Sales Director

Rutherford Briant Recruitment; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary with bonus

Car allowance

Company pension scheme

Collaborative environment

Opportunities to build a high‑perform‑

Industry networking opportunities

Shape and grow the commercial function

Job summary

Rutherford Briant Recruitment is recruiting a Sales Director to lead its commercial and sales functions. This senior role drives revenue growth, strengthens customer relationships, and sets the strategic direction for the sales and commercial teams.

You will develop and execute the sales strategy, manage high-performing teams, and partner with senior executives to steer business performance, risk and opportunities across the manufacturing sector in the UK.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior sales, commercial or business development role, ideally from a manufacturing background.
• A strong track record of achieving revenue and commercial targets.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• A proactive, entrepreneurial approach to identifying new opportunities.
• The ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and making commercially focused decisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the sales and commercial strategy to drive revenue and profitability.
• Lead, manage and motivate the sales and commercial teams, setting clear targets and monitoring performance.
• Identify and convert new business opportunities through networking, prospecting and strategic relationship building.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers to maximise retention and growth.
• Oversee sales forecasting, tenders, contracts and commercial negotiations.
• Work closely with senior leadership and other departments to manage commercial risks, control costs and improve business performance.
• Monitor market trends, customer needs and competitor activity to identify new opportunities and maintain a competitive edge.

Skills

Senior sales leadership

Target achievement

Communication

Negotiation

Relationship building

Commercial awareness

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Job description

We are working with an established and growing business to recruit a Sales Director to lead its commercial and sales functions.

This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for driving revenue growth, strengthening customer relationships and identifying new opportunities, while providing strategic direction and leadership to the wider sales and commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the sales and commercial strategy to drive revenue and profitability.
• Lead, manage and motivate the sales and commercial teams, setting clear targets and monitoring performance.
• Identify and convert new business opportunities through networking, prospecting and strategic relationship building.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers to maximise retention and growth.
• Oversee sales forecasting, tenders, contracts and commercial negotiations.
• Work closely with senior leadership and other departments to manage commercial risks, control costs and improve business performance.
• Monitor market trends, customer needs and competitor activity to identify new opportunities and maintain a competitive edge.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a senior sales, commercial or business development role, ideally from a manufacturing background
• A strong track record of achieving revenue and commercial targets.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• A proactive, entrepreneurial approach to identifying new opportunities.
• The ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and making commercially focused decisions.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary with a strong annual bonus
• Car allowance
• Company pension scheme
• Collaborative and supportive working environment
• Opportunity to build and develop a high-performing sales team
• Company events and industry networking opportunities
• Opportunity to shape and grow the commercial function

If you're an experienced sales director looking for your next opportunity, we'd love to hear from you.

Rutherford Briant is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion. We seek individuals from the widest talent pool and encourage underrepresented talent to apply to vacancies with us. We are committed to recruitment processes that are fair for all, regardless of background and personal characteristics.