REQUIREMENTS
Location: Cologne, Germany
Working arrangement: 100% on-site, no remote work
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Languages:
· French: minimum B2 level – required
· English: minimum B2 level is a plus
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Our client is a French company with international operations, specializing in chemical safety and decontamination. Its German subsidiary, based in Cologne, supports around 3,500 B2B customers with a local team of approximately 15 employees.
This is an office-based B2B customer relationship and commercial position. You will manage a large portfolio of German companies, mainly through phone-based interactions.
A significant part of the role involves anticipating and managing product renewals and replacements. The company’s approach is consultative: understand first, recommend second. It is based on active listening and in-depth questioning, rather than price negotiation.
Within two to three years, the role is expected to evolve towards broader commercial responsibilities, with the opportunity to progress to a Head of Sales position.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Customer Relationships and Renewals
- Proactively manage an established portfolio of German B2B customers.
- Develop long-term relationships through regular phone-based contact.
- Ensure customer satisfaction and provide reliable follow-up.
- Monitor product expiration dates.
- Anticipate and coordinate product renewals and replacements.
- Work closely with trainers, external sales representatives and internal teams.
- Support the organization of customer events.
Needs Analysis and Account Development
- Practise active listening to understand each customer’s situation.
- Ask detailed and relevant questions to identify customer needs and risks.
- Recommend the most appropriate products and services.
- Explain their technical value and benefits clearly.
- Identify relevant opportunities for additional products and services.
- Prepare quotations and follow up on customer needs.
CRM and Commercial Performance
- Maintain accurate customer information in the CRM and databases.
- Monitor customer activity, renewals and portfolio performance.
- Analyse defined KPIs and take appropriate follow-up actions.
- Provide regular commercial reporting.
Profil
PROFILE
Experience and Technical Skills
- At least three years’ experience in a telephone-based customer-facing role.
- Experience in Customer Success, Account Management, customer service or a service-oriented call centre.
- Consultative B2B sales experience is an advantage
- Experience managing customer relationships, renewals or a large portfolio is highly valued.
- Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Chemistry, Physics or another scientific field.
- Experience in a chemical, pharmaceutical, medical device, industrial or technical environment is preferred.
- Languages: German at C2 or native level is mandatory, French at B2 level is required, English at B2 level is an advantage.
- Good command of Excel, CRM systems, customer databases and KPIs.
Personal Qualities
- Excellent active listening and questioning skills.
- Strong customer and service orientation.
- Ability to understand before recommending a solution.
- Clear and credible communication.
- Curiosity and willingness to develop technical expertise.
- Structured, proactive and attentive to detail.
- Comfortable following processes and managing a large customer portfolio.
- Able to collaborate effectively with technical and commercial teams.
- Motivated to build a long-term career in Cologne and progress towards a leadership role.
Informations contractuelles
WHAT WE OFFER
- Fixed salary of €45,000 to €55,000, depending on experience.
- Annual profit-sharing scheme, historically equivalent to approximately one to one and a half months’ salary.
- Salary review after the first successful year.
- Health coverage.
- Comprehensive product and sales training.
- A structured career path towards a management position.
- Long-term development within a stable and growing international company.
