Sales Director

Vacancy No 5623

Vacancy Title Sales Director

Location UK, Ireland & Europe

CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH

Roof Coatings | Management Team

Take the commercial lead of a specification leader, defend its ground and take it into new markets.

Our client is an independent, Midlands-headquartered manufacturer of high-performance coatings for the repair and refurbishment of commercial roofs and cladding. For almost three decades it has been the name surveyors and contractors trust in its niche: technically proven products, long-term guarantees and hands-on site support, sold through specification and delivered by a network of approved contractors. It is a close-knit, financially robust SME with a strong reputation, and its newly launched flat roof system opens up a much larger market.

Competition has arrived, and the business is moving from technical-led to sales-led. The management team wants to grow the value of the company significantly over the next five years, at home and across Ireland and Europe. This is the hire that makes it happen.

THE ROLE IN A LINE

Own the commercial agenda across the UK, Ireland and Europe: set the sales strategy, lead the team, widen the contractor and specifier base and open new markets, as part of a three-strong management team reporting to the Managing Director.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

* Strategy and growth: own the three-year sales strategy and annual plan (revenue, margin, customer mix and channel), with targets and a monthly forecast the management team can rely on.

* Specification: grow the brand's presence on refurbishment specifications with surveyors and specifiers, and run CPD seminars and webinars as a real pipeline that converts into orders.

* Contractor network: recruit and activate new approved contractors in every region, win back lapsed accounts and grow share with existing ones, so the business relies less on a few big customers.

* New markets: build and deliver the entry plan for Ireland and priority European markets through contractors, distributors or partners, and lead the commercial roll-out of the flat roof system.

* Compete to win: track competitor activity and pricing, and lead a confident response that protects key accounts and the brand.

* Lead the team: coach and hold to account the sales, business development and client relationship team, set a consistent operating rhythm and shape the structure as it grows.

* Commercial discipline: own pricing, discounting and margin, run the pipeline through CRM and reporting, and direct marketing so it generates qualified leads.

YOUR FIRST YEAR

* First 90 days: meet the key contractors, surveyors and the whole team; review customers, pipeline, pricing and competitors; agree the plan, targets and operating rhythm with the MD.

* Six months: a steady weekly and monthly sales rhythm, new contractors trading, a recovery plan for lapsed accounts and an agreed Ireland and Europe entry plan.

* Twelve months: revenue and margin on or ahead of plan, a broader customer base, the first Ireland or Europe partners trading and a team built for the next phase.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Essential

* A proven record of sales leadership and revenue growth in building products: roofing, coatings, waterproofing or the wider building envelope.

* Specification selling to surveyors, specifiers or architects, converting specifications into orders through contractors.

* Experience of building and managing contractor or installer networks, and of leading a field sales team.

* Strong planning, pricing, negotiation and forecasting skills, with the discipline to execute week by week.

* A hunter's mindset, the technical credibility to earn respect on site and in the surveyor's office, and the resilience to lead hands-on in an SME where the leader also sells.

* A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel extensively in the UK, Ireland and Europe, including overnight stays.

A real plus

* Liquid-applied roofing, roof refurbishment coatings or corrosion treatment experience.

* Opening export markets (ideally Ireland or Europe) and recruiting and managing distributors.

* Board or senior management experience in an SME, and leading the shift from technical-led to sales-led.

* Knowledge of product certification, guarantees and CPD delivery; a second European language.

WHY THIS ROLE STANDS OUT

Ownership

* Full ownership of the commercial agenda, with a seat on a small management team alongside the MD and Technical Director.

A brand that opens doors

* Lead a respected, specification-led brand with proven products, long…