EU Sales Manager – Powder Characterisation

EU Sales Manager – Powder Characterisation

Powders are everywhere: the metal powders used to 3D-print aerospace parts, the active ingredients in tablets, the materials inside a battery. How a powder flows, packs and holds an electric charge decides whether a manufacturing process runs smoothly or fails. Our client builds automated instruments that measure exactly that. They give labs and production teams reliable data to develop formulations, optimise processes and keep quality under control.

Our client is a fast-growing Belgian technology company that designs and builds its instruments in-house. Their customers include some of the best-known names in pharma, food, additive manufacturing and batteries, as well as universities and public research institutions. About 80% of sales come from instruments, with maintenance, spare parts and measurement services making up the rest.

You look after your accounts from the first conversation to the order. Your customers are scientists, process engineers and lab managers who want to understand what the data means for their own powders. You prepare offers, follow up opportunities, and work with the R&D and engineering teams to answer technical questions. You also represent the company at conferences and trade shows.

This is not a cold-calling job. It is account management, with a typical instrument sale of 30 to 40K€. The Director takes care of much of the hunting for new leads, so you can concentrate on building relationships and closing. Travel is part of the job: around 40% of your time.

In a large company you would be one salesperson among many. Here the team is 10 to 15 people, you report to a manager with the Director one level above, and three colleagues hold PhDs in chemistry or physical chemistry. Twice a year the whole sales team meets to review forecasts and build the team. The company has also shown that it is willing to open new markets when the opportunity is there.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for someone flexible and proactive, who feels at home in a small structure where roles are not rigidly defined and where you take initiative. You like building long-term relationships with technical customers, and you can talk about science credibly without needing to be a researcher yourself.

This role is for you if...

• You enjoy technical account management and you already have a few years in sales or account management of scientific or industrial instruments.
• You hold a science or engineering degree (Master’s and/or PhD) and you are happy discussing powder behaviour, materials or process questions with customers.
• You like having ownership of a large, multi-country territory and being trusted to organise it yourself.
• You can speak confidently in English, and speaking German or a Scandinavian language is an advantage.
• You are comfortable with regular travel, from one week to two weeks a month, within Europe.
• You prefer a small team where your voice counts over a large corporate structure.

In return, the company commits to an existing customer base to look after rather than starting from zero, direct access to the Director and a short hierarchy, and a team that includes scientists you can rely on for technical backup.

Atmosphere, salary and benefits

• Base salary of around 3,500€ per month, plus a commission of 2.5% on sales, paid quarterly with no minimum threshold. The annual sales target is around 800 to 900K€.
• Company car possible if you are based in the Benelux.
• Location: ideally close to your territory, in the Netherlands, Germany or the Benelux. Benelux contracts are the simplest, and an independent status can be considered.

Recruitment process

We aim to complete the process within one month at most, and can adapt to your availability:

1. Phone call with VRS Recruitment
2. Phone call with HR Business partner
3. Interview with the Head of Sales and the Director
4. A practical scenario: you set out your priorities for a territory, have a sales conversation and explore the needs of a customer

Call to action

Want to take ownership of a European territory with a fast-growing technology company? Send us your CV today.