Director, Technical Sales

Pathenviro; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental services company is looking for a Director of Technical Sales in Houston. This role involves leading business development in tank cleaning and industrial services, requiring deep technical expertise and strong commercial leadership. Candidates must have significant experience in technical sales and operations, a bachelor's degree, and a proven ability to develop proposals and engage with clients effectively. The position also emphasizes revenue growth and strategy alignment.

Qualifications

• Significant prior experience in the tank cleaning or industrial services industry.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with tank cleaning processes.
• Proven experience developing project estimates and bids.

Responsibilities

• Lead business development for tank cleaning and industrial services.
• Own and manage the bid and proposal lifecycle.
• Develop and implement effective sales strategies.

Skills

Technical expertise in tank cleaning operations

Excellent negotiation skills

Strong analytical skills

Effective communication skills

Project estimation capability

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Environmental Science or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Estimating tools

Job description

We are seeking a highly experienced Director, Technical Sales to lead business development efforts for our tank cleaning and industrial services division. This role is ideal for an industry professional who combines deep technical expertise in tank cleaning operations with strong commercial leadership and sales strategy experience.

This position will serve as the company’s technical subject matter expert while also owning the complete bid, proposal, and estimating process. The Director, Technical Sales will be responsible for driving revenue growth, developing client relationships, and ensuring that proposals and estimates are accurate, competitive, and aligned with operational capabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the company’s technical subject matter expert in tank cleaning processes, methodologies, equipment, and industry best practices.
• Own and manage the full bid, proposal, and estimating lifecycle –including scope development, cost estimation, pricing strategy, and final proposal preparation.
• Review client specifications, drawings, and scope documents to develop accurate and competitive estimates for tank cleaning and related services.
• Partner with Operations and Engineering teams to develop technical work plans, schedules, and resource requirements for proposals.
• Provide support and guidance to the Sales team.
• Develop and implement effective sales strategies aligned with company objectives to achieve revenue and growth targets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients through regular communication, site visits, presentations, and technical demonstrations.
• Provide in-depth technical expertise and consultative support to clients, ensuring they fully understand the value, safety, and effectiveness of proposed solutions.
• Conduct detailed client needs assessment and site evaluations to develop tailored technical solutions.
• Prepare, review and deliver compelling proposals, presentations, and technical submittals that address client needs and showcase company capabilities.
• Ensure all proposals and estimates are aligned with company risk management, safety standards, and profitability objectives.
• Stay current with industry trends, regulatory requirements, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to identify new opportunities for growth.
• Attend industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events to promote company services and technical expertise.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Safety, and Engineering teams to relay customer feedback and recommend service or process enhancements.
• Track and report on sales activities, proposal pipeline, win/loss metrics, and forecasting, providing regular updates to Executive Leadership and/or the Board.
• Provide technical training and support to internal sales and operations teams to strengthen overall organizational knowledge and capabilities.
• Participate in post-project reviews to evaluate estimating accuracy and improve future proposal performance.
• Other duties and responsibilities as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Environmental Science or related field preferred.
• Significant prior experience in technical sales and operations within the tank cleaning or industrial services industry.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with tank cleaning processes, equipment, methodologies, and safety requirements.
• Proven experience developing project estimates, bids, and technical proposals in an industrial services environment.
• Prior leadership and management experience.
• Strong understanding of industrial cleaning processes, confined space entry, hazardous materials handling, and related safety regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, present and influence key stakeholders at all organizational levels.

Position Skills & Abilities

• Recognized technical expertise in tank cleaning operations and equipment.
• Excellent listening, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex client challenges.
• Ability to prepare detailed, accurate cost estimates and competitive proposals.
• Willingness to travel to jobsites and client locations as need.
• Strong understanding of customer and market dynamics and industry requirements.
• Ability to manage multiple proposals, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Must be computer proficient, including experience with estimating tools and CRM systems.
• Strong understanding of the energy industry (upstream, midstream, downstream) preferred.
• Ability to function effectively in a fast-paced, rapidly growing company with cha.
• Ability to communicate effectively through written and verbal methods to internal and external customers.
• Must be computer proficient.
• Understanding of tank cleaning industry/processes preferred.
• Understanding of energy industry (upstream, midstream, and/or downstream) preferredAbility to function in a rapidly changing growth company environment to meet evolving business demands.