About Teknor Apex
Teknor Apex, founded in 1924, is a privately held global custom compounder with
operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company partners with
manufacturers to develop custom polymer solutions and is guided by seven core
values: integrity, partnership, sustainability, innovation, accountability,
safety, and respect.
Position Summary
The Account Manager, Eastern Midwest Territory, is responsible for driving
profitable growth for Teknor Apex’s Engineered Plastics and Elastomers product
withing the geographic region. This role manages an assigned territory and
customer base while identifying, developing, and winning new business with OEMs,
processors, contract manufacturers, and strategic partners. The territory is
the Ohio Valley (OH, Eastern IN, Western PA, Kentucky, Western Tennessee and
West Virginia)
The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of complex sales cycles,
commercialization timelines, and the technical, quality, and regulatory
requirements that influence purchasing decisions at companies that specify and
use engineering thermoplastics and elastomer. Success in this role requires
the ability to drive material specifications at OEMs and specifiers while
building and sustaining relationships with processors across the assigned sales
region.
Responsibilities
Own the commercial strategy and performance for an assigned territory, with
responsibility for revenue and volume growth, margin improvement, pricing
discipline, and long-term account profitability.
Develop and execute strategic account and prospect plans that expand Teknor
Apex’s position in the assigned region
Identify, develop, and commercialize new business opportunities through share
gain at existing customers and prospecting at new customers.
Build strong relationships across procurement, supply chain, engineering,
quality, regulatory, manufacturing, executive, and commercial stakeholders
within target accounts.
Partner with Sales Management on forecasts, pricing strategies, business
reviews, contract development, and major commercial negotiations.
Work closely with Application Development, Technical Service, Product
Management, Marketing, Sales Development, Supply Chain, Operations, and
global teams to support material selection, trials, qualifications,
commercialization, and issue resolution.
Translate customer performance, processing, and compliance requirements into
value-based material recommendations and commercial proposals.
Create and deliver effective sales and technical presentations that educate
customers, differentiate Teknor Apex solutions, and advance opportunities to
close.
Communicate regularly with customers to uncover needs, drive growth plans,
resolve open issues, and ensure strong ongoing account support.
Develop customer-specific value programs, including vendor-managed and other
service-oriented programs, where appropriate.
Gather and communicate competitive intelligence related to products, pricing,
market activity, compliance trends, and competitive threats.
Represent Teknor Apex at trade shows, industry events, customer meetings,
sales meetings, and training events.
Train, coach, and mentor other commercial team members as appropriate.
Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Required Qualifications
3+ years of successful B2B sales, account management, or business
development experience in plastics, polymers, specialty compounds, chemicals,
or a closely related technical industry.
Proven track record of profitable growth within complex accounts and complex
selling cycles.
Strong working knowledge of polymer compounding and an understanding of
extrusion, injection molding, and related conversion processes.
Ability to confidently provide technical product guidance and develop
compelling value-in-use / value-based selling cases.
Demonstrated success managing customer relationships up, down, and across the
organization.
Strong planning, forecasting, budgeting, account strategy, and pipeline
management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint and Excel, along
with CRM and account-management tools.
Strong oral and written communication skills in English; additional languages
are a plus.
High self-motivation, accountability, and effectiveness in an independent
remote role.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; a technical degree in
engineering, chemistry, polymer science, materials science, or a related
field is preferred.
Routine travel up to 50% within the assigned territory is required; valid
driver’s license required.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with TPV, TPE, and/or engineering plastics, nylon specifically.
Experience selling into specifiers and processors the assigned region.
Key Traits / Success Profile
Customer-focused and trustworthy
Technically curious and eager to learn applications in depth
Collaborative and effective across functions
Resilient and persistent in pursuit of growth
Strong listener and clear communicator
Team-oriented with the ability to build lasting internal and external
relationships
Essential Functions:
Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions
consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards,
including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with applicable
standards.
Must be able to lift and carry up to 15 lbs.
Must be able to talk, listen, and speak clearly on telephone and virtual
media.
Equal Opportunity
Teknor Apex is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against
any protected status under state or federal laws. Must be 18 years of age or
older to work at Teknor Apex.