Technical Sales Specialist

Job Description: Sales Manager – Precious Metal Plating Solutions (Technical Sales) Company: Umicore Metal Deposition Solutions Position: Sales Manager – Precious Metal Plating Solutions (Technical Sales) Location: Navi Mumbai Reporting To: Regional Sales Director / Business Unit Head About Umicore Metal Deposition Solutions Umicore is a global materials technology and recycling group focused on areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry, and metallurgy makes a real difference. The Metal Deposition Solutions division is a leading provider of precious metal plating chemistries, electroplating solutions, and technical services serving electronics, semiconductors, connectors, automotive, luxury goods, and industrial applications. Position Summary The Sales Manager – Precious Metal Plating Solutions will be responsible for driving profitable growth of Umicore's precious metal plating portfolio across assigned territories and market segments. This role combines technical sales expertise with strategic account management to develop new business opportunities, support customers in plating process optimization, and strengthen long-term partnerships. The ideal candidate will possess strong knowledge of electroplating technologies, precious metal chemistries (gold, silver, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, etc.), and industrial manufacturing processes, along with a proven ability to generate revenue growth in B2B technical sales environments. Key ResponsibilitiesBusiness Development & Sales Growth - Develop and execute sales strategies to achieve revenue, margin, and market-share objectives. - Identify and develop new business opportunities within electronics, connectors, semiconductor, automotive, luxury goods, and industrial plating segments. - Build and maintain a robust pipeline of new projects and customer opportunities. - Drive growth of precious metal plating products, processes, and value-added services. - Develop annual sales plans, forecasts, and territory growth strategies. Technical Sales & Application Support - Act as a technical consultant to customers on precious metal plating processes and applications. - Understand customer manufacturing processes and propose optimized plating solutions. - Support qualification of new products and plating technologies at customer sites. - Collaborate with technical service, R&D, and product management teams to solve application challenges. - Deliver product presentations, technical workshops, and customer training programs. Key Account Management - Manage strategic accounts and develop long-term customer relationships. - Lead commercial negotiations, pricing discussions, and contract renewals. - Monitor customer satisfaction and ensure timely resolution of technical and commercial issues. - Identify opportunities for cross-selling and upselling within existing accounts. Market Intelligence - Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and emerging technologies. - Gather customer feedback and communicate market needs to internal stakeholders. - Provide regular business updates, opportunity tracking, and sales forecasts. Internal Collaboration - Work closely with Technical Service, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Product Management teams. - Coordinate customer trials, project implementation, and product launches. - Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements. Qualifications & ExperienceEducation - Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Science, Electronics Engineering, or related discipline. - MBA or equivalent business qualification is an advantage. Experience - 5–10+ years of experience in technical sales, business development, or application engineering. - Experience selling electroplating chemicals, surface finishing solutions, specialty chemicals, or precious metal products. - Proven track record in industrial B2B sales and customer relationship management. - Experience in electronics, connector, semiconductor, automotive, or metal finishing industries preferred. Technical Knowledge Preferred knowledge in: - Precious metal electroplating technologies. - Gold, Silver, Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium, and Ruthenium plating. - Electrochemistry and surface finishing processes. - Connector and semiconductor plating applications. - PCB, lead frame, and electronic component manufacturing. - Plating line operations and process optimization. - Quality standards and process controls used in electroplating industries. Key Competencies - Strong technical and commercial acumen. - Strategic selling and negotiation skills. - Customer-focused mindset. - Excellent problem-solving capabilities. - Ability to communicate effectively with technical and executive stakeholders. - Strong presentation and influencing skills. - Self-motivated and results-oriented. - Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities. Travel Requirements - Willingness to travel extensively (40–60%) across assigned territories. - Ability to conduct customer visits, technical reviews, and business development activities on a regular basis. Success Metrics - Achievement of annual sales and profitability targets. - New customer acquisition and project wins. - Growth in strategic account revenues. - Customer retention and satisfaction. - Successful commercialization of new plating technologies. - Accuracy of sales forecasting and pipeline management. Ideal Candidate Profile - A technically strong sales professional who understands precious metal plating chemistry and industrial manufacturing processes, capable of engaging with production engineers, quality teams, procurement leaders, and senior management to drive sustainable business growth for Umicore Metal Deposition Solutions.