National Sales Manager

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.

Key Responsibilities

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

Essential

• 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)
• 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!