Global Sales Manager - Softlines DACH Region (f/m/d)

At TÜV SÜD we are passionate about technology. Innovations impact our daily lives in countless ways, and we are dedicated to being a part of that progress. We test, we audit, we inspect, we advise. We never stop challenging ourselves for the safety of society and its people. We breathe technology, we strive for professional excellence, and we leave a mark. We take the future into our hands. We are TÜV SÜD.

This person is responsible for the development of a portfolio of existing Softlines clients for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Netherlands Markets, and proactively develop and to on-board new clients in the respective markets. The incumbent is expected to develop short-term and long-term strategies to develop Softlines business for Global CPS locations. The person will take the lead in developing new business opportunities from retailers, importers & brands while with strategy and execution of plans to maintain and grow existing accounts and profitably grow the global business. In addition, the candidate will have their own individual revenue targets and should be able to sell entire suite of services to include testing, inspections, audits, and sustainability services while assisting the Sales team in achieving the team’s sales objectives and individual goals. This requires interaction with a wide client contact base and engaging with quality executives throughout the industry. The person will be expected to keep abreast of new developments in the industry providing ongoing feedback to colleagues and clients to ensure the company is aligned to technical and commercial developments in the overall business sector.

• Full responsibility for creating and executing short and long-term strategies while achieving financial objectives.
• Collaborate with Global CPS Sales Managers and Regions globally to create client wish lists and to execute multi-region sales/account strategies.
• Plan business objectives, establish forecasts and procedures for attaining Softlines Market objectives and financial targets that are in line with Global CPS strategy.
• Develop and execute a coordinated sales and marketing strategy for responsible markets, that results in revenue generation and line of sight visibility towards attaining or exceeding business line growth objectives.
• Coach and guide regional sales colleagues in developing sales/account strategies to support strategic business goals.
• Develop, formulate, and execute current and long-range goals, objectives, plans and policies that support a transition towards higher margin.
• Analyze market needs, customer expectations and competition to define and deliver overall strategy to increase market share and brand awareness.
• Sell full suite of services to prospective SFL customers and their supply chain to new clients; services such as product safety testing, pre-shipment inspection, social compliance auditing and a wide range of sustainability services.
• Service the ongoing customer needs.
• Achieve sales revenue and profit margin targets; cascade this to the respective countries taking into consideration the local industry’s business climate and opportunities.
• Work in close coordination with various country / divisional managers in developing and servicing sales, pricing, and marketing strategies.
• Develop strong business relationships with quality personnel of key clients.
• Keep firmly abreast of technical and commercial developments in the market and make recommendations for service development.
• Increase industry awareness and knowledge by attending appropriate industry conferences.
• Drive market research projects to identify market trends and potential new opportunities, market share analysis and marketing intelligence.

• Possess at least a bachelor’s degree specializing in sales or related product category discipline.
• At least five years of experience in the consumer products or testing industry.
• Proven track record in sales / account management / merchandising / quality assurance, engaging with quality executives of large retailers, brands & wholesalers.
• Familiar with the production cycle of consumer products from design, prototyping, to shipment, as well as the associated stages of a quality assurance program.
• Familiar with the international regulations, national deviations, and renowned brands’ requirements for testing.
• A good connection to appropriate industry associations in Europe will be a definite advantage.
• Possess a wide client contact base and knowledge of sales trends in the Consumer Products business area.
• Strong business sense and knowledge of the business and its supply chain, including understanding of quality and fulfillment of specifications of the products sold in the stores.
• Knowledge in pricing strategies and structure for testing, auditing and inspection.
• Able to interpret technical information and translate into common terminology.
• Aggressive with keen interest on new business development.
• Strong networking, negotiation, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Client interaction skills: Demonstrated ability to work with customers, determine their requirements, secure additional business, define and assist in solving problems, and generally ensure their total satisfaction.
• Ability to organize and prioritize daily activities and workload in a resource constrained environment.
• Must be personable and work well independently, as well as in a team environment.
• Strong appreciation of diverse cultures.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications.
• Must be confident, highly efficient, and self-motivated.

At TÜV SÜD, we have employees from more than 100 different countries collaborating together. People of different backgrounds, skills, and pursuing different life goals. Our strength comes from these countless and varied perspectives.

We are committed to be an inclusive and diverse workplace by welcoming people of all backgrounds. We want Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) to be a foundation of our company and create an environment where all our employees can trust they will be treated with respect, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic background, faith, beliefs, disabilities, age, sexual orientation, or identity. As such, our employees are expected to behave at all times in a manner consistent with TÜV SÜD Code of Ethics and Company values.

We firmly believe embedding D&I in the heart of what we do will inherently contribute to the success of TÜV SÜD. Click here to find out more about Diversity at TÜV SÜD.