Sales Director – Flexible Packaging

ESPO Corporation; Elk Grove Township (IL); Remote; USD 210,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health and dental insurance

401k

Job summary

ESPO Corporation is seeking a Sales Director for Flexible Packaging. This remote leadership role demands guiding a high-performing sales team to drive profitable growth and expand strategic accounts across priority markets.

You will partner with customers and internal teams to deliver value-driven packaging solutions, recruit and mentor sales professionals, and translate market insights into actionable strategies supporting long-term objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering or related field is required.
• 10+ years of progressive sales experience with leadership roles in packaging or related industries.
• Proven track record driving growth in flexible packaging, converting, or related markets.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop sales teams.
• Strong strategic selling, negotiation, and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and develop a results-driven sales organization aligned to priority market verticals.
• Recruit, onboard, coach and mentor sales professionals with consultative, process-focused approach.
• Establish clear performance goals, accountability, and development plans.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic selling

Negotiation

Relationship management

Sales leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering or related field

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Job Title: Sales Director - Flexible Packaging

Location: 100% Remote w/Approximately 40-60% travel based on customer and team locations.

Salary: $210k-$220k - Direct Hire/Permanent position

Summary Description

The Director, Sales - Flexible Packaging, reporting to the Vice President, Sales, is responsible for building and leading a high-performing sales organization that delivers profitable, sustainable growth across priority market verticals. This role is a critical leadership position within the Client, partnering closely with customers and internal teams to deliver innovative, reliable, and value-driven packaging solutions.

The successful candidate will embody Client's values of customer-focus, operational excellence, innovation, and integrity, while developing sales talent, strengthening key customer relationships, and executing strategies aligned with Client's long-term growth objectives.

What you'll be doing:

Sales Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, lead, and develop a results-driven sales organization aligned to priority market verticals
• Recruit, onboard, coach and mentor sales professionals with a focus on consultative, process-focused sales approach
• Establish clear performance goals, accountability, and professional development plans
• Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement consistent with Client's values

Market & Growth Strategy

• Develop and execute sales strategies that support Client's growth and profitability objectives
• Lead vertical-market expansion efforts in key segments
• Identify opportunities for organic growth, new customer acquisition, and expanded relationships with existing customers
• Translate market insights and customer needs into actionable sales and commercial strategies

Customer Partnership & Commercial Excellence

• Build trusted, long-term relationships with key customers, serving as an executive-level partner
• Lead complex negotiations and strategic opportunities while maintaining margin discipline and operational feasibility
• Champion customer-centric solutions that leverage Client's capabilities in materials, printing, converting, and sustainable packaging
• Ensure customer commitments align with Client's quality, safety, and service standards

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Business Development, Technology, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to deliver reliable and scalable solutions
• Support commercialization and new product development initiatives
• Collaborate with Business Development Manager to strengthen value propositions, vertical messaging, and sales enablement tools
• Sales Technology, Analytics and Performance Management
• Drive consistent use of sales technology to support scalable, data-driven selling
• Enforce disciplined CRM usage for prospecting, pipeline management, and customer insights
• Leverage analytics and reporting tools to improve forecast accuracy and sales productivity
• Enable structured digital prospecting processes to support new customer and vertical growth

We'd love to hear from you if:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive sales experience, including leadership roles in sales, manufacturing or relevant discipline in packaging
• Demonstrated success driving growth in flexible packaging, converting, or related markets
• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop sales teams
• Strong strategic selling, negotiation, and relationship management skills
• Preferred
• Experience with complex, custom-engineered packaging solutions
• Knowledge of flexible packaging materials, structures, printing, and converting processes
• Experience supporting sustainability-driven packaging initiatives
• MBA or advanced degree

ESPO Corporation

www.espocorp.com

ESPO has a comprehensive benefit package which includes PTO, Group Health and Dental Insurance, 401k. etc after you have satisfied the necessary waiting periods.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value the benefits of diversity in our workforce.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, or any other attribute or protected characteristic by law.