Company Overview: A long-established, family-owned business with over 50 years of success as a trusted supplier of professional automotive and industrial tools. Known for being innovative and entrepreneurial, the business is seeking a commercially astute and driven Sales Director to lead its sales growth. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced sales leader to make a significant impact within a stable and reputable organisation that values its close-knit, entrepreneurial culture.

Role Objective: The Sales and Business Manager will be responsible for continuing and expanding the sales success of the business within the automotive and industrial tools sectors. This role demands a dynamic and results-oriented individual with a strong commercial mindset and proven profit & loss responsibility. The successful candidate will focus on maintaining and building upon existing successful sales strategies and customer relationships, with a drive and intellectual ability to assume the General Manager role in a short timeframe.

Key Responsibilities:

Sales Growth & Relationship Management: Drive continued sales growth within the automotive and industrial tools markets, focusing on nurturing and maintaining relationships with key customers.

P&L Responsibility/Commercial Acumen: Demonstrate a strong understanding of profit and loss management and possess a commercial mindset focused on delivering "money in the bank" results through effective sales practices.

Outcome-Driven Approach: Prioritize and achieve measurable sales outcomes, not processes.

Operational Learning & Collaboration: Work closely with the current owner to gain a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the business operations, including sales, finance, and strategic planning, to prepare for the transition into the General Manager role.

Hands-on Execution: Take a proactive and hands-on approach to managing sales activities and ensuring the continued success of existing sales initiatives.

Cultural Integration: Seamlessly integrate into the company’s family-oriented culture while respecting and building upon existing successful practices and relationships.

Key Attributes & Skills:

Proven track record of success in senior sales roles, consistently achieving measurable sales outcomes and effectively managing key customer relationships.

Experience within the automotive or industrial tools sector engaging with senior buyers in a B2B setting ideally selling ranges of products rather than single items highly advantageous.

Prior P&L responsibilities and a commercially focused mindset.

Exceptional interpersonal and relationship management skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with clients and internal stakeholders.

Energetic, proactive, and results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and a willingness to take a hands-on approach.

Willingness to learn and understand all facets of the business operations to facilitate a smooth transition into a senior leadership role.

Crucially, experience working within a family-owned business environment is essential. Candidates from large corporate structures are unlikely to align with company culture and hands on, outcome driven focus.

Desirable Experience:

Experience working for companies with an annual turnover between $7 million and $30 million. Candidates whose experience lies outside this range are unlikely to be considered.

Prior experience in a senior sales management role with P&L exposure or responsibility within a similar sized organization.

Established network within the automotive and industrial tools sectors.

Demonstrated ability to maintain and grow sales within an established framework.

Career Pathway: This role offers a clear and accelerated pathway to the position of General Manager. The successful candidate will work closely with the current owner with the expectation of transitioning into broader leadership responsibilities and ultimately taking on the General Manager role within a short timeframe.

To Apply: Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience. It is particularly important that your cover letter details your experience working within small, family-owned businesses, your P&L responsibility and the annual revenue range of those companies. Demonstrating a clear understanding of and experience within this type of business environment in your cover letter is essential for consideration.