Sales Manager
Job Description
Location: Mt. Carmel, IL (Preferred) | Hybrid considered (within ~2–4 hours)
Reports To: President
Position Overview
The Sales Manager is responsible for leading the Sales, Marketing, and Aftermarket Parts Sales departments.
This role is accountable for developing and executing a strategic sales plan that strengthens existing customer relationships while driving new business growth across targeted markets and industries.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who can build structure, drive accountability, and lead from the front—balancing strategy, execution, and customer engagement to deliver measurable results.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute a comprehensive Strategic Sales Plan aligned with company growth objectives
- Establish clear direction for Sales, Marketing, and Aftermarket Parts to ensure alignment and execution
- Identify target markets, industries, and key accounts to drive future growth
- Build actionable plans to increase market share and expand into new customer segments
Sales Leadership & Execution
- Lead day-to-day sales activities across new machines, aftermarket, and upgrades
- Drive accountability for quoting activity, follow-ups, and closing opportunities
- Improve overall sales effectiveness through better qualification, communication, and execution
- Maintain accurate pipeline management and forecasting discipline
Customer Growth & Development
- Cultivate and strengthen relationships with existing customers to drive repeat business and long-term partnerships
- Develop and execute a clear, proactive strategy for new customer acquisition and market expansion
- Personally engage in key customer opportunities and strategic accounts
- Ensure a high level of responsiveness, professionalism, and customer satisfaction
Marketing & Aftermarket Oversight
- Provide direction and alignment for marketing efforts to ensure messaging supports sales objectives and market focus
- Ensure consistent, proactive communication through digital channels, campaigns, and customer outreach
- Oversee aftermarket parts sales strategy to maximize revenue and customer retention
- Align aftermarket efforts with overall customer lifecycle and support strategy
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and develop the sales, marketing, and aftermarket teams
- Establish clear expectations, roles, and accountability across all functions
- Foster a culture of urgency, ownership, professionalism, and teamwork
- Ensure strong collaboration between Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Service
Quoting Strategy
- Oversee quoting processes to ensure speed, accuracy, and competitiveness
- Support pricing strategies aligned with company financial goals and margin expectations
- Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing to ensure feasibility and execution alignment
Product & Market Feedback / R&D Alignment
- Work closely with the Director of Technology to identify gaps in current product offerings, capabilities, and service solutions based on customer interactions and market feedback
- Gather and communicate insights from customers, lost opportunities, and competitive activity to help inform product direction
- Provide structured feedback to support the identification and prioritization of R&D initiatives
- Collaborate with the Director of Technology to ensure new product development and enhancements are aligned with market demand and sales strategy
- Act as the voice of the customer internally, ensuring that commercial insights directly influence innovation and continuous improvement
- Expected to proactively bring forward defined product or service gap opportunities, supported by customer and market data, on a consistent basis
Qualifications & Experience
- 7+ years of experience in long lead-time industrial equipment or capital equipment sales
- Proven experience developing and implementing strategic sales plans that drive measurable growth
- Candidates must be able to provide specific examples of strategic sales plans they have developed and successfully executed
- Demonstrated success in both managing existing accounts and generating new business
- Proven leadership experience managing sales teams
- Strong understanding of technical, engineered-to-order products
- Preferred: 3+ years of experience in press brake and/or press (hydraulic/mechanical) sales
- Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills
- CRM experience required (Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar)
Key Traits for Success
- Strong leadership presence with a hands-on, accountable approach
- High sense of urgency and ownership
- Ability to think strategically while executing tactically
- Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to responsiveness
- Driven to grow both existing business and new market opportunities
- Team-oriented with strong cross-functional collaboration
What Success Looks Like – First 90 Days
0–30 Days
- Gain a clear understanding of current products, pipeline, backlog, team capabilities, and active opportunities
- Build relationships with key team members, customers, and internal stakeholders
- Evaluate current sales, marketing, and aftermarket processes and identify gaps
- Establish immediate priorities to ensure continuity and responsiveness with customers
30–60 Days
- Begin implementing structure and accountability within the sales and marketing functions
- Identify key opportunities to improve quoting speed, follow-up, and win rates
- Define initial target markets, key accounts, and growth opportunities
- Align marketing efforts more closely with sales objectives and messaging
60–90 Days
- Present and begin executing a clear Strategic Sales Plan
- Demonstrate progress in pipeline growth, customer engagement, and new opportunities
- Establish consistent reporting, forecasting, and performance tracking
- Show measurable improvement in team alignment, urgency, and overall sales execution
Non-Negotiables
- Responsiveness: Timely follow-up with customers and internal teams is mandatory—no missed or delayed communication
- Accountability: Ownership of pipeline, opportunities, and results—no gaps in follow-through
- CRM Discipline: All opportunities, activities, and updates must be accurately maintained in CRM
- Professionalism: Consistent, respectful, and solutions-oriented communication with customers and team members
- Urgency: Ability to operate with speed while maintaining quality and accuracy
- Execution: Strong focus on closing opportunities and driving results—not just activity
Compensation
- Base Salary based on experience
- Commission paid monthly based on total monthly bookings
- Benefits:
- 401(k) with 4% match
- Exceptional benefits package (Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Short Term and Long Term Disability)
- PTO: Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time
How to Apply:
Submit your resume and cover letter to ckendall@pacific-press.com