Senior Manager Sales Lithium Pacific

Senior Manager SalesLithium Pacific

· Drive our growth for Pacific region

· Leadership and exciting role

· Based in Singapore, global commercial hub forSingapore

Primary Purpose
The Senior Manager Sales Lithium Pacific is a key member of the Lithium Commercial leadership team. Overseeing the large and fast-growing Pacific region and reporting to the VP of Sales & Marketing, Lithium, this role will oversee all aspects of the Pacific region, including sales strategy, strategic accounts, customer & stakeholder management, team development, and cross-functional collaboration.

This position will be instrumental in development and securing new business and turning them into strategic accounts for the business in the Pacific region, especially across the East Asian markets.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sales Leadership

• Develop and execute regional growth strategy, including market penetration, customer acquisition, and commercialization opportunities across the Pacific region with global lithium chemicals, targeting EV battery and energy storage applications

• Set and track regional sales targets, budgets, and KPIs, ensuring alignment with Group and Product Group objectives

• Partner with market analysis team to identify trends, competitive threats, and new opportunities in lithium supply chains

Strategic Account Management & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead acquisition of new strategic customers and establish market presence with emerging battery, cathode and global EV manufacturers and converting them into strategic accounts for the business.

• Identify and develop entry strategies into emerging customer segments, applications and geographies to accelerate regional growth.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, OEMs, battery manufacturers, cathode makers, and strategic partners

• Secure long-term offtake agreements for lithium chemicals, including negotiations on pricing, terms, and prepayment structures, as well as medium-term and short-term agreements

Team Management & Development

• Lead, mentor, and coach a multicultural sales organisation, including sales managers and technical marketing across China, Korea, Japan and Singapore, fostering a high-performance, results-driven culture

• Recruit, onboard, and retain top talent; provide ongoing training in product knowledge, sales methodologies, and industry-specific skills

• Manage performancereviews, quotas, and incentive structures to drive results

• Adroitly manage theteam with keen cultural sensitivity and translating it into a positive outcomefor team and clients

Sales Execution & Pipeline Management

• Oversee full sales cycle from lead generation to deal closure, ensuring a healthy pipeline and predictable revenue

• Manage sales operations, including CRM (e.g., Salesforce), forecasting, and reporting to senior management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with marketing, product, and technical teams to align go-to-market strategies and product positioning

• Work with quality, legal, and operations to structure agreements, licensing, and compliance

• Coordinatetechnical-commercial alignment for product validation and qualification

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree a plus

• 10+ years of commercial experience, including demonstrated success in developing new business and opening new markets, preferably in chemicals, minerals, specialty chemicals, or energy materials

• Sales Leadership experience essential

• Proven track record of developing new business and exceeding sales targets in complex, technical markets

Skills & Competencies

• Commercial: Entrepreneurial with a strong growth mentality. Proven ability tocreate new revenue streams, penetrate new markets and challenge establishedcommercial models

• Strategic planning,negotiation, lead generation, customer relationship management, forecasting

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to partner with multipleteams across Rio Tinto and influencing the stakeholders to explore newclientele horizons which may not have been previously explored.

• Technical: Understanding of lithium chemistry, battery manufacturingprocesses, and EV/energy storage supply chains

• Leadership: Team coaching, performance management, change management

• Analytical: Market research, competitive analysis, data-driven decision-making

• Tools: CRM platforms (Salesforce), Microsoft Office, Excel, market analysis software

Other Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to travel extensively within the region

• Resilience and adaptability in fast-moving, capital-intensive markets

• Strong cultural sensitivity dealing with diverse teams in Pacific, recognising and expertly managing the similarities and differences of different markets.

Industry Fit

• Experience in lithium, battery materials, or sustainable energy sectors is highly valued

• Ability to navigate global supply chain dynamics and geopolitical factors affecting lithium availability

• Prior working experience with East Asian battery materials, battery manufacturers, or EV players will be highly advantageous