Sales Manager

Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday with flexi-time
Sector: Structural Steel / Construction

Are you an experienced Sales Manager with a background in structural steel, construction or a related engineering environment?

This is an exciting opportunity to join an established, employee-owned structural steel business with a strong reputation across the industry and ambitious plans for continued growth.

With a strong portfolio of high-profile projects and established relationships with major principal contractors, the business is looking for a commercially driven Sales Manager to lead the sales function, develop new opportunities and strengthen relationships with existing clients.

The Role

As Sales Manager, you will play a key role in driving the continued growth of the business.

Reporting to the Commercial Director, you'll be responsible for developing new business opportunities, managing key client relationships and leading the sales team to ensure the business continues to build a strong and profitable project pipeline.

You'll work closely with the estimating, commercial, engineering and project teams to ensure opportunities are identified, developed and successfully converted into projects.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, managing and developing the Sales team
• Developing and implementing effective sales strategies and targets
• Identifying new business opportunities within the structural steel and construction markets
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with existing clients
• Developing relationships with principal contractors, engineers, architects, consultants and other key stakeholders
• Identifying upcoming projects and getting the business involved at an early stage
• Managing incoming opportunities and ensuring they are followed up effectively
• Working closely with the estimating team to develop and convert tenders
• Supporting the business in securing profitable new projects
• Attending client meetings, pre-tender meetings and post-tender presentations
• Representing the business at industry events and meetings where required
• Monitoring the sales pipeline and providing regular reports to the leadership team
• Setting and monitoring individual and team sales targets
• Reviewing team performance and providing coaching and development
• Identifying opportunities to expand existing client relationships
• Supporting long-term account development and retention
• Working with internal departments to ensure a smooth transition from sales opportunity through to project delivery

The Market

You'll be working within the structural steel and construction sector, developing opportunities across a range of project types and sizes.

The business has an established reputation with principal contractors and has been involved in a number of high-profile projects.

The role will suit someone who understands the structural steel market and knows how to identify where upcoming projects are being developed, who the key decision-makers are and how to position the business to win the work.

Client & Business Development

A major part of the role will be developing and maintaining strong relationships with key clients.

You'll be expected to:

• Build relationships with new and existing clients
• Understand client requirements and buying processes
• Identify future project opportunities
• Develop a strong sales pipeline
• Increase repeat business
• Generate new opportunities
• Understand competitor activity and market trends
• Position the business effectively against competitors
• Work collaboratively with clients to develop solutions that meet their requirements

This is a relationship-led sales role, so strong communication, networking and commercial awareness are essential.

Leadership

This is not simply an individual sales position.

You'll take responsibility for leading and developing the Sales team, setting clear objectives and ensuring the team has the support and direction required to achieve its targets.

You'll regularly review performance, provide feedback and help develop a high-performing sales culture.

The successful candidate will therefore need to be comfortable both winning business personally and leading others to do the same.

What They're Looking For

The ideal candidate will have proven sales or business development experience within structural steel, construction, engineering or a closely related industry.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience in a Sales Manager, Business Development Manager or senior sales role
• Strong knowledge of the structural steel or construction sector
• A proven track record of developing new business
• Experience managing and growing existing client accounts
• Strong relationships with principal contractors and construction professionals
• Experience selling technical or construction-based solutions
• Strong commercial awareness
• Excellent negotiation and presentation skills
• Experience managing, mentoring or developing a sales team
• The ability to identify and develop opportunities from an early stage
• Strong understanding of the construction project lifecycle
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A proactive and commercially driven approach

Experience within structural steel estimating or a technical construction background would be particularly advantageous, as you'll need to understand the commercial and technical requirements behind the projects you're selling.

Why Consider the Role?

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Sales Manager, Business Development Manager or senior structural steel sales professional to take ownership of the sales function within an established and growing business.

You'll have the opportunity to shape the sales strategy, develop key client relationships, grow the project pipeline and play a major role in the company's continued expansion.

The role offers:

• Competitive, negotiable salary
• 37.5-hour working week
• Flexi-time
• Eligibility for a profit-related bonus scheme
• 33 days' holiday including bank holidays
• Contributory pension - employee 3%, company 5%
• Employee discounts through a benefits portal
• Opportunity to work with high-profile structural steel projects
• Long-term career development within an established, employee-owned business

If you're an experienced Sales Manager or Business Development Manager with a background in structural steel, construction or engineering and you're looking for an opportunity to lead a sales function and drive business growth, apply today for more information.