Company: This international ingredients and distribution business operates across multiple European markets, supplying a broad portfolio of speciality raw materials and ingredient solutions into the food, pharmaceutical, laboratory and industrial sectors.

The organisation combines strong technical expertise with a customer-focused commercial approach, supporting clients through both product supply and value-added technical service. With established operations across Europe and continued investment into regional growth, the business has built a strong reputation for reliability, market knowledge and long-term customer partnerships.

The company places strong emphasis on relationship-driven sales, market development and close collaboration between commercial, operational and technical teams. Customer proximity and local market understanding remain central to the business strategy across all territories.

Role: The Area Sales Manager – Austria, Slovenia & Croatia will take responsibility for managing and developing commercial activities across the assigned territory, with a strong focus on both customer retention and new business development.

Reporting into regional commercial leadership, the role will sit at the centre of day-to-day customer activity, managing existing accounts whilst actively identifying opportunities for further market expansion across the region.

This position requires a commercially driven and relationship-focused individual capable of operating independently across the territory whilst coordinating closely with internal departments including customer service, product management, supply chain and technical teams.

The successful candidate will play an important role in strengthening customer relationships, driving regional sales growth and supporting the wider commercial strategy of the business across Central Europe.

Main Responsibilities
· Develop and maintain long-term customer relationships across Austria, Slovenia & Croatia.
· Identify and acquire new business opportunities within the assigned sales territory.
· Support the development and implementation of regional sales strategies aligned with wider business objectives.
· Manage customer projects from quotation stage through to follow-up and ongoing commercial support.
· Negotiate, manage and maintain customer contracts whilst ensuring compliance with agreed commercial terms.
· Monitor sales performance, customer activity and market trends to identify opportunities for growth.
· Prepare sales forecasts and support regional budget planning activities.
· Maintain and update customer master data within the CRM system.
· Monitor outstanding payments, customer creditworthiness and support dunning activities where required.
· Coordinate closely with internal departments to ensure efficient customer support and service delivery.
· Support complaint handling and resolution processes to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.
· Represent the business at trade shows, conferences and networking events across the region.
· Prepare reports and commercial analyses to support sales planning and performance management.

Key Requirements
· Proven commercial or sales experience within speciality ingredients, ingredient distribution or related B2B industries.
· Strong understanding of relationship-led sales and customer management within technical industries.
· Experience managing regional customer accounts and driving new business development activities.
· German language fluency is essential.
· Strong commercial awareness combined with excellent communication and negotiation skills.
· Ability to work independently whilst coordinating effectively across multiple internal functions.
· Experience using CRM systems and managing customer pipelines and reporting activities.
· Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple customer projects simultaneously.
· Knowledge of the Austrian ingredients market and wider regional commercial landscape would be highly advantageous.
· Willingness to travel across Austria, Slovenia & Croatia as required by the role.