Sr. Dir., Sales, WSS, Heavy, N. America

Xylem; Charlotte (NC); Remote; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) with company contribution

Paid time off

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Xylem is seeking a Senior Director of Sales for WSS Heavy Industry in North America. You will steer commercial strategy, drive revenue growth, and lead a dispersed team of sales professionals across key industrial markets. Travel will be required as needed to advance strategic opportunities.

Ideal candidates bring 15+ years in senior sales leadership, a Bachelor’s degree (MBA preferred), and a track record of profitable growth in industrial/water sectors. Competitive package with strong benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive sales and commercial leadership experience.
• Experience leading large, geographically dispersed commercial organizations.
• Experience in industrial, water, environmental, energy, chemical processing, manufacturing, mining, or related markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead North America Heavy Industry commercial strategy and revenue targets.
• Oversee regional sales leaders, managers, and account teams; drive growth and profitability.
• Develop and execute market expansion, pricing, and pipeline management programs.
• Partner with Finance, Operations, and Product teams to align strategy and performance.
• Build a high-performing, values-driven sales organization with succession planning.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Negotiation

Customer leadership

Travel mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

Senior Director, Sales, WSS Heavy Industry, North America

THE ROLE

The Senior Director, Sales, WSS Heavy Industry, North America is responsible for leading the commercial strategy, sales execution, and profitable growth of Xylem's Heavy Industry business across North America. This executive leader oversees a high-performing organization consisting of Regional Sales Directors, Sales Managers, Outside Sales Representatives, Inside Sales, Aftermarket Sales, Business Development, and Vertical Market leaders serving key industrial markets including power, chemical processing, mining, oil & gas, manufacturing, industrial wastewater, and process water applications. The role is accountable for delivering revenue, bookings, margin, and customer growth objectives while expanding Xylem's position as a trusted partner for industrial water solutions. The Senior Director translates enterprise and segment strategies into actionable commercial plans, drives market penetration, strengthens strategic account relationships, and accelerates growth through service contracts, aftermarket solutions, rental offerings, capital projects, and emerging technologies. As a key member of the Heavy Industry leadership team, this individual partners closely with Operations, RTS, Product Management, Engineering, Vertical Market teams, Finance, and Executive Leadership to deliver sustainable profitable growth, improve customer outcomes, and advance Xylem's strategic priorities. This is a remote role with travel required as needed.

Core Responsibilities

Commercial Leadership & Growth

• Leads and executes the North America commercial strategy for the Heavy Industry business.
• Owns delivery of annual revenue, bookings, EBITDA, and growth targets across all Heavy Industry markets.
• Develops and executes go-to-market strategies to expand market share within priority industrial verticals.
• Drives adoption of commercial excellence disciplines including pipeline management, strategic account planning, opportunity management, pricing strategy, and forecast accuracy.
• Identifies and captures growth opportunities across service contracts, aftermarket services, rentals, capital equipment, and long-term water management solutions.
• Partners with Business Development and Vertical Market leaders to create sustainable growth opportunities and expand enterprise account penetration.
• Ensures disciplined execution of sales funnel management and customer-centric selling methodologies.

Customer & Market Leadership

• Develops executive-level relationships with strategic customers and key industry stakeholders.
• Champions Voice of the Customer initiatives to improve customer experience and increase retention.
• Supports complex commercial negotiations, major contract renewals, and strategic pursuit opportunities.
• Drives expansion within key industrial segments including power generation, manufacturing, mining, chemical processing, and industrial wastewater treatment.
• Works across businesses and geographies to leverage Xylem's full portfolio and create integrated customer solutions.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Leads, coaches, mentors, and develops a geographically dispersed team of sales leaders and commercial professionals.
• Builds a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, customer focus, and execution.
• Establishes clear performance expectations and drives continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Develops succession plans and organizational capabilities to support current and future business needs.
• Models and promotes Xylem's Growth Enabling Behaviors and High Impact Culture.
• Leads through change and drives adoption of new commercial tools, processes, and technologies.

Strategic Planning & Business Management

• Participates in development of annual operating plans, strategic growth initiatives, and long-range business plans.
• Aligns sales objectives and resource deployment with segment and enterprise priorities.
• Partners with Finance to establish forecasts, budgets, and profitability targets.
• Monitors market trends, competitive activity, customer demand, and industry developments to inform strategy.
• Uses data and analytics to drive commercial performance, resource allocation, and business decisions.
• Provides regular business updates and strategic recommendations to senior and executive leadership.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborates with Operations and RTS leaders to ensure successful project execution and customer satisfaction.
• Works closely with Product Management and Engineering to align customer needs with innovation priorities.
• Partners with Marketing to drive lead generation, vertical market programs, and customer engagement initiatives.
• Supports M&A integration activities and commercial harmonization efforts when applicable.
• Facilitates alignment between commercial, operational, and financial objectives.

Key Accountabilities

• Revenue, bookings, and EBITDA performance for the North American Heavy Industry business.
• Growth of strategic accounts and vertical markets.
• Expansion of aftermarket, service contract, rental, and capital project opportunities.
• Commercial pipeline health, forecast accuracy, and sales productivity.
• Customer retention, customer satisfaction, and market share growth.
• Development of high-performing sales leaders and succession pipelines.
• Execution of Xylem commercial excellence standards and strategic growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced business degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive sales and commercial leadership experience, including leadership of leaders.
• Proven success leading large, geographically dispersed commercial organizations.
• Experience within industrial, water, environmental, energy, chemical processing, manufacturing, mining, or related markets.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering profitable growth and leading large-scale commercial transformation.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to engage C-suite customer leaders and internal executives.
• Experience managing significant revenue responsibility, ideally exceeding $500M annually.
• Strong financial, strategic planning, negotiation, and change leadership capabilities.
• Ability to travel throughout North America as business needs require.

Leadership Attributes

• Strategic and growth-oriented mindset.
• Customer-centric and market-focused.
• Data-driven decision maker.
• Collaborative enterprise leader.
• Strong coach and developer of talent.
• Champions accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Salary

The estimated salary range for this position is $180,000 to $240,000 base plus bonus. Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range. At Xylem we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement.

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.

At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affinity Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.

Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation