Sales Director - #2158521

Sales Director – Potential Progression to Managing Director

Location: Sheffield Area, with international travel as required

Salary: Competitive, with generous bonus and equity participation

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

About the Role:

We’re recruiting for a commercially astute and ambitious Sales Director to join an established specialist metals business supplying high-performance metals and precision alloys to demanding customers across the UK and international markets.

This is a senior commercial opportunity for someone looking to take the next step towards Managing Director, with responsibility for driving sales growth, developing the existing commercial team and supporting the wider growth strategy of the business.

The business serves a diverse range of end markets, including aerospace, defence, electronics, medical, energy and advanced manufacturing, with a significant proportion of sales generated through export markets.

The successful candidate will have a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach and the commercial drive to identify new opportunities, strengthen existing customer relationships and develop new markets. The role will also provide exposure to wider business leadership, including P&L responsibility, operational oversight and potential acquisition activity.

Key Responsibilities:

Sales & Business Development

• Personally drive new business development, including visiting prospective customers and identifying new commercial opportunities
• Develop and execute ambitious sales strategies to drive growth across multiple markets
• Strengthen and develop key customer relationships across sectors including aerospace, defence, electronics, medical and energy
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue, profitability and market share
• Lead commercial activity across both UK and international markets
• Support the development of new customers, markets and product opportunities
• Take a hands-on approach to sales leadership and business development

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, develop and motivate the existing sales team
• Manage a team of approximately 15 employees across the wider business
• Set clear commercial objectives and ensure the team is focused on delivering agreed targets
• Provide leadership, direction and accountability across the organisation
• Develop a strong performance culture focused on growth, customer service and commercial results

Commercial & Operational Management

• Take ownership of the P&L and drive profitable business growth
• Monitor commercial performance and identify opportunities to improve margins and overall profitability
• Provide oversight of day-to-day operations and ensure appropriate resources are in place across the business
• Ensure processes are followed effectively from lead generation and sales through to order fulfilment and dispatch
• Work closely with operational teams to ensure customer requirements are consistently delivered
• Support the effective management of supply chain, stock inventory and quality processes

Strategic Growth & Acquisitions

• Contribute to the development and execution of the wider business growth strategy
• Identify potential value-added acquisition opportunities
• Support the assessment and due diligence process for potential acquisitions
• Identify opportunities to develop the business through organic growth and strategic expansion
• Work closely with senior stakeholders to help shape the future direction of the business
• Take increasing responsibility for the wider business with potential progression towards Managing Director

Candidate Profile:

• Proven senior sales or commercial leadership experience with a strong track record of delivering sales and profit growth
• Experience within specialist metals, steel, nickel alloys or a related technical/industrial sector, or demonstrable experience selling to corporate customers and OEMs within demanding industrial markets
• Experience working with customers across sectors such as aerospace, defence, electronics, semiconductor, medical, energy or advanced manufacturing
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent numerical and analytical skills
• Proven experience leading, developing and motivating a sales or commercial team
• Experience with international markets and export sales
• Strong understanding of supply chains, stock management and inventory
• Experience working within quality-driven environments, ideally including AS9120 and/or ISO 9001
• Hands-on and entrepreneurial approach, with the ability to operate effectively within a growing SME environment
• Highly driven, competitive and ambitious, with a clear focus on achieving commercial targets
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder, comfortable working with customers, colleagues and senior stakeholders
• Comfortable taking ownership and accountability across a broad range of commercial and operational responsibilities
• Willing to take a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up approach and get involved in the detail where required

Desirable:

• Experience within specialist metals, steel, nickel alloys or a related distribution environment
• Existing relationships within aerospace, defence, electronics, semiconductor, medical or energy markets
• Experience managing an international customer base and significant export sales
• Experience with P&L ownership and wider operational management
• Previous involvement in acquisition identification, due diligence or integration
• Experience within a private equity-backed or acquisitive business
• Previous responsibility for supply chain, inventory and quality management
• Experience operating at Sales Director, Commercial Director, General Manager or similar senior level

What Our Client Offers:

• A senior leadership opportunity within an established and respected specialist metals business
• Competitive base salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Company car
• Pension and health schemes
• Generous performance-related bonus scheme
• Significant capital gain potential through an attractive equity participation scheme
• Opportunity to take increasing responsibility for the wider business with potential progression to Managing Director
• Opportunity to shape the future growth strategy of the business
• Exposure to UK and international markets, organic growth and potential acquisition activity

How to Apply:

If you're an ambitious and commercially driven Sales Director looking for an opportunity to take the next step towards Managing Director within a specialist industrial business, we'd love to hear from you.

About Us:

We are a recruitment agency specialising in commercial, operational, HR and business support appointments across the UK. We partner with growing organisations to connect talented professionals with opportunities where they can make a genuine impact and develop their careers.