Distribution Specialist - Distribuzione Refinish (North-East, vernici per carrozzeria)

We are currently looking for a Distribution Specialist to cover the North East of Italy. The goal of this role is to manage performance of Axalta distributors in an assigned territory, working as a member of the local sales team. The Distribution Specialist will work with a high sense of urgency having primary responsibility for distribution purchase target, distribution profitability and growth, demand forecasts as well as maintain the ACS brand image and policy standards. Overall, the Distribution Specialist is responsible for demonstrating ownership, commitment, and accountability to the assigned organizational area and its goals working in close coordination with other Sales Team roles active in the same territory.

Key Responsibilities

Gains an understanding of distributors and market requirements and, appropriately, implement actions to meet sales goals while keeping Axalta’s best interests in mind.

• Act as the primary point of contact for local distributors within the defined territory.
• Elaborate and implement an effective sales plan - including target, profitability, and distribution growth - consisting of a balanced offer of Axalta Refinish products (families and product groups both in paint and no paint) and services, in line with the assigned territory goals.
• Coordinate mentioned sales plan and its implementation in collaboration with the rest of the sales team specifically, and due to the alignment required by those functions, the Sales, Account and Market Specialists.
• Look for potential opportunities to expand Axalta’s distribution footprint through the targeting of new distribution, line adds and stock point additions to existing distribution.
• Manage distribution needs end to end by networking with other sales and technical roles, supply chain, product group, and customer service.
• Understand current and future business environment and industry trends to, through Distribution, prioritize, target, and effectively retain current customers and sell to new ones.
• Understand and accurately communicate the key attributes and advantages of Axalta products and services through designed proposals.
• Pioneer new, innovative opportunities and take on challenges that will contribute the market’s success.
• Consistently conduct periodic follow-up meetings with distributors to achieve desired results.
• Maintain a balance between building strong and collaborative relationships with distributor while keeping Axalta’s interests and goals as a top priority.
• Ensure and facilitate proper usage of Axalta’s CRM software.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree and/or 7+ years of Automotive Refinish industry experience required or 5+ years in aftersales automotive Market (tire business, oil business, …)
• 5+ years of selling and retention experience with a track record of hitting or exceeding goals.
• Experience selling to or managing relationships with top-tier customers / distributors preferred.
• Strong business acumen / financial, or at least basic notions of profitability and business case building / Result oriented.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, relationship building and presentation skills.
• Basic oral and written English knowledge (fluency would be a preference).
• Must possess strong organizational, interpersonal and time management skills.
• Must have strong work ethic and self-discipline.
• Versatility to flex into different positions.
• Must be willing to travel extensively, up to 50% of the time and, ideally, being open to an eventual move to other location.

4 - Sales Workers (EEO-1 Job Categories-United States of America)