As the largest pureplay adhesives company in the world, H.B. Fuller’s (NYSE: FUL) innovative, functional coatings, adhesives and sealants enhance the quality, safety and performance of products people use every day. Founded in 1887, with 2024 revenue of $3.6 billion, our mission to Connect What Matters is brought to life by more than 7,500 global team members who collaborate with customers across more than 30 market segments in over 140 countries to develop highly specified solutions that enable customers to bring world-changing innovations to their end markets. Learn more at www.hbfuller.com.

Job Title: Business Development Manager

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Business Development Manager is responsible for growing market share profitably in defined strategic markets and accounts. The job focuses on all H.B. Fuller business segments in SADC region, excluding Beverage Labeling. These includes End of line applications, Flexible packaging, paper converting, Graphic arts, packaging makers among others.

This role involves engaging the customer to understand and anticipate their needs and providing solutions that meets customers’ requirements. The role will provide competitive advantage to H.B. Fuller through the focus provided on getting plans developed and executed in the market as aligned with various stakeholders. The BDM will be well aware of and experienced at navigating complex decision-making processes experienced today inside large global accounts.

As BDM you will be a key contributor to the Hygiene, Health and Consumable GBU. A significant portion of your time and effort (estimated at around 50%) will be spent in the field visiting customers tactically executing the plan to maintain and improve operations within existing accounts and convert / win new accounts.

The BDM will be expected to evaluate new business opportunities and promotes the H.B. Fuller value proposition of technologies, products, and services in line with the business strategy and marketing initiatives.  The BDM drives and supports the launch of new products and solutions across southern Africa region in collaboration with various segment leads and Business Manager.

The BDM will act as the expert of the segment/s when it comes to product performance and value delivered at the customers.

The Business Development Manager will often be required to make presentations on products and services that meet or help develop the clients’ future needs.

He or she will act as a consultant to all stakeholders in order to develop an understanding of industry trends, and market forces affecting the business and product needs. The BDM will achieve the above following the HB Fuller Sales Process and Value Selling methodology.

PRIMARY DUTIES

• Profitably grows market share through acquiring new business at new customers and new applications at existing accounts

oMeets annual budget growth objectives by closing qualified new business opportunities

oMaintains a healthy new business pipeline of new opportunities in line with the annual growth plans

oSkillfully utilizes the H.B. Fuller sales process to find, qualify and close new business.   

oSells at optimum value and margin to meet agreed profit targets. 

• Maintain business in existing accounts

oDevelop trusting and productive relationship with the key decision makers in the account. Is able to develop relationship maps and maintain in SFDC under contact records.

oUnderstands market trends and offers solutions to customer’s ensuring expectations are met.

oCollaborating with the customers to review the business performance during formal business review meetings.

oGathers business intelligence to understand possible threats and mitigates the same.

oCollaborating with global teams to grow and maintain the business segment (s).

• Manages activities related to identifying new business opportunities:

oIs technically independent and competent enough to manage running own technical demonstrations- and able to produce technical reports.

oManages own time by focusing efforts on the blue chip opportunities.

o“Opens the door” at potential customers, develops and explains the H.B. Fuller value proposition.

oHelps customers to select appropriate products for various applications. Ensures customers are fully aware of value delivered.

oEvaluates and establishes relationships with potential partners, such as application equipment providers, OEMs, Industry associations to achieve a deeper market penetration.

oEvaluates customer requirements within the overall context of the market, i.e. applicability of similar products and projects for other customers. .

oSupport opportunities related to regular business and support successful closure

• Develop and improve value offering

oCapture customer requirements (VOC) and help translate them into value propositions

oCollect data supporting value propositions at customers Monitor and document the offered values in continued business

oEnsures customer projects are on time and on budget.

• Work on Product Portfolio :

oManage product program in the segment and define the GOTO product portfolio

oCompletes detailed customer requirements with appropriate business to ensure understanding of requirements and CTQ’s as  necessary for R&D / Technical Service  

oCapture trends from industry and translate them into new product or service developments and innovative offerings.

oPropose and lead suggested price positioning in the segment in cooperation with business manager. Support product complexity reduction exercise lead by Marketing.

• Interaction and communication with internal stakeholders

• Seeks input from SAM’s , Business colleagues and sales to develop segment strategy 

• Partners with all stakeholders to establish priorities, service levels and expected deliverables.

• Provides, summarizes, analyses and processes relevant customer and market information using SFDC and other information sources.

• Coaches and influences senior sales colleagues

• Partners with Marketing, Technical Department and R&D to ensure voice of the customer is received and acknowledged in the HBF R&D pipeline and all related internal support.

• Provides supporting resources & intelligence to sales teams to respond to customer’s requests

• Expertly communicates across the business on all internal and external activities, in line with the strategic plan. Provides regular updates to all stakeholders

• Is aware of the forecasting

• Partners with an expert colleague from the Technical Department on specific issues

BUDGETARY/FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

The Business Development Manager is responsible to grow the business in selected strategic accounts according set budgets on defined markets.

KEY METRICS

• Sales Budget.

• Profitability measured as percent (%) contribution margin.

• Guarding existing accounts and growing new accounts.

• Creating solid pipeline for business continuity and growth

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in Business, Marketing or Technical with postgrad marketing (or equivalent through experience)

• Proven track record of successful market development with a minimum of 5 years technical sales experience.

• Strong driver for results and success. Shows passion for the role.

• Expert in the value selling process with good understanding of B-2-B selling process.

• Ability to harness and manage important business relationship.

• Outstanding commercial and communication skills at all levels of contacts: Executive, Middle Management, Production floor

• Understanding of basic financial metrics such as Operating Profit, Margins and Working Capital

• Strong oral, presentation and written communication skills

• Good analytical capabilities linked to good strategical thinking skills.

• Significant industry standing. Considered an expert in technical Adhesives

• Excellent listening skills

• Excellent computer literacy

• Fluent in English language, with other additional European languages a plus

• Ability to work in a team with different cultures and nationalities

• Ability to lead, influence and motivate the internal cross functional team to achieve business goals

• Intimate knowledge of the support functions

• Ability to work in a fast and changing environment

• Disciplined work approach with good reporting skills

• Ability to travel with region - between 50-60% time

• Ability to acquire knowledge of adhesives performance and applications of product range within 6 month period

• Ability to work from a home office

• High ethical standards – must meet HBF Minimum

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Selling/marketing or technical experience with industrial multi nationals

• Ability to lead and influence internal stakeholders in any function

• Willingness to move to different countries to work

• Experience in more than one market/application/geography

• Experience in selling adhesives into multinational companies

• Fluency in English and Africaan – Portuguese would be an added advantage.

For additional information on H.B. Fuller or to apply on-line go to:  http://www.hbfuller.com/

H.B. Fuller is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and proud to have created a collaborative culture where employees around the world are seen, heard, and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or marital status or status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected classification.

H.B. Fuller does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with H.B. Fuller, a written service agreement must be executed by Human Resources prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed service agreement, H.B. Fuller shall not be obligated for payment of any fee or compensation.