Job Description:
Sales Manager –
Polymer Commodities & Trading
Location: Madrid, Spain
Full-time | Polymer Trading & Distribution
Astrantia Talent is recruiting on behalf of an established international distributor and trader of polymers and chemical raw materials.
As part of the continued development of its Spanish business, our client is looking for an experienced Sales Manager with a strong commodity polymers and trading background to develop its activities across Madrid and the wider Spanish market.
This is not purely an account management position. We're looking for someone who understands the pace and commercial dynamics of polymer trading — buying and selling materials, following market movements, negotiating margins and volumes, spotting opportunities and developing business on both the customer and supplier side.
The Role
You will take commercial ownership of a portfolio of commodity polymers, developing existing business while actively creating new trading opportunities.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Sell commodity polymers across the Spanish market
- Develop sales volumes and profitability across an existing portfolio of polymer products
- Identify new customers, suppliers and trading opportunities
- Prospect plastics converters, manufacturers, distributors and other relevant market participants
- Negotiate purchase and sales prices, volumes, payment terms and Incoterms
- Manage spot business as well as recurring contractual volumes
- Follow polymer pricing, availability, supply and demand and wider market developments
- React quickly to changes in market conditions and identify commercially attractive opportunities
- Manage margins and contribute directly to the profitability of your portfolio
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, producers, suppliers and other trading partners
- Develop the company's local polymer distribution and trading activities
- Manage commercial transactions from initial negotiation through to delivery and payment
- Work closely with logistics and internal support teams to coordinate orders and supply
- Follow up commercial claims, payment issues and outstanding invoices where required
- Maintain accurate commercial and trading information within internal ERP/CRM systems
Your Profile
We're particularly interested in candidates who already operate within the polymer commodities market and understand how to create business rather than simply manage an established customer base.
Ideally, you will bring:
- Minimum 5 years' commercial experience within polymers, plastics or petrochemical raw materials
- Strong experience in commodity polymer sales, distribution and/or trading
- A good understanding of major commodity polymer markets such as PE, PP, PVC, PS and/or PET
- Experience buying and selling polymer raw materials in a commercially driven environment
- Strong understanding of pricing, margins, supply and demand and market fluctuations
- Confidence negotiating with both customers and suppliers
- An established understanding of the Spanish plastics and polymer market
- Ability to identify and convert spot and longer-term trading opportunities
- Good knowledge of Incoterms and international trade
- Strong commercial judgement and a genuinely entrepreneurial approach
- Confidence working independently and taking ownership of your own business portfolio
- Experience using ERP/CRM systems
A degree in International Trade, Business, Chemicals, Polymers or a related field is advantageous, but relevant industry and trading experience is more important.
Languages
- Fluent Spanish
- Fluent English
Additional European languages would be advantageous.
The Opportunity
This role would suit someone who enjoys the commercial side of polymer markets: watching prices, talking to customers and suppliers, negotiating deals and finding the opportunity between supply and demand.
You might currently be working as a Polymer Trader, Commodity Trader, Sales Manager, Commercial Manager, Polymer Sales Trader or Account Manager within a polymer producer, distributor or trading business.
If commodities are your world and you know how to turn market knowledge into profitable business, I'd love to hear from you.
Interested?
Contact Jenny at Astrantia Talent for a confidential conversation.
jenny@astrantiatalent.com
+49 176 31196980
Astrantia Talent
Plastics Polymers Chemicals Recycling & Circular Economy Recruitment