Sales Director

Overview

INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT & HR EXPERTS ACROSS THE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, SPECIALITY CHEMICALS, LIFE SCIENCES, BIOPOLYMER, FOOD ADDITIVES & INGREDIENTS, ENERGY AND RECYCLING SECTORS SINCE 1975. Sales Director. Flexible Packaging | Executive Leadership Opportunity. Location: United Kingdom (with regular UK and European travel). Salary: Attractive Executive Package + Performance Bonus + Car Allowance + Benefits. Our Client is a highly respected and successful manufacturer of innovative packaging solutions, supplying many of the world's leading consumer and industrial brands. Continued investment, a strong commitment to innovation and a customer-centric approach have positioned the business for significant future growth. As part of its long-term strategic development, our client is seeking to appoint an experienced Sales Director to lead its commercial function and drive the next phase of profitable expansion.

Responsibilities

• Commercial Leadership: Develop and implement the company\'s sales strategy in line with long-term business objectives; Lead, coach and develop a high-performing sales team; Create a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement; Recruit, mentor and develop future commercial talent.
• Business Growth: Identify and deliver new business opportunities across targeted market sectors; Expand relationships with existing customers while securing strategic new accounts; Develop market strategies that drive sustainable revenue and margin growth; Translate market intelligence into commercially successful sales initiatives.
• Strategic Customer Management: Build trusted executive-level relationships with major customers; Lead complex commercial negotiations while protecting profitability; Champion customer-focused packaging solutions across materials, printing, converting and sustainable packaging technologies; Ensure exceptional levels of customer satisfaction and service delivery.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Operations, Technology, Quality, Supply Chain and Business Development teams; Support new product development and commercialisation initiatives; Contribute to the ongoing development of compelling customer value propositions.
• Commercial Performance: Drive best practice in CRM, pipeline management and sales forecasting; Utilise data and commercial analytics to improve decision-making and sales effectiveness; Implement structured business development processes to support long-term growth.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will be an experienced commercial leader with a successful track record within the packaging or converting industry.
• At least 10 years\' progressive commercial experience, including senior sales leadership within packaging.
• A proven history of delivering profitable sales growth.
• Experience building, motivating and developing successful sales teams.
• Strong strategic selling, negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Excellent commercial judgement and leadership capability.
• The ability to influence both customers and internal stakeholders at executive level.

Desirable Experience

• Flexible packaging, films, laminates or other engineered packaging solutions.
• Knowledge of packaging materials, printing and converting processes.
• Experience supporting sustainability-led packaging initiatives.
• MBA or equivalent advanced business qualification.

Benefits

• Competitive basic salary
• Performance-related bonus
• Company car or car allowance
• Pension and comprehensive benefits
• Long-term career development within a growing international business