Sales Manager – Chemical and Physical Testing

Sales Manager - Chemical and Physical Testing

Are you an experienced senior sales professional with team management expertise? Have you been successful selling within the scientific services industry?

Our client are a rapidly growing and innovative business who deliver specialist chemical and physical testing services for a wide range of clients within the Pharma, Food & Beverage and Cosmetics industries, amongst a range of others. Due to growth, they are now looking to hire a Sales Manager to join and lead their friendly and supportive commercial team. This role will play an integral part in taking the business from £1.1m to £5m over the next 5 years.

You will look to develop and improve sales strategy in order for commercial activities to be less reliant on the company founder. This is a hands‑on sales role and you will look after selling as well as team management, with a multitude of warm accounts to manage from day 1.

• The successful candidate will inherit existing customer accounts as well as a strong pipeline of opportunities. The suitable incumbent will be responsible for managing and leading a small sales team as well as look to manage accounts and develop new business.
• You will ensure the CRM is cleansed and improved, be responsible for pipeline inspection, ensuring accountability is upheld for the sales team, lead qualification, quote follow‑ups, forecasting, opening up dormant accounts and generating new business.
• You will be required to contribute to revenue by looking after specific verticals, strategic accounts, and high‑value opportunities.
• You will look to protect existing revenue, maintain client relationships and land warm opportunities. This is hands‑on selling and account management from day one.
• The role is about building a repeatable, well‑run sales operation—pipeline discipline, forecasting, coaching and accountability.
• This is a practical, hands‑on role in a founder‑led SME. The person must be able to think commercially, manage people, inspect detail, coach deals, improve process, and personally sell.

The role is based at the site in Hampshire. Working pattern is primarily office based but hybrid working is an option. There will be some travel to exhibitions in the UK and overseas as well as travel to client sites, although this isn’t a field sales role.

• You will have extensive experience selling technical products or services to Research & Development, formulation, QA/QC, engineering, manufacturing, scientific or technical decision‑makers.
• You will have experience managing and leading sales teams.
• You should also be hands‑on and practical with strong accountability.
• Be comfortable with utilising a CRM efficiently and ensuring best‑practice is shared with the team for housekeeping.
• Experience in scientific instruments, analytical services, contract testing, materials testing, technical consultancy and speciality chemicals would be highly relevant.
• You should be experienced in technical B2B selling but also be good at coaching salespeople and getting the best out of a sales team.
• Be comfortable working with scientists, engineers and technical experts.
• Be confident enough to challenge the team constructively.

You will be rewarded with a friendly, inclusive working environment, with the opportunity to lead and make a real difference to the commercial achievements of the company. As well as a £70k–£85k basic salary, strong OTE/bonus, quarterly profit bonus and planned EMI share options. This is a great opportunity to join a profitable specialist SME with a strong reputation, deep CRM, existing customer base, high growth potential and possible route to Sales Director.