Area Sales Manager - North West

Metsä Wood www.metsagroup.com/metsawood Metsä Wood is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of engineered wood products. We process valuable log wood into environmentally friendly products for construction and transport industry, which are both megatrend-driven businesses of the future. Our main products are Kerto® LVL, birch and spruce plywood and further processed sawn timber. Material-efficient wood products store carbon and play an important role in combating climate change.

In 2021, our sales totalled approximately EUR 0.6 billion, and we have around 1,700 employees. Metsä Wood is part of Metsä Group. This recruitment is carried out anonymously We are looking for: Independent Merchants Area Sales Manager – North West Metsä Wood UK Provide full account management service for our key independent merchant customers, whilst maintaining and developing the profitable growth of softwood, panel products, MDF Mouldings & Sawn Joinery in North / Mid Wales across to West Midlands, up to Cumbria About Metsä Wood UK Metsä Wood UK annual turnover is c.£150m with production volume up to 500,000m³ and the UK entity employs c.400 people across four automated manufacturing and distribution sites: > Boston, Lincolnshire (UK Head Office, 13 hectare site, c.280 staff) softwood planning and MDF processing. > Widnes, Lancashire (8 hectare site, c.80 staff) softwood planning. > King’s Lynn, Norfolk (9 hectare site, c.30 staff) manufacture of Finnjoist i-beams and timber treatment. > Grangemouth, Scotland (9 hectare site, 10 staff) distribution hub. The largest share of revenue is generated though the Merchant and DIY channel. Its Industrial segment includes door and bed manufacturers, whilst the Housebuilder sector serves some key players in the construction market. Metsä Wood UK core products consist of machined softwood, panel products and a range of specialist products such as MDF mouldings. These ranges complement the Group product sales which puts us in a unique position to serve the UK building materials distribution market. About Metsä Group Metsä Group is a Finnish forest industry group, with more than 80 years of history, that operates in international markets. Owned by over 100,000 Finnish forest owners, we use the best renewable raw material in the world – northern wood – responsibly and efficiently. All of the wood raw material we use is fully traceable. Products made from renewable raw materials are in high demand, as competition for natural resources is tight. Our business operations cover the entire value chain for wood. We focus on tissue and cooking papers, paperboard, pulp, wood products, wood supply and forest services. Our strong wood and fibre expertise is concentrated in fields where we have a clear competitive advantage and a bright future. In addition to an excellent raw material, forests provide lots of renewable energy. We are one of the leading producers and users of renewable energy in Finland. Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy are key ways to fight climate change, and they also improve our cost-efficiency and competitiveness. It is well known for its reputation of high-quality products using renewable raw materials, customer-orientation, sustainable development and innovation. In 2018, Metsä Group’s sales totalled c.€5.7bn. The Group employs over 9,000 people, operating in over 30 countries across five core business areas: Metsä Tissue, Metsä Board, Metsä Fibre, Metsä Wood and Metsä Forest, of which 3 have a presence in the UK. With offices throughout the country, Metsä Group employs over 500 people in the UK. The Role We are looking for an Area Sales Manager covering North West of England region for the Independent Merchant business. The successful applicant will be responsible for providing full account management service for our key independent merchant customers, whilst maintaining and developing the profitable growth of softwood, panel products, MDF Mouldings & Sawn Joinery in the given area. You will also need to ensure service levels are met, growth and profitability targets are achieved and long-term trading relationships strengthened and maintained. The role is largely transient although visits to our various sites throughout the UK will also be necessary from time to time. We are looking for someone who will take pride in promoting our product ranges, who will look after the profitability of our merchant accounts and service our valued customers with a sense of innovation, strategy and responsibility. Main Responsibilities are:

• Maximising sales and profitability of account portfolio through formulating and implementing effective account management plans.
• Preparing budget information, short- and long-term forecasts on account growth and development plans.
• Monitoring account performance against budget and implementing action plans to ensure achievement of budget targets.
• Communicating with internal functions within our business to ensure our customers are favourably serviced at every stage of the sales process.
• Working closely with customers’ portfolios to develop growth plans for their business through product and market reviews, as well new ideas and initiatives.
• Developing strong working relationships and understanding with key decision makers in our customers’ businesses.
• Ensuring customer issues are handled efficiently and professionally at all times.
• Utilising reports and information to support effective decision-making and analysis
• Understanding the importance of effective use of CRM
• Analysing product customer and market data to support opportunities for business development with existing and potential customers

Prerequisites:

• Ideally possesses industry experience however essentially, we are looking for an ability to learn, and an ability to sell and negotiate with our customers.
• High levels of sales drive & proven sales performance
• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• High levels of self-motivation, a drive to succeed and sales ability

• Strong influencing and negotiation skills at all levels
• Ability to understand and use financial information to improve profit and volume performance
• A good level of IT literacy, including a sound working knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word & Outlook
• Knowledge of SAP and CRM would be an advantage
• Ideally possesses good level of product knowledge across all Metsä Wood product portfolios

• Good organisational and strategic planning skills
• Flexible team player who is able to use initiative and assist wherever needed
• Experience of and with proven strategies to manage working independently and remotely from the main team
• Excellent time management and journey planning skills
• Can-do attitude with a pragmatic approach
• Must hold a full driving (preferably clean) licence and be prepared for regular travel with or without overnight stays
• Experience of regional travel would be of advantage
• Be prepared to locate or reside close to their area of responsibility

Working Hours

• Flexible to meet the needs of the business. Core hours 37.5 hours per week
• Travel – Regular travel within the designated sales area

We offer an environment that is friendly, welcoming and supportive. We encourage everyone to be the best they can be, working together to achieve great results.
Make the most of Metsä Wood

• Competitive salary
• Bonus
• Car allowance
• Pension

Anonymous recruitment - how it works This recruitment is carried out anonymously. Therefore, the following information will be hidden from the recruiters until the interview stage: name, date of birth, contact details, gender, mother tongue, dates of education and name of the educational institution. Attachments (CVs) are also hidden. HR recruiters have access to the applicants' contact details at the stage when they start inviting applicants for interviews. Our recruiting system will guide you through the application process. You will be asked for personal data, but all the above mentioned information is hidden from the recruiters until the interview stage. The application form includes questions to help you to present your skills and experience anonymously. Please reply to all questions to make your competences and skills visible. You can attach a CV to your application, but it is hidden at the initial stage of the recruitment process. If you are invited for an interview, recruiters will have access to your CV to support the interview. Read more about our anonymous recruitment at https://www.metsagroup.com/careers/work-with-us/anonymous-recruitment/