Sales Manager

Smiths Interconnect; Elstree; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in high-performance, high-tech products is seeking a skilled technical sales professional for the Defence & Aerospace sector. The role involves developing sales strategies, securing new business, and leveraging technical expertise to maintain strong client relationships. Ideal candidates will possess a background in engineering and demonstrable sales success.

Qualifications

• At least 3-5 years of experience in a technical sales role.
• Experience in the Defence & Aerospace industry is essential.
• Deep understanding of connectors, cable assemblies, and electro-mechanical components.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic sales plans for revenue growth.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients.
• Identify new business opportunities in Defence & Aerospace.

Skills

Technical Sales

Customer Relationship Management

Negotiation Skills

Market Analysis

Solution Selling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Technical professional training

Job description

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• Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve and exceed revenue targets in United Kingdom region.
• Identify and secure new business opportunities, with a focus on high-performance, high-tech products in the Defence & Aerospace sector.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients

Technical Expertise and Solution Selling:

• Leverage deep technical knowledge of connectors, cable assemblies, and electro-mechanical components to provide expert guidance and support to customers.
• Collaborate closely with engineering and product management teams globally to drive product innovation and new product development tailored to market needs.
• Conduct technical presentations and product demonstrations to customers, highlighting the company’s unique selling proposition of high-performance, technology-driven solutions.

Competitor Analysis and Strategic Positioning:

• Analyse market trends and competitor activities, particularly with regard to key competitors
• Position the company's products as superior solutions, emphasizing their quality, performance, and customer-centric features.
• Stay informed on industry developments and emerging technologies to maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Customer Relationship Management:

• Manage and grow existing customer accounts, ensuring continued satisfaction and identifying opportunities for upselling and cross-selling.
• Develop and implement customer-specific strategies to meet their unique needs and applications.
• Regularly engage with clients through visits, meetings, and presentations, requiring a travel frequency of at least 50%

Revenue Growth:

• Target: Significantly increase sales revenue in the Defence & Aerospace markets within United Kingdom
• Expectation: Consistently meet or exceed quarterly and annual sales targets, contributing to the overall revenue growth of the company, which is currently a few million euros but expected to grow significantly.

New Business Acquisition:

• Target: Successfully identify, engage, and close deals with new customers, expanding the company's client base in the high-tech connectors and electro-mechanical components market.
• Expectation: Demonstrate a strong hunting capability by adding a substantial number of new clients, with a particular focus on securing contracts with major industry players.

Market Penetration and Share:

• Target: Increase market share in the Defence & Aerospace sector by positioning the company’s products as preferred solutions over those offered by competitors such as TE, Amphenol, Glenair, and Airborne.
• Expectation: Successfully penetrate niche markets and establish the company as a leading provider of high-performance, technology-driven products.

Customer Retention and Satisfaction:

• Target: Maintain and grow relationships with existing customers, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and loyalty.
• Expectation: Achieve customer retention rates that reflect strong satisfaction, with existing clients, continuing to choose the company's products for new projects.

Strategic Development:

• Target: Contribute to the development and execution of strategic plans aimed at product innovation and market expansion.
• Expectation: Work closely with engineering and product management to influence the development of new products that meet emerging market needs, driving long-term growth.
• Target: Establish the company’s products as superior in quality and performance, differentiating them from competitors through strategic marketing and technical demonstrations.
• Expectation: Regularly conduct competitive analyses and adjust sales strategies to highlight the unique advantages of the company’s offerings

Job Description

Responsibilities and tasks

Market Development and Sales Growth:

• Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve and exceed revenue targets in United Kingdom region.
• Identify and secure new business opportunities, with a focus on high-performance, high-tech products in the Defence & Aerospace sector.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients

Technical Expertise and Solution Selling:

• Leverage deep technical knowledge of connectors, cable assemblies, and electro-mechanical components to provide expert guidance and support to customers.
• Collaborate closely with engineering and product management teams globally to drive product innovation and new product development tailored to market needs.
• Conduct technical presentations and product demonstrations to customers, highlighting the company’s unique selling proposition of high-performance, technology-driven solutions.

Competitor Analysis and Strategic Positioning:

• Analyse market trends and competitor activities, particularly with regard to key competitors
• Position the company's products as superior solutions, emphasizing their quality, performance, and customer-centric features.
• Stay informed on industry developments and emerging technologies to maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Customer Relationship Management:

• Manage and grow existing customer accounts, ensuring continued satisfaction and identifying opportunities for upselling and cross-selling.
• Develop and implement customer-specific strategies to meet their unique needs and applications.
• Regularly engage with clients through visits, meetings, and presentations, requiring a travel frequency of at least 50%

Result demands

Revenue Growth:

• Target: Significantly increase sales revenue in the Defence & Aerospace markets within United Kingdom
• Expectation: Consistently meet or exceed quarterly and annual sales targets, contributing to the overall revenue growth of the company, which is currently a few million euros but expected to grow significantly.

New Business Acquisition:

• Target: Successfully identify, engage, and close deals with new customers, expanding the company's client base in the high-tech connectors and electro-mechanical components market.
• Expectation: Demonstrate a strong hunting capability by adding a substantial number of new clients, with a particular focus on securing contracts with major industry players.

Market Penetration and Share:

• Target: Increase market share in the Defence & Aerospace sector by positioning the company’s products as preferred solutions over those offered by competitors such as TE, Amphenol, Glenair, and Airborne.
• Expectation: Successfully penetrate niche markets and establish the company as a leading provider of high-performance, technology-driven products.

Customer Retention and Satisfaction:

• Target: Maintain and grow relationships with existing customers, ensuring high levels of satisfaction and loyalty.
• Expectation: Achieve customer retention rates that reflect strong satisfaction, with existing clients, continuing to choose the company's products for new projects.

Strategic Development:

• Target: Contribute to the development and execution of strategic plans aimed at product innovation and market expansion.
• Expectation: Work closely with engineering and product management to influence the development of new products that meet emerging market needs, driving long-term growth.

Competitive Positioning:

• Target: Establish the company’s products as superior in quality and performance, differentiating them from competitors through strategic marketing and technical demonstrations.
• Expectation: Regularly conduct competitive analyses and adjust sales strategies to highlight the unique advantages of the company’s offerings

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Alternatively technical professional training

• Proficiency in English is essential, as it is the primary language for communication within the company and with international clients.

• At least 3-5 years of experience in a technical sales role, preferably within the connector market.
• Proven track record of achieving or exceeding sales targets, with experience in both hunting for new business and managing existing customer accounts.
• Demonstrated experience in expanding market share and developing new business in highly competitive sectors from a technical perspective (high-tech focus and value proposition)

• Experience in the Defence & Aerospace industry is essential, with a strong understanding of the sector’s specific needs, regulatory requirements, and customer demands.
• Experience in the Medical and Industrial sectors is advantageous, particularly with products that require high reliability and technical precision.

• Deep understanding of connectors, cable assemblies, and/or electro-mechanical components, including the ability to explain complex technical features and benefits to customers.
• Proficiency in solution-based selling, with the ability to identify customer needs and match them with the company’s high-performance, high-tech products.
• Ability to conduct technical presentations and product demonstrations to a range of stakeholders, from engineers to senior executives.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences. Strong reporting skills to provide senior management with actionable insights.
• Strong negotiation and closing skills, particularly in high-stakes deals with large industrial and defence customers.
• Strong customer relationship management skills, with the ability to maintain and grow existing accounts while ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.

Additional Information

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)