Sales Manager - Containerboard

Position Overview
Following a £1bn transformation into the UK's largest state-of-the-art recycled containerboard facility, Shotton
Mill is seeking a commercially astute and relationship-led Sales Manager to support the growth of our
containerboard and corrugated packaging business.
 
This strategic commercial role will focus on securing long-term supply contracts for our high-capacity PM3
containerboard and packaging solutions, working with major corrugated box manufacturers, independent
sheet plants, integrated packaging groups and wider paper packaging customers.
The successful candidate will combine strong sector knowledge with a consultative, customer-focused
approach. They will bring an established network within the containerboard, corrugated and paper packaging
sectors, alongside the commercial capability to manage complex negotiations, high-value accounts and
international sales opportunities.
 
This role will also act as a key link between customers and internal teams, ensuring commercial commitments
are aligned with production, quality, logistics and supply chain capabilities. A strong focus on service
excellence, cross-functional collaboration and long-term account retention will be essential.
 
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Account Management & Growth
- Build, develop and manage high-value relationships with major corrugated box manufacturers,
independent sheet plants, integrated packaging groups and other strategic customers.
- Act as a trusted commercial ambassador for Shotton Mill, using a professional and consultative
approach to secure long-term supply agreements.
- Identify and convert new business opportunities across the UK, Europe and selected global markets.
- Match customer demand with Shotton Mill's high-volume production capabilities, ensuring
commercial growth is sustainable and operationally deliverable.
- Manage complex commercial negotiations, tenders, RFIs, RFQs, pricing structures and volume
forecasts.
- Maintain strong visibility of market activity, customer requirements and competitor
movements to support effective commercial decision-making.
 
Customer Service & Commercial Delivery
- Champion a high-quality, customer-focused service culture across all commercial touchpoints.
- Act as the escalation point for complex customer issues, ensuring prompt resolution and long-term
customer satisfaction.
- Work closely with internal teams to ensure customer commitments are realistic, clearly communicated
and consistently delivered.
- Translate customer feedback into practical improvement actions across production, logistics, quality
and commercial processes.
- Support long-term customer retention by balancing commercial outcomes with service reliability and
customer trust.
 
International Sales & Export Management
- Support and deliver the export sales strategy for containerboard and packaging products across
European and selected global markets.
- Manage international trade requirements, including logistics, customs, tariffs, incoterms and export
documentation.
- Coordinate sales activity across multiple countries, ensuring alignment with regional market dynamics
and company objectives.
- Monitor global market trends, pricing movements, demand patterns and competitor activity to
position Shotton Mill's product portfolio effectively.
- Develop structured cross-border reporting on performance, demand forecasting, pricing, customer
trends and sales pipeline activity.
- Collaborate with international stakeholders across commercial, finance, logistics and supply chain
functions to ensure consistency, governance and effective execution.
 
Cross Functional Collaboration
- Maintain a regular presence at the Deeside facility, with a minimum of 1 day per week on-site, to build
strong alignment with Production, Quality, Supply Chain and Logistics teams.
- Act as the commercial bridge between customers and internal departments, ensuring expectations are
understood and operational realities are clearly communicated.
- Lead regular cross-functional reviews covering forecasting, capacity planning, service performance and
customer requirements.
- Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to prioritise customer needs while maintaining
operational efficiency and commercial discipline.
- Build strong internal relationships and support a "one-team" culture, ensuring shared accountability
for customer outcomes.
- Provide senior leadership with regular reporting on pipeline health, contract status, account
performance and market insight.
- Share customer intelligence and best practice across regions to support continuous improvement and
commercial success.
 
Candidate Profile
Experience & Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 years' B2B sales experience within containerboard, paper packaging, corrugated board,
industrial box-making or a closely related sector.
- Proven experience managing major corporate accounts and negotiating long-term, high-value
commercial agreements.
- Strong understanding of the corrugated packaging supply chain, including box-making, sheet plants,
containerboard grades and customer buying requirements.
- Experience managing international sales, export activity or cross-border distribution, ideally across
European markets.
- Good working knowledge of global freight, incoterms, export documentation, customs requirements
and international logistics.
Investigation Script Page 2 of 3[Şirkete Özel / Internal Only]
- A bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Commercial Management or a related
discipline is highly desirable.
 
Key Skills & Attributes
- Relationship-Led Commercial Approach: Able to build trust, develop senior relationships and maintain
long-term customer partnerships.
- Strong Commercial Acumen: Confident managing pricing, contracts, tenders, forecasts and high-value
negotiations.
- Sector Credibility: Strong technical understanding of containerboard, corrugated packaging and the
wider paper packaging market.
- Corporate Professionalism: Excellent presentation, communication and negotiation skills, with the
confidence to engage at senior and C-suite level.
- Customer Service Mindset: Committed to delivering reliable, high-quality customer outcomes and
resolving issues effectively.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Able to influence and align internal teams across production, supply
chain, quality, logistics and finance.
- International Outlook: Comfortable working across borders, cultures and markets, with structured
communication and reporting disciplines.
- High Mobility & Flexibility: Autonomous, self-motivated and comfortable with regular UK, European
and occasional global travel.
- Collaborative Working Style: Able to build strong internal relationships and contribute to a positive,
accountable and customer-focused culture.
 
What We Offer
- Highly competitive base salary
- Premium company car or fully electric/hybrid vehicle
- Fantastic company pension with 10% employer contribution
- Comprehensive private healthcare for you and your family
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 12 half days pa
- Global career progression opportunities within the multi-billion-pound Eren Holding Group