Head of Sales Role

A1S Group manufactures fire curtains, fire shutters and industrial shutters in the UK, supplying main contractors, specifiers, installers and international projects. We are appointing a commercially driven Head of Sales to take responsibility for the next stage of the company's revenue growth. This is a hands-on commercial role. The successful candidate will personally win business as well as lead a team and will work closely with the Board with significant autonomy over how sales targets are delivered.

The role exists to:

  • Win new business across divisions.

  • Grow spend from existing customers and key accounts.

  • Develop and implement the sales strategy.

  • Lead, coach and improve the existing sales team.

  • Build relationships with major contractors, specifiers and decision-makers.

  • Identify new markets and revenue streams.

  • Improve sales process, conversion and forecasting.

  • Manage gross margin as well as turnover.

  • Take ownership and accountability for results.

Reports to: The Board
Location: Bolton
Package: Competitive + Bonus + Company Car

We are looking for someone who is:

  • Hungry: Wants to succeed and progress.

  • Commercially aggressive: Actively creates opportunities and is not afraid to ask for the order.

  • Competitive: Wants to win and to beat targets, not just meet them.

  • Entrepreneurial: Sees opportunities rather than obstacles.

  • Accountable: Owns the number and reports honestly on it.

  • Analytical: Understands pipeline, conversion, margin and profitability, not just turnover.

  • A leader: Can motivate, coach and challenge a sales team, including on underperformance.

  • Hands-on: Prepared to personally win business rather than only manage others who do.

Candidates are likely to be working now as:

  • Sales Manager

  • Senior Sales Manager

  • Business Development Manager

  • Senior Business Development Manager

  • Commercial Manager

  • Head of Sales

  • Commercial or Business Development Lead

Experience at Sales Director level is not required. Demonstrable results and commercial ability matter more than job title. Experience in construction products, fire safety, doors and shutters, or specification-led selling into main contractors and architects is an advantage but not essential. A proven record of winning technical, long-cycle B2B business is.

Key Responsibilities

Sales

  • Develop and implement the A1S sales strategy.

  • Deliver agreed revenue and gross margin targets.

  • Win new business.

  • Increase spend from existing customers.

  • Develop and protect key accounts.

  • Build relationships with major contractors and customers.

  • Develop specification opportunities with architects, specifiers and fire engineers.

  • Develop Trade and distributor relationships.

  • Identify new market sectors.

  • Develop export opportunities where appropriate.

  • Improve sales conversion.

Leading the Sales Team

  • Lead the existing sales team.

  • Set individual targets.

  • Establish and maintain KPIs.

  • Monitor performance against those KPIs.

  • Coach and develop team members.

  • Identify and address underperformance.

  • Recruit additional sales resource when required.

  • Establish a culture of accountability.

Working with Marketing

  • Liaise with the marketing function to ensure the sales and marketing strategies align.

  • Agree lead volume and lead quality expectations.

  • Feed back on enquiry quality, won and lost reasons, and objections heard in the field.

  • Ensure marketing-generated enquiries are followed up promptly and tracked through to order.

  • Provide sales input into case studies, CPD activity, exhibitions and product launches.

  • Work with marketing to identify target sectors, accounts and specifiers worth pursuing.

Commercial Management

  • Maintain an accurate sales pipeline in the CRM.

  • Produce reliable sales forecasts.

  • Report monthly to the Board.

  • Monitor conversion rates by division.

  • Monitor gross margin, not just revenue.

  • Identify commercial risks early.

  • Identify growth opportunities.

  • Work with Operations to ensure what sales promises can be delivered.

Applying For This Position

Please complete the form below by attaching your CV and a short covering note with:

The covering note should be no more than one page and should answer three questions:

  1. What is the most significant new business growth you have personally led? Please explain the value of the business, your role, the sales strategy you used, and the outcome.

  2. How do you manage a sales team’s pipeline and produce an accurate revenue forecast? Please include the key measures, processes, and tools you use.

  3. Why are you interested in this Head of Sales role, why is now the right time for you, and what would your priorities be during your first 90 days?

Applications without a covering note will not be shortlisted.

Direct applications only.