Vice President - Surface Treatment / Cleaner & Lubricants
Detroit, MI, USA
USD 190k-220k / year + Equity
Posted on Jun 18, 2026
About this Position At Henkel, you’ll be part of an organization that’s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persil®, ‘all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and our cutting-edge technologies, you’ll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow.
This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit – where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings.
Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel. What you´ll do
Henkel does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Henkel property and therefore, Henkel will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral.
Henkel is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.
This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit – where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings.
Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel. What you´ll do
- Develops, executes and delivers regional sales strategy (short-/mid and long term) that align with business goals
- Allocates, directs and collaborates with internal resources to execute account strategy
- Coordinate execution of customer roadmap and ensures closure of sales projects
- Lead, coaches and develops the global and regional Sales team to create a high performing sales culture
- Deliver sales project pipeline and optimize sales mix to achieve/overachieve sales targets
- Analyze financial KPIs and proactively steer financial performance of ST/C&L segment including defining customer specific pricing actions and supporting regional negotiations
- Manages and updates a joint innovation roadmap with customers and develop unique business model to drive growth, customer approvals and push upstream solution selling
- Establishes and shares customer intelligence with stakeholders
- Develops sustainable strong customer and cross-functional relationships
- Ensures correct manufacturing footprint and CAPEX investments are made to support focus segment growth
- Investigates M&A targets and develop and execute M&A strategy for focus segment
- Bachelor of Science in a technical or business discipline is required, MBA preferrable
- 5+ years of experience with regional and global tiered Automotive suppliers with relevant sales experience with a focus on technical and solution selling
- Recent commercial experience in Surface Treatment/Cleaners and Lubricants strongly preferred
- 5+ years of experience managing a dynamic, sales focused team
- Proven team lead with track record in change management and development of a high performing (sales) culture
- Demonstrated success in the development and execution of strategic initiatives resulting in sales growth
- Outstanding communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship-building skills
- Fast, agile learner versatile in crisis management
- Strong financial acumen including sales forecasting
- Able to travel regularly (predominantly United States/Mexico and Canada but also globally) – approximately 40%
- Health Insurance: affordable plans for medical, dental, vision and wellbeing starting on day 1
- Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including sick, vacation, holiday and volunteer time, flexible & hybrid work policies (depending on role), and vacation buy / sell program
- Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares, annual performance bonus, service awards and student loan reimbursement
- Family Support: 12-week gender neutral parental leave (up to 20 weeks for parents giving birth), fertility support, adoption & surrogacy reimbursement, discounted child and elderly care, and scholarships
- Career Growth: diverse national and international growth opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement
Henkel does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Henkel property and therefore, Henkel will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral.
Henkel is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.
