Location: Glen Ellyn, IL. Candidates must live within reasonable commuting distance of the facility. Willingness to travel as necessary, including occasional international travel.

Company Profile

Our client is the well-established US-subsidiary of a privately owned 100+ year-old global company active in the design and manufacture of vibratory, thermal processing and air separation equipment for the scrap, recycling, mining, aggregate, steel, foundry, plastics, dry chemical and food industries in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Headquartered in Germany and with a total global presence of roughly 1,000 employees in 10 subsidiaries, the company has been showcasing its exponential growth with a recent acquisition and merger with a manufacturer of hinge belt, magnetic conveyors, and parts processing centrifuges for stamping and fastener customers in the United States.

In 2006, the company began its sales, engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the Chicago Area. To support its ongoing growth, they recently completed a major expansion of their Tennessee facility to double their production and warehouse space. With 25 employees at both sites, the company aims to further evolve current North American efforts and build upon the previous 20 successful years selling to industry customers across the continent.

Opportunity Summary

The company is now seeking a self-starting, technically minded team-player for their US-subsidiary to become a senior member and integral figure in their growing international sales team. As new internal sales records are being accomplished year-after-year, the Director of Sales will drive sales of large, mechanical equipment to both new and existing customers across the US. The ideal candidate should possess a holistic combination of sales, finance, operations and engineering experience/aptitude to be able to handle additional cross-functional responsibilities once the person has proven themselves in this role.

Required Skills/Experience

General

  • Proven sales leadership with 10+ years' direct, hands-on experience selling large mechanical equipment, preferably in one or more of the key markets: mining, foundry, stamping, forging, fastener, plastics, dry chemical.
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field. Further master’s degree in engineering or MBA in finance, strategic planning and/or management highly desired.
  • Previous P&L responsibility highly desired.
  • Prior work experience in German/European industry strongly preferred.
  • Team oriented player that understands what it takes to coordinate numerous different people and personalities to be effective and efficient.
  • High ethical standards, personal integrity, positive attitude and honesty.

Sales

  • Must have a proven successful track record of selling across all levels including engineering and C-level.
  • Direct experience managing multiple long cycle time selling processes.
  • Understand and employ solution selling techniques.
  • Background developing and supporting sales rep networks.
  • Hands-on marketing experience a plus.
  • Proficiency in using and CRM system required. Implementation of new CRM systems a plus.
  • Ability to work independently and write own quotations.

Technical

  • Understanding of large machine design and manufacturing operations required.
  • Material handling equipment and process knowledge a big plus.
  • Vibratory equipment and/or metal conveyor experience desired.
  • Understanding of stage gate processes for developing and launching new products a plus.
  • Ability to understand customer's needs, translate them for internal team's evaluation and then communicating a solution back to the customer in technical terms.
  • CAD abilities a plus.