Sales Director

Are you ready to take commercial ownership of a growing aerospace aftermarket opportunity and drive deals from technical strength to closed wins? CAV Systems are looking for an experienced Sales Director to lead their MRO and aftermarket focus within a progressive aerospace business that designs and supplies high-performance components and systems.

CAV pride themselves on innovation, integrity and teamwork. You’ll join a forward-thinking organisation that values collaboration, continuous improvement and giving talented people the autonomy to shape strategy. With a clear path to SLT / VP level for the right candidate, a new CRM system ready to be shaped, and significant untapped aftermarket value to pursue, this is a genuine opportunity to make a measurable impact.

As Sales Director you will report into the leadership team and take primary ownership of commercial performance, with a roughly 70% focus on MRO / aftermarket and 30% support to OEM relationships. You’ll:

• Build and execute a clear sales roadmap for current products and aftermarket opportunities, improving enquiry conversion and helping unlock ~£5m of aftermarket potential over 2–3 years.
• Stay close to customer timelines, influence commercial proposals and pricing, and push deals over the line where engineering solutions have stalled.
• Develop strong relationships with MROs, fleet operators, service centres and end-users (predominantly US market, with limited European activity).
• Direct, coach and develop a mixed team of Sales Managers (US and UK), Marketing and MPS / Customer Services colleagues.
• Shape the introduction and everyday use of a new CRM system.
• Collaborate proactively with technical, commercial and group stakeholders on bids, NREs, pricing and knowledge-sharing.
• Support trade shows and product demonstrations while keeping day-to-day priority on current products and aftermarket growth.
• Contribute to the company’s overall growth target of at least 10% and operate with commercial autonomy within agreed boundaries.

Travel is expected at around one week per month on average (higher in the early period and around air-show season). The role is UK office-based when not travelling.

A commercially sharp sales leader with:

• Proven aerospace / general-aviation industry knowledge and experience.
• Strong people-management experience across varied roles (sales, customer service and related functions) – not just pure sales teams.
• Demonstrable ability to close deals, originate commercial ideas and build a clear sales roadmap.
• Experience selling first- or second-tier components or systems into OEMs and then into the aftermarket / MRO / fleet environment.
• A strategic mindset: able to stay out of the weeds, delegate effectively, coach others and operate at Director level from day one.
• (Preferable) Existing Director-level experience, marketing awareness, or previous CRM involvement.

We are looking for someone who brings energy, commercial judgement and proactive ideas immediately, someone who does not get stuck in the detail and who can manage a mixed team with confidence.