Sales Representative and Formulating Chemist

This permanent role combines technical formulation expertise with customer-facing sales and product support across the personal care, cosmetic, health and home care manufacturing sectors.

This is a multi-functional position, working across sales, product management support and laboratory formulation within a business-to-business ingredients environment. The role sits within a department that includes product managers, sales representatives and marketing, and supports customers across the sub-Saharan African region from offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with existing manufacturing customers

Growing sales with current clients and identifying and securing new customers

Supporting the product manager with sales activities and account management

Advising research and development chemists on appropriate ingredients for their formulations

Developing formulations in the product development laboratory using raw material ingredients

Preparing scientifically sound marketing materials based on technical data to support commercial outcomes

Communicating regularly with customers, including frequent market visits

Travelling to customers as required and managing your own schedule effectively

Success in this role requires a high level of energy, self-confidence, problem-solving ability, attention to detail and the capacity to manage multiple priorities in a technical sales environment.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Formal scientific or technical qualification in chemistry or a closely related field

Proven experience as a formulating chemist in personal care, cosmetics, health or home care products

Demonstrated sales experience within a technical or scientific context

Strong client service orientation and the ability to build long-term professional relationships

Proficiency in Excel and confidence working with numbers

Clear communication skills and the ability to translate technical data into accessible information

Own vehicle and willingness to travel to customer sites

Highly organised, accurate and detail-focused working style

Confident, self-assured approach with the ability to work independently and within a team

Exposure to product management or marketing in a technical ingredients or cosmetics environment

Experience preparing scientific marketing materials or technical sales documentation

A flair for marketing and communications in a business-to-business setting

Experience working across multiple African markets in a distribution or supplier role

This role is based within an entrepreneurial, owner-managed organisation operating in the cosmetic, personal care, health and home care ingredients sector, supported by a product development laboratory. Positions are described as fluid, with responsibilities tailored to individual strengths, and training provided to develop your skills over time.

The working environment is team-focused, with a family-oriented culture where colleagues support one another and share knowledge to build collective expertise. A positive, willing attitude and the ability to be organised, accurate, confident and creative are regarded as key contributors to long-term success in the business.

Please submit a motivation in a Word document, together with your CV and a copy of your ID, to be considered for this role.