEDGECustomer KnowledgeUnderstands long-term impact of market drivers. Has a long-term view of HBF's opportunity as aligned with customer strategyProducts & ValueOperates as a resource and consultant to the customer in use of products and servicesDelivers agreed value plan with customerSales Process & Sales ToolsExpert user of all sales tools and processes and brings benefit to the customer as a result of this (e.g. usage reports)Seeks to introduce new and better ways to serve the customerTrends in Market & IndustryUses expert knowledge of trends of market and industry to differentiate and teach the customerSupply chain & Customer ServiceHas deep understanding of customer value chain and how HBF impacts the customerSelectively engages experts in supply chain to bring value to customersBusiness  AcumenAble to negotiate and have meaningful business conversations at all levels inside customers.Teaches the customer alternatives and helps them to avoid land mine

EMPLOYEES SUPERVISED

Multiple

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

Large, regional accts, single & multi-site + large-complexity headquarter sites.

Minimum Requirements 4 year college degree, with a preference for technical/mechanical or marketingMinimum of 10 years of industrial sales experience; could consider marketing or technical experience as alternative, with consistent at or above target performanceMust have a valid driver’s license and be willing to travel.Travel time depends on size/geography of the territory.Excellent presentation, communication, and negotiation skillsDemonstrated strategic capabilitiesProven leadership and team building skillsExperience in the adhesives or chemical market or other industrial business to business organizations.Understand how to drive growth & manage complexities.A solid grasp and knowledge of B2B marketing and its tools and how to apply them in the Industrial adhesives marketHave deep understanding of operations.

H.B. Fuller is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and proud to have created a collaborative culture where employees around the world are seen, heard, and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or marital status or status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected classification.

H.B. Fuller does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with H.B. Fuller, a written service agreement must be executed by Human Resources prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed service agreement, H.B. Fuller shall not be obligated for payment of any fee or compensation.