National Sales Manager – Automotive Aftermarket

UK & Ireland

£60,000 + Bonus + Company Car + Enhanced Pension + Excellent Benefits

Ready to step into a national sales leadership role where you can shape commercial strategy, develop a team and have a genuine influence on how the business grows across the UK and Ireland?

This is an opportunity to take commercial responsibility for the UK & Ireland aftermarket business of an established international automotive manufacturer.

You'll lead a team, manage relationships with major customers and take ownership of the sales strategy, new business development, profitability and continued growth of the region.

This isn't simply about managing what's already there.

You'll have the opportunity to identify where the business can grow, strengthen strategic customer relationships, develop your team and turn commercial opportunities into sustainable revenue.

If you know the automotive aftermarket, understand major national accounts and are ready for a broader leadership role, this could be an excellent next step.

Why Apply?

• £60,000 basic salary
• Performance-related bonus
• Company car
• Enhanced company pension
• Excellent benefits package
• National responsibility across the UK & Ireland
• Lead and develop an established sales team
• Influence commercial strategy rather than simply deliver against it
• Direct relationships with major automotive aftermarket customers
• Opportunity to develop new business and increase market share
• International exposure within a wider European organisation
• Genuine scope to make an impact on the future growth of the business

The Opportunity

You'll take responsibility for the commercial performance of the UK & Ireland business.

That means owning the sales plan, delivering revenue and profitability objectives, developing strategic accounts and identifying where the next major opportunities will come from.

You'll work closely with the European management team while having the autonomy to develop and execute the UK & Ireland commercial strategy.

You'll also lead the sales team.

Your role won't be to micromanage them. It will be to give them direction, help them develop and provide the commercial support they need to grow their accounts and win new business.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll:

• Develop and implement the commercial strategy for the UK & Ireland automotive aftermarket
• Deliver annual sales, profitability and market share objectives
• Identify and secure new business opportunities
• Develop executive-level relationships with major strategic customers
• Lead strategic account planning and sales forecasting
• Support your sales team with major negotiations, pricing discussions and business reviews
• Lead commercial discussions where senior-level involvement can make the difference
• Develop long-term customer partnerships
• Monitor market developments, competitor activity and emerging opportunities
• Own the UK & Ireland sales budget and annual operating plan
• Monitor revenue, gross margin and profitability
• Develop commercial business cases for new opportunities
• Maintain accurate forecasting and opportunity pipelines
• Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events and trade forums

Leading the Team

You'll provide the leadership and commercial direction that allows them to perform at their best.

That means coaching and developing them, setting clear objectives, reviewing performance and creating a sales culture built around accountability, customer relationships and growth.

For someone currently operating as a senior Key Account Manager, Sales Manager or National Account Manager and looking for greater leadership responsibility, this could provide a natural career progression.

Equally, you may already be managing a national sales team and want greater autonomy and commercial influence.

What We're Looking For

You'll need a strong understanding of the UK automotive aftermarket and the way manufacturers, distributors, buying groups and major national accounts operate.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Significant automotive aftermarket sales or business development experience
• Experience managing major national or strategic accounts
• Strong commercial negotiation skills
• Previous sales or account management leadership experience
• The ability to develop and execute commercial strategy
• Experience managing revenue, margin and profitability
• Strong forecasting and business planning skills
• The credibility to develop relationships with senior customer decision-makers
• A coaching approach to developing salespeople
• Strong commercial judgement and decision-making ability
• Experience working within an international organisation would be advantageous

What Will Success Look Like?

You'll be measured on more than simply hitting a sales number.

Success will come through growing revenue and margin, winning new customers, retaining strategic accounts, increasing market share, improving forecast accuracy and developing the performance of your team.

In other words, you'll have genuine ownership of the commercial performance of the region.

Why Consider It?

This is a role for someone who wants more influence.

More influence over sales strategy.

More influence over major customer relationships.

More influence over how a team performs.

And more influence over where the business grows next.

You'll have an established business, existing customers and an international organisation behind you, but you'll also have the opportunity to put your own stamp on how the UK & Ireland operation develops.

If you've built your career in the automotive aftermarket and are ready to take broader responsibility for people, customers, strategy and commercial performance, we'd like to hear from you.

Apply today and Stewart Lupton at JSL Solutions, specialists in industrial and automotive aftermarket recruitment, will be in touch. Alternatively, call Stewart on 07763004067 for further details.

JSL Solutions – Recruitment...The Right Way.

Specialists in senior commercial and leadership recruitment for manufacturers and distributors across the automotive and industrial aftermarket.