Technical Sales Manager

Cloud 9 has been exclusively retained by an established corrugated board manufacturer to appoint an experienced Technical Sales Manager.

This is primarily a strategic technical account management role, taking responsibility for a portfolio of established customers across the North of England. The focus will be on developing strong, multi-level relationships, protecting existing business and ensuring customers receive proactive technical and commercial support.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who combines strong customer relationship skills with a practical understanding of corrugated packaging and conversion operations.

Working closely with customers and internal teams, you will act as an important link between the market and the manufacturing operation. You will understand customer requirements, communicate proactively, help resolve service or quality issues and ensure customer feedback is represented internally.

There will be opportunities to develop existing accounts, although this is not a heavily targeted new business/ new accounts role. The emphasis is on building trusted, long-term partnerships and supporting sustainable, profitable account growth with people at all levels, whilst also developing new business opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a portfolio of established customers across the North of England.

• Build strong relationships at multiple levels within customer organisations.

• Visit customers regularly to review service, quality, specifications, quotations and ongoing projects.

• Provide proactive technical and commercial support, anticipating customer needs and following through on agreed actions.

• Take ownership of complaints, rejections and quality concerns, working closely with production and technical colleagues to achieve a professional resolution.

• Bring customer feedback, market intelligence and commercial insight back into the manufacturing operation.

• Identify appropriate opportunities for account development, value improvement and supply-chain efficiencies.

• Work collaboratively with production, operational and commercial stakeholders across the business.

About You

We are looking for an experienced technical sales account management professional with a strong understanding of the corrugated or carton packaging market.

You will be:

• An accomplished relationship builder, able to develop trust and credibility with people at every level.

• Proactive, commercially aware and comfortable working autonomously.

• Experienced in field-based sales, technical sales or strategic account management within a manufacturing-led environment.

• Confident handling direct and sometimes direct conversations relating to service, quality, complaints and accountability.

• Customer focused, responsive and personally accountable forseeing actions through to completion.

• Comfortable working closely with production and becoming a trusted part of the wider operational team.

• Able to understand the customer’s operation and translate their requirements clearly to internal stakeholders.

A Strong Technical Background

Our client is particularly interested in candidates who have a strong understanding of how a corrugated conversion or sheet plant operates.

You may have started your career in machine operation, production or operational management before progressing into a customer-facing sales or account management role.

Knowledge of corrugated board grades, sheet-feeding or casemaking operations, conversion machinery, single wall and double wall products would be highly advantageous but are not essential.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• A rare opportunity to join a market-leading business with state-of-the-art manufacturing sites and a forward-thinking, entrepreneurial and genuinely collaborative culture.

• High basic salary and company car.

• A largely established customer portfolio with very limited emphasis on cold new business development.

• The autonomy to manage customer relationships while remaining closely connected to the manufacturing operation.

• A visible and influential role within an established corrugated packaging business.

• The opportunity to combine technical knowledge, commercial awareness and relationship management.

Location

This is a home-based, field sales position covering the North of England, with regular customer and site travel. Candidates may live in the North or East Midlands, provided they can travel comfortably throughout the region. Occasional wider UK travel will also be required.

Interested?

Cloud 9 is managing this assignment on an exclusively retained basis. All applications and initial conversations will be handled in strict confidence.

Please apply with a copy of your CV by 17 August 2026. Further information regarding the company and remuneration package will be shared with suitably qualified candidates following an initial confidential conversation.

If you have not received a response within seven days of applying, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

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