Managing Director, US

Career Opportunities International; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Opportunities International seeks a dynamic Managing Director for the U.S. entity to drive growth and expand market presence in the United States.

The role requires strategic leadership, hands-on execution, and close collaboration with global leadership to deliver high-performance solutions and strengthen customer relationships. You will lead a lean, fast-paced team, oversee budgeting and P&L, and travel domestically up to 50% while building a sustainable business.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of professional experience in industrial or technical manufacturing environments.
• Proven leadership experience in a senior or general management role, ideally as a CEO or Managing Director.
• Strong background in technical sales, operations, and business development within B2B manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall operations of the U.S. entity with profitability and long-term sustainability.
• Develop and execute the regional business strategy in collaboration with global leadership.
• Strengthen brand presence and market share across key industrial segments.
• Drive sales performance through direct engagement, coaching of the sales team, and channel partnerships.
• Provide leadership and direction to a small, growing team.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management with sound financial discipline.
• Maintain alignment with global HQ on strategy and performance.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across functions.
• Represent the company externally with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Act as hands-on leader in customer meetings, trade shows, and strategic projects.
• Foster a positive, harmonious team culture and long-term commitment.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic vision

People management

Communication

Negotiation

Problem solving

Education

Engineering background

Job description

Our client is a well-established international manufacturer of precision-engineered equipment and innovative process-based solutions. With a strong European heritage and operations spanning multiple continents, the company provides advanced technologies that improve production efficiency, reliability, and sustainability across a wide range of industries. Their success is built on decades of engineering excellence, close customer collaboration, and a commitment to quality and innovation. The U.S. subsidiary plays a key role in the company’s global growth strategy, focusing on expanding market presence and delivering high-performance solutions to industrial clients nationwide. Please note that this position is confidential; more information, including the company name, location, and products, will be shared with qualified candidates during the early interview process.

Title: Managing Director – U.S. Entity

Reports to: Global Director of Sales and Customer Relations

The Position

Our client is seeking a dynamic and hands-on Managing Director to lead its smaller U.S. subsidiary through a period of growth and market expansion. This individual will have full responsibility for strategic, commercial, and operational leadership within the United States, ensuring the company strengthens its presence, deepens customer relationships, and executes an effective go-to-market strategy. This is a key leadership position with high visibility and the ability to make a major impact on the team and business. A successful candidate would bring strategic vision, strong people management skills, and the ability to execute in a lean, fast-paced environment. Please note they are happy to train up, and prefer candidates consider this as a long term opportunity.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the overall operations of the U.S. entity, ensuring profitable growth and long-term sustainability
• Develop and execute the regional business strategy in collaboration with global leadership
• Strengthen the company’s brand presence and market share across key industrial segments
• Drive sales performance through direct customer engagement, coaching of the sales team, and development of channel partnerships
• Provide leadership and direction to a small, growing team
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management, ensuring sound financial discipline
• Maintain strong alignment with global headquarters on strategy, business performance, and operational initiatives
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across all business functions
• Represent the company externally with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders
• Serve as a hands-on leader, actively participating in customer meetings, trade shows, and strategic project discussions
• Create an emotional, professional, an harmonious connection with the team

Qualifications

• 15+ years of professional experience in industrial or technical manufacturing environments
• Proven leadership experience in a senior or general management role, ideally as a small business CEO, small to mid-sized Managing Director, or Director of a U.S. subsidiary
• Strong background in technical sales, operations, and business development within B2B manufacturing or a similar B2B industrial environment
• Sufficient understanding of financial management, budgeting, and P&L oversight
• Demonstrated ability to lead small, multidisciplinary teams and drive both strategy and execution
• Experience managing distributors and/or channel partners across the U.S. market
• Hands-on approach with strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Technical education or equivalent practical experience preferred (Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering background a plus)
• Ability to travel domestically up to 50%, international travel as required
• Long-term commitment mindset, driven by building up team members and meeting targets
• Passion for building sustainable business growth

Compensation for this position will not exceed ~$180k for the totalpackage (base + bonus combined). Training is available to all candidates.