Sales Operations Director

Novo Executive Search; Essex; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Executive Search is representing a client seeking a Sales Operations Director to align Sales, Operations and Supply Chain for sustained growth. The role focuses on building the commercial infrastructure, processes and disciplines for a best-in-class operation.

The ideal candidate will have a track record in technical manufacturing, leading sales operations teams, and driving data-driven decision making across pricing, forecast accuracy and order-to-delivery performance.

Qualifications

• Degree educated or qualified by experience.
• 5+ years leadership experience in sales operations or related role within a technical manufacturing business.
• Experience improving alignment between Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and other internal functions.
• Strong experience of sales forecasting, demand planning and/or S&OP in a manufacturing or product-based environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the alignment between Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain to create a best-in-class commercial engine.
• Drive end-to-end customer and commercial operation improvements including forecasting, demand planning, and delivery performance.
• Coordinate pricing, planning, and aftersales to translate market intelligence into actionable forecasts.
• Build senior customer relationships while strengthening internal processes and data discipline.

Skills

Sales operations

Commercial leadership

Forecasting

S&OP

Cross-functional leadership

Data analysis

ERP/CRM experience

Education

Degree educated or qualified by experience

Tools

ERP systems

CRM systems

Job description

Our client is a globally respected leader in lighting solutions supplying into a variety of markets. With a current turnover of around £30m in Europe, they are looking to grow to £45m+ over the next 3 years. A key component to this growth will include a strong strategic focus on expanding their footprint in continental Europe, as well as developing successful new product ranges for a range of industries in line with the company’s strategy.

Due to these growth plans, the company are looking to recruit an experienced Sales Operations Director who will play a key role in creating much closer alignment between Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and the wider business, while having the chance to make a tangible impact on a respected global brand.

THE ROLE – SALES OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

The Sales Operations Director will be a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for creating much closer alignment between Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and the wider business. With the business performing strongly and targeting significant future growth, the priority is to build the commercial and operational infrastructure, processes and disciplines required to operate at a genuinely best-in-class level.

The role will lead the continuous improvement of the end-to-end customer and commercial operation, with particular focus on sales forecasting and demand planning, customer service, delivery performance, procurement and supply-chain alignment, pricing, planning and aftersales. The successful candidate will ensure customer demand and market intelligence are translated into accurate forecasts and clear operational priorities, giving the business the visibility and control required to deliver consistently for customers.

This is not principally a front-line sales role. However, the Sales Operations Director will build strong relationships with key customers, understand their requirements first-hand and act as a senior commercial interface where appropriate. Over time the remit may broaden to include greater direct sales responsibility, but the immediate priority is to strengthen the internal engine of the business so they can scale successfully and sustainably.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Candidates will have strong sales operations and commercial leadership experience and a successful track record of operating in a comparable role within a manufacturer of technical, engineered products.

Candidates’ experience will also include:

• Degree educated or qualified by experience.
• 5+ years leadership experience in sales operations, commercial operations, customer service or a closely related role within a technical manufacturing business.
• Demonstrable experience improving alignment between Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and other internal functions.
• Strong experience of sales forecasting, demand planning and/or S&OP in a manufacturing or product-based environment.
• Excellent understanding of order-to-delivery processes, customer service performance and the operational factors that influence customer experience.
• Strong commercial and financial capability, particularly across pricing, margin, profitability and cost-to-serve.
• Experience improving internal processes, operating disciplines and management information to create a scalable, best-in-class commercial operation.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to turn data into clear actions and business decisions.
• Experience of ERP and CRM systems and a track record of improving data quality, process discipline and system adoption.
• Experience leading and developing customer service, internal sales or sales operations teams.
• Credibility in front of customers, with the ability to build senior relationships and represent the business commercially.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge existing practices constructively and drive change.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a high-performance organisation/group with a clear vision, robust investment, and significant headroom for growth.