Whitehall International

Our Client is a specialist technical distribution business with over 30 years of experience supporting advanced manufacturing industries. They differentiate through engineering-led sales, strong supplier partnerships and practical value-added services such as repacking, kitting, tape conversion and supply-chain support.

They are investing in growth, new technologies and global expansion, creating significant opportunity for individuals who want to build and shape markets rather than simply maintain them.

They are looking for a Global Automotive Sales Manager to build on their strong foundations and lead the next phase of growth.

This role incorporates engineering, commercial strategy and global relationship management. You will work closely with OEMs to solve real technical problems, helping customers move from design and testing through to robust production solutions. While silicones remain a core focus, the opportunity extends across our Clients full portfolio of advanced bonding solutions including liquid adhesives, tapes and engineered materials.

This is a technical sales role requiring credibility with engineers alongside the commercial instinct to win projects, negotiate effectively and grow strategic global accounts.

You will operate internationally, supporting major global automotive customers with operations across multiple regions, while coordinating closely with internal teams and supplier partners to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes.

Home or hybrid with frequent UK and international travel.  Regular travel to UK HQ in Warwickshire. This is primarily an individual contributor role with significant influence across regions, including coordination with colleagues in Germany and potential future international resources.

Responsibilities

• Develop and grow relationships with global automotive OEMs.
• Manage complex, multi-site customer environments spanning engineering, procurement and operations.
• Retain and expand existing business while identifying new opportunities for growth.
• Coordinate activities across international customer locations to ensure consistent engagement.
• Act as a credible technical partner supporting customers through design and material selection, testing and validation, and transition into production environments.
• Promote high-reliability solutions aligned with automotive quality expectations and a “never fail” approach.
• Focus initially on silicone technologies while expanding cross-selling across adhesives, tapes and engineered solutions.
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with key strategic suppliers.
• Work collaboratively on project development, new product introductions and technical opportunities.
• Coordinate samples, trials, marketing initiatives and joint customer engagement activities.
• Align supplier innovation pipelines with their automotive strategy to support mutual growth.
• Lead complex negotiations across global customers.
• Maintain responsibility for revenue growth, margin performance and strategic positioning.
• Translate technical opportunities into commercially successful outcomes.
• Maintain deep understanding of automotive market trends, technology shifts and emerging applications.
• Identify opportunities arising from industry transformation, including electrification, thermal management and high-vibration environments.
• Work closely with Customer Service, Marketing and Operations teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Maintain strong alignment with production and repacking capabilities to support innovative customer requirements.
• Provide structured reporting, forecasting and pipeline visibility.

Candidate Profile

• Proven success in technical B2B sales within automotive or closely related manufacturing sectors.
• Knowledge of silicones, adhesives, tapes or related engineered materials preferred.
• Experience supporting engineering-led design-in processes.
• Comfortable operating within global customer structures.
• Strong commercial judgement and negotiation skills.
• Driven by growth and opportunity, with strong ownership mentality.
• Credible communicator with engineers and procurement teams alike.
• Structured, resilient and able to operate independently.
• Practical and solutions-focused.
• Comfortable with international travel and flexible working hours.

Whitehall is the Recruitment Specialist for the Chemical, Polymer, Coatings and Life Science Industries.