National Sales Manager
Indexed description
Develop, lead and execute the national sales strategy for a premium Global OEM manufacturer of industrial batteries and energy storage solutions, with Australian based regional Lead Acid battery manufacturing and a capital city-based branch service network.
This role is accountable for profitable growth, strategic customer partnerships, and value-based selling, leveraging the company's local manufacturing capability, engineering expertise, and lifecycle service offering.
The National Sales Manager plays a critical role in positioning the business as a high-quality, reliable, and technically superior alternative to existing or incumbent suppliers as well as low-cost imports, while maximising long-term contract value and aftermarket revenue.
Strategic Sales Leadership, Sales Strategy, & Execution
- Develop and execute the national sales strategy aligned with company growth objectives
- Deliver revenue, margin, and market share targets across all product categories
- Identify growth opportunities in emerging sectors (e.g. energy storage, renewables integration, automation)
- Position the company around:
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
- Reliability, safety, and compliance
- Local manufacturing and supply chain security
- Drive penetration in key sectors:
- Logistics & warehousing (traction batteries)
- Elevated Work Platforms, Industrial cleaning equipment
- Leisure and Recreational energy systems
- Mining & heavy industry
- Utilities & infrastructure (standby / critical power)
- Telecommunications & data centres
- Emerging energy storage applications
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and pricing dynamics
Leadership & Team Management
- Build, lead, coach, and develop a high-performing national sales team
- Set clear KPIs across revenue, gross margin, pipeline, and customer retention
- Drive a disciplined sales process and accountability culture
- Support succession planning and talent development
Key Account Management
- Personally lead relationships with top-tier national accounts and OEM partners
- Engage at executive level with procurement, operations, and engineering stakeholders
- Lead complex contract negotiations, tenders, and long-term service agreements
- Secure long-term supply and service agreements (3-7+ years)
- Drive national alignment across multi-site customers
- Ensure high customer satisfaction and retention
Commercial Performance & Pricing
- Own national P&L contribution from the sales function
- Own pricing strategy and discount governance to protect margins
- Lead large-scale tender submissions and contract structuring
- Structure long-term contracts that bundle:
- Equipment
- Maintenance & service
- Replacement cycles
- Monitoring / asset management
- Drive service and aftermarket revenue growth (maintenance, replacement cycles, fleet management)
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as the commercial interface to Australian manufacturing operations:
- Operations / Supply Chain (inventory, lead times, project delivery)
- Align demand forecasting with production planning
- Service teams (aftermarket support and contracts)
- Marketing (campaigns, product positioning, brand)
- Finance (forecasting, reporting, credit risk)
- Support capacity utilisation and product mix optimisation
- Provide market feedback into:
- Product development
- Engineering improvements
- Custom solutions
Aftermarket & Lifecycle Revenue Growth
- Drive high-margin recurring revenue through:
- Service contracts
- Preventative maintenance
- Battery replacement programs
- Fleet optimisation and charging solutions
- Increase customer lifetime value (CLV) across installed base
Market Positioning & Brand Leadership
- Strengthen positioning as a premium Australian supplier and manufacturer
- Support marketing in promoting:
- "Built in Australia" capability for Lead Acid Industrial Batteries
- Sustainability and recycling credentials
- Compliance with Australian standards
- Represent the company in industry forums and key customer engagements
Forecasting, Pipeline & Governance
- Deliver accurate forecasting aligned to production planning
- Maintain strong CRM discipline and pipeline visibility
- Lead structured tender processes for large national contracts
Safety, Compliance & ESG
- Champion safety across all customer interactions and site activities
- Ensure alignment with:
- Australian Standards (AS/NZS)
- Environmental and recycling regulations
- Support sustainability initiatives (battery lifecycle, recycling programs)
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Revenue growth (YoY)
- Gross margin % (primary metric vs revenue alone)
- Market share by segment
- Key account retention and growth
- Sales pipeline conversion rates
- Team performance and engagement
- Forecast accuracy
- Contracted revenue (multi-year agreements)
- Aftermarket / service revenue mix (%)
- Customer lifetime value (CLV) growth
RequirementsEssential
- 8-12+ years of sales leadership experience in industrial, technical, or B2B environments
- Strong experience in capital equipment, industrial products, or energy-related sectors
- Demonstrated ability to win and manage large, complex contracts
- Commercial acumen with strong pricing and margin management capability
- Proven track record in premium, value-based selling environments
- Experience working with manufacturing or OEM business models
- Strong commercial acumen, including pricing and contract structuring
- Demonstrated success managing large, complex, multi-site customers
Highly Desirable
- Experience in:
- Industrial batteries (traction / standby)
- Energy storage systems (ESS)
- Material handling / logistics / mining sectors
- Exposure to OEM and dealer sales channels
Capabilities & Competencies
- Strategic thinking with strong execution discipline
- Leadership presence and team development capability
- High level negotiation skills (executive-level, long-cycle deals)
- Customer-centric mindset
- Resilience and adaptability in competitive markets
- Value-based and consultative selling mindset
- Ability to translate technical capability into commercial outcomes
- Strategic thinking with operational alignment (sales ↔ manufacturing)
- Data-driven and financially literate
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, or related field (preferred)
- MBA or equivalent (advantageous)
Benefits- A motivated company with flat hierarchies and short decision-making processes.
- Permanent employment contract.
- Personal support and advice from a dedicated contact person at your branch.
- Stable working environment in an international company.
- Fair pay and company benefits.
- A modern working environment with high-quality technical equipment.
Does this sound like you, and are you interested in a varied range of tasks? Then apply now!
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