Sales Director

Purpose of the Job

The Sales Director will be a pivotal member of the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive sales strategy that drives profitable growth across all Showersave product lines. This role demands visionary leadership, exceptional team management, and a deep understanding of market dynamics to exceed ambitious sales targets, expand market share, and cultivate enduring customer relationships.

1. Strategic Sales Leadership & Growth:

• Direct and lead the development and delivery of a robust, long-term sales strategy for profitable growth, contributing actively to the overall business development. 
• Develop and implement initiatives to identify and penetrate new sales channels and routes to market, broadening Showersave's reach.
• Drive the achievement or exceeding of budgeted sales targets and margins across all product groups within the Showersave range.
• Identify and capitalise on actual and prospective business opportunities, skillfully negotiating trading terms that benefit the company.

2. Team Leadership & Performance Management:

• Provide inspirational leadership, motivation, and clear direction to the sales team.
• Set challenging, yet achievable, goals and objectives for the team, ensuring alignment with regional and company-wide strategic objectives. 
• Manage and support the sales team to effectively implement Showersave's sales strategies, optimise key customer processes, and consistently fulfill agreed volume and turnover objectives.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, manage Personal Development Plans (PDPs), and oversee all sales-related training in line with company policy, ensuring continuous skill development (e.g., selling skills, product knowledge, enterprise knowledge).
• Address underperformance promptly and constructively, providing the necessary support and guidance.

3. Customer Relationship Management & Market Expansion:

• Lead, manage, and motivate the sales team to maintain and aggressively develop existing and new customer relationships, optimising their portfolio and territory management according to agreed sales development strategies.
• Personally maintain and strengthen high-level relationships with key accounts, buying groups, and agents, including cultivating director-level connections within customer organisations. 
• Champion a strong, proactive, and target-driven sales culture across all sales functions.

4. Market Intelligence & Product Development: 

• Maintain a detailed, up-to-date knowledge of all Showersave products, their respective markets, competitor activity, emerging trends, and evolving customer and distributor needs.
• Utilise market intelligence to inform and develop innovative sales and marketing strategies. 
• Proactively identify industry trends and changes to pinpoint opportunities for developing Showersave products and applications that reflect the evolving needs of the building industry.

5. Brand Management & Representation:

• Maintain and develop Showersave’s corporate image and reputation, actively protecting and promoting the Company’s brand through suitable PR activities.
• Represent Showersave professionally at various industry events, which may frequently involve evening and weekend attendance.
• Plan and execute/support local marketing activities within agreed budgets and timescales, ensuring full integration with broader marketing campaigns.

6. Operational Excellence & Compliance: 

• Ensure personal costs and team costs are rigorously controlled in line with or below budget.
• Promote and embed a robust Health & Safety culture in the workplace, displaying excellent personal safety and proactively challenging unsafe behaviour. Ensure all direct reports are fully aware of and adhere to company Health & Safety guidelines.
• Instil and maintain a pervasive customer-first service culture across the entire sales function, prioritising both internal and external customer satisfaction. 
• Ensure effective and transparent departmental and cross-departmental communication at all times. 

Carry out any other reasonable tasks deemed necessary for the position, adapting to the company's expansion and evolving market conditions.

Skills & Experience:

Essential:

• Proven Leadership: A minimum of  5-7 years of progressive sales leadership experience, with at least 3 years at a senior management level, ideally within the renewable energy, building materials, HVAC, construction, waste water management sector.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and deliver successful sales strategies that drive significant revenue growth and market share.
• A strong track record of achieving and exceeding challenging sales targets and managing profit margins effectively.
• Proven experience in managing, motivating, mentoring, and developing high-performing sales teams (both internal and external).
• Exceptional ability to build and nurture strong, lasting relationships at all levels, from individual customers to director-level contacts within key accounts and buying groups.
• Deep understanding of market dynamics, competitor landscapes, and customer needs within the [e.g., building/construction/renewable energy] industry.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively.
• Strong understanding of sales forecasting, budgeting, and cost control.
• IT Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in CRM systems and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Full, clean UK driving licence and willingness to travel extensively nationally, and occasionally internationally, to meet business needs and attend industry events (including evenings and weekends).

Desirable:

• Degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field.
• Formal sales management or leadership qualifications.
• Experience with specific products or technologies relevant to Showersave's offering.
• Proven experience in developing and leveraging new routes to market.

Established in 1989, Keystone Group is a fast paced, rapidly growing construction product manufacturer.  Now comprising 8 businesses, the company is a major player in the supply of structural steel solutions and offsite building components to the construction sector in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence in export markets. With a strong focus on innovation the company has grown to its present position in the marketplace by establishing a reputation for reliable supply of quality specialist products.