Birmingham, Alabama, USA
43 days ago
Sales Associate - 2025 Leadership Development Program

Job Summary

Our commercial sales team, guided by the voice of the customer, develops and markets differentiated, value-creating solutions, services and technologies.  We help customers enter new markets faster, expand their product offerings, enhance end-use product performance, build their reputation, attain safety and environmental benefits, meet regulatory objectives, differentiate themselves and win against their competition! We are building our next generation of sales professionals, and are seeking recent graduates to begin an exciting career in our Commercial Development Program.  This is an ideal opportunity for candidates who have good interpersonal communication skills and want to utilize their technical skills or business acumen to develop solutions and drive value for customers. Individuals will be assigned to a commercial sales team in one of Avient’s divisions and locations based on their interests and skills. This extensive program will include a selling curriculum and business unit specific training, lasting approximately 9 to 12 months. Our curriculum delivers a train, practice, and apply approach. During this period, individuals will be exposed to customer service, manufacturing and laboratory operations, marketing / product management, learn our Value-Based Selling program, and shadow experienced Avient sellers in their territories. Upon completion of the training program, individuals will be assigned to their own territory, where they will be responsible for securing business from prospective and current customers, and attaining annual sales and profit objectives.

Essential Functions

Learn and implement the Avient selling process, strategies, and related tools to win new business over the competition Build relationships with existing customers and prospect new customers Identify customer needs through research, prepared questioning and other learned strategies Work with customers on new application development. Develop, execute and manage sales growth plans and sales budgets. Foster relationships and navigate the internal Avient business environment. After training period, position requires 50-75% travel by car or plane. Other projects / duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Engineering required.

Qualifications

Proficiency with MS Word & Excel preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Self-motivated. Team Player. Strong organizational skills required.

Competencies

Each position at Avient focuses on eight Core Competencies as a Leader of Self.  These competencies are designed to drive behavior that will ultimately help our associates excel at their current roles, while supporting individual and career development.

Physical Demands

Must be able to traverse and operate computer and other office equipment. Typical work is in an office environment where the noise level is low to moderate.

Environmental, Health, Safety, & Security (EHS&S) Requirements

Avient integrates EHS&S into all aspects of our operations. Each position at Avient is responsible for complying with all applicable EHS&S requirements. Additionally, employees and management are responsible for reporting all EHS&S incidents immediately to ensure we keep EHS&S a priority within the organization.  

Security includes physical security and cyber security. 

Who We Are

Avient Corporation provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include:

Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, enables unmatched levels of performance and protection for end-use applications, including ballistic personal protection, marine and sustainable infrastructure and outdoor sports   Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy    Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint   Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility

Avient employs approximately 10,000 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®.  For more information, visit www.avient.com.

Why Avient

Avient Corporation is a world-class sustainable organization built on innovation, collaboration, and employee development. We are committed to providing a supportive and dynamic work environment where our diverse associates can grow and succeed, as well positively impacting our planet and the communities we serve. Our Great Place to Work culture, values, and benefits make Avient an employer of choice for top talent.

At Avient, we believe diversity of ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world.  In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient Corporation is a drug free workplace.  Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.

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