Full-Time

Regional Sales Manager

Metalworking & CASE

Posted on 4/4/2026

Vantage

Vantage

501-1,000 employees

Manufactures naturally derived specialty ingredients

Compensation Overview

$120k - $180k/yr

+ Short-Term Incentive

Illinois, USA

Remote

Remote role; travel 30-50% required; must be near a major airport in Illinois.

Category
Sales & Account Management (1)
Required Skills
Sales
Forecasting
Financial analysis
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, business or related sciences is preferred
  • 7 to 10 years of experience in building strong relationships with key decision-makers in the non-ionics surfactants and oleochemicals specifically Esters, Polysorbates, and Alkoxylates
  • Proven success and experience in sales and prospecting, specifically new business development within specific oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, alkoxylates and derivatives produced from these chemistries) or the ester (polyethylene glycol) markets
  • Demonstrated ability to drive new business and overcome challenges
  • Technical proficiency and knowledge in relevant industry
  • Understanding of industry trends and the company's product portfolio
  • Track record of successfully leading and executing high-impact sales initiatives
  • Financial acumen with responsibility for EBITDA/OR CM
  • Effective time management, prioritization, and decision-making skills
Responsibilities
  • Create, manage, and attain sales and gross margin targets for the assigned accounts, in markets such as metal-working, CASE, water treatment, Emulsion polymerization, Lubricants, polymer additives, rubber processing and other specialty applications
  • Build and develop new and existing accounts and manage sales opportunities that align with business and account strategies. Heavy focus on generating new business opportunities with relentless determination and self-starter mentality
  • Find and develop new leads for markets such as metal-working, CASE, water treatment, Emulsion polymerization, Lubricants, polymer additives, rubber processing and other specialty applications
  • Actively engage with the Vantage Commercial team to develop account strategies, create pre-call plans, follow-up with post-call reports and actively manage the opportunity funnel with the support of CRM
  • Prepare call reports, forecasts and quarterly presentations for current or new business activity, new products, and other relevant marketing or competitive information
  • Develop, manage, and train distribution network where applicable and recommend changes to distribution network when necessary
  • Provide feedback to the appropriate business functions regarding product performance, new customer or product opportunities and competitive intelligence including pricing data
  • Assist accounting and customer service in collection activities
  • Bring the voice of customers to other stakeholders within the business, i.e., R&D, Project Management, Supply Chain; and stay on top of trends to drive the business
  • Attend Industry events & trade-show attendance / leadership within industry
  • Possess a conversant understanding of relevant technical knowledge while staying informed about industry trends
  • Resolve any issues and problems faced by customers and manage issues to drive Customer First strategy
  • Utilize CRM to write customer call reports, document and foster opportunities, and maintain key customer information as part of a process focused sales development

Vantage Specialty Chemicals makes naturally derived specialty ingredients for personal care, food, consumer goods, and industrial uses. Its products, including fatty acids, emulsifiers, and cosmetic ingredients, are manufactured and formulated across global sites, with formulation brought to life through in-house labs and distributed worldwide. A key differentiator is its vertical, end-to-end control of the supply chain—especially in jojoba—from farming to finished formulations—alongside a broad portfolio across four units: Personal Care, Performance Materials, Oleochemicals, and Foods. The company aims to provide high-quality, consistently available natural ingredients that help customers create safe, effective products while expanding its global footprint through strategic acquisitions.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$900M

Headquarters

Deerfield, Illinois

Founded

2008

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Apollo and Silver Point refinanced debt with $900 million loan in 2025.
  • Vantage launched SIMPLY KAKE emulsifier in 2023 for clean-label baking.
  • Vantage expands taurate capacity at Leuna site to meet bio-surfactant demand.

What critics are saying

  • S&P withdrew 'CCC+' rating on Vantage in 2025 due to distress.
  • Fitch revised outlook negative in 2024 from weak performance and high leverage.
  • BASF erodes Vantage's oleochemical share with lower-cost bio-surfactants.

What makes Vantage unique

  • Vantage vertically integrates jojoba production from farming to formulations.
  • Vantage offers over 2,000 naturally derived oleochemical products across four units.
  • Vantage acquired Leuna-Tenside in 2018 to expand EMEA natural chemistries.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

401(k) Company Match

Company News

Bloomberg L.P.
Sep 13th, 2025
Apollo, Silver Point Lead $900 Million Private Loan to Vantage

Apollo Global Management Inc. and Silver Point Capital led a roughly $900 million direct loan to Vantage Specialty Chemicals to replace the company’s existing bank-arranged financing, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

WhaTech
Oct 9th, 2024
Specialty Food Ingredients Global Market Report 2024 Size And Forecast In The New Analysis By Leading Research Firm

To meet evolving consumer preferences, companies like Vantage Specialty Chemicals are launching innovative products such as the SIMPLY KAKE emulsifier, designed to support clean label goals while achieving superior baking results.

Airport X News
Jul 15th, 2024
Vantage Group Appoints Karen Ali COO at JFK Millennium Partners

Vantage Group appoints Karen Ali COO at JFK Millennium Partners.

Cosmetics Business
Dec 1st, 2023
Vantage Personal Care

In 2019 Vantage acquired Textron Plimon, S.L.U., leading supplier of vegetable oils for the personal care, food and chemical industries.

PR Newswire
Sep 13th, 2023
Vantage® Launches "Effortless Color" Formulation Collection for Multifunctional Color Cosmetic Essentials

DEERFIELD, Ill. , Sept. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage has just introduced "Effortless Color," a collection of eight color cosmetic formulations building on consumer trends for multifunctional products.

INACTIVE