Sales Manager

Packaging Solutions, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Packaging Solutions, Inc. is seeking a hands-on Sales Manager to drive growth in the Chicago market.

This is a player-coach role where you actively support business development, work in the field with the sales team, and help create new revenue opportunities. The ideal candidate has packaging distribution experience, strong knowledge of the Chicago market, and a proven track record in developing new business.

Qualifications

• Experience in the packaging distribution industry.
• Strong Chicago market knowledge and customer relationships.
• Proven success generating new business and opening accounts.
• Hunter mentality with a passion for growth.
• Experience prospecting, developing opportunities, and closing business.
• Ability to influence and motivate others through leadership and example.

Responsibilities

• Coach and support a team of sales representatives.
• Partner with sales reps on opportunities, prospecting efforts, and account growth initiatives.
• Assist with onboarding and development of new sales hires.
• Help establish best practices for prospecting, account development, and sales execution.
• Provide guidance on pipeline management, opportunity strategy, and customer engagement.
• Help develop newer sales representatives as the team continues to grow.
• Actively participate in new business development efforts.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities within target markets.
• Support sales representatives in opening new accounts and expanding existing business.
• Accompany team members on customer visits and sales calls when needed.
• Help drive overall revenue growth across the organization.
• Serve as a resource for complex sales opportunities and strategic accounts.
• Collaborate with leadership to execute growth initiatives.
• Identify market trends, competitive opportunities, and customer needs.
• Contribute to territory planning and sales strategies.
• Help scale the sales organization as new team members are added.
• Foster a culture focused on growth, accountability, and business development.
• Increase new customer acquisition and revenue growth.
• Strengthen prospecting and business development efforts across the team.
• Support the development and success of current and future sales representatives.
• Drive a culture focused on proactive selling and market expansion.
• Serve as a trusted sales leader while remaining actively engaged in the field.

Skills

Packaging industry

Customer relationships

Leadership

Prospecting

Field sales

Job description

Packaging Solutions is seeking a hands-on Sales Manager to help drive the next phase of growth across the Chicago market. This is not a traditional desk-based management role. We're looking for a player-coach who can actively support business development efforts, work alongside the sales team in the field, and help create new revenue opportunities.

The ideal candidate brings experience within the packaging distribution industry, understands the Chicago market, and has a proven track record of developing new business. This individual will serve as both a sales leader and an active contributor, helping the team identify opportunities, win new accounts, and expand existing relationships.

If you're a growth-minded sales professional who enjoys coaching others while remaining actively engaged in selling, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Coach, mentor, and support a team of sales representatives
• Partner with sales reps on strategic opportunities, prospecting efforts, and account growth initiatives
• Assist with onboarding and development of new sales hires
• Help establish best practices for prospecting, account development, and sales execution
• Provide guidance on pipeline management, opportunity strategy, and customer engagement
• Help develop newer sales representatives as the team continues to grow

Business Development

• Actively participate in new business development efforts
• Identify and pursue new opportunities within target markets
• Support sales representatives in opening new accounts and expanding existing business
• Accompany team members on customer visits and sales calls when needed
• Help drive overall revenue growth across the organization
• Serve as a resource for complex sales opportunities and strategic accounts

Strategic Growth

• Collaborate with leadership to execute growth initiatives
• Identify market trends, competitive opportunities, and customer needs
• Contribute to territory planning and sales strategies
• Help scale the sales organization as new team members are added
• Foster a culture focused on growth, accountability, and business development

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Experience in the packaging distribution industry
• Strong understanding of packaging sales, customer relationships, and distribution-based selling
• Proven success generating new business and opening new accounts
• Demonstrated hunter mentality with a passion for growth
• Experience prospecting, developing opportunities, and closing business
• Knowledge of the Chicago market and customer landscape
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills
• Ability to influence and motivate others through leadership and example

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous sales leadership or team leadership experience
• Experience coaching, mentoring, or developing sales professionals
• Experience supporting a field-based sales team
• Track record of exceeding revenue and growth objectives
• Experience successfully launching or growing sales territories

We’d Especially Love to Talk To You If You Are:

• A current Sales Manager who still enjoys being actively involved in selling
• A high-performing packaging sales representative interested in stepping into a leadership role
• A sales professional known for opening doors, creating opportunities, and driving growth

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you'll help:

• Increase new customer acquisition and revenue growth
• Strengthen prospecting and business development efforts across the team
• Support the development and success of current and future sales representatives
• Drive a culture focused on proactive selling and market expansion
• Serve as a trusted sales leader while remaining actively engaged in the field

Base Salary: $150,000 - $190,000 annually, depending on experience, industry expertise, and overall qualifications.

In addition to base compensation, this position is eligible for a performance-based incentive plan designed to reward individual and team growth initiatives.

Packaging Solutions also offers a competitive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, paid time off, and other employee benefits.

Why Join Packaging Solutions?

Packaging Solutions is in growth mode and investing in the future of its sales organization. This role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on business growth, help shape and develop a growing sales team, and play a key leadership role within a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment.

This is an opportunity for a motivated sales professional to build something meaningful, influence company growth, and help drive long-term success in a highly visible leadership position.

Additional Job Application Terms

This job is part of LinkedIn's Full-Service Hiring beta program. Eligibility is limited to candidates located in and performing services in the United States, excluding those based in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, South Carolina, or West Virginia.

We're committed to making our hiring process as smooth and timely as possible, and we understand that waiting to hear back can add to the anticipation. If you're a potential fit, our team will reach out within two weeks to progress you to the next stage. If you don't hear from us in that time, we encourage you to explore other opportunities with our team in the future, and we wish you the very best in your job search.