This newly created role is ideally positioned for the candidate to take the next stage in their sales career.
The Sales Manager will play a key role in developing new business, strengthening existing customer relationships and supporting the company’s commercial growth.
Reporting directly to the Sales Director, the successful candidate will work closely with the Departmental Managers to identify new opportunities, develop key accounts and convert enquiries and leads into sales.
This is a customer-facing role where regular client visits are a fundamental part of the position. Client visits will include supporting the Sales Director during meetings with key customers, as well as conducting visits independently to develop accounts, address customer needs and generate new sales opportunities.
The role will suit a proactive, commercially minded individual with 3–5 years’ previous sales experience, excellent interpersonal skills and the confidence to engage with customers at all levels.
Experience within the manufacturing or aviation sectors would be highly advantageous.
The position offers hybrid working, with flexibility over where administrative work is completed, however, regular travel to customer sites is essential, and candidates should ideally be located within approximately one hour of the company’s headquarters in Sharston, Greater Manchester, to facilitate office visits encouraging team collaboration, training and participation in key meetings.
Alongside customer-facing activities, the Sales Manager will manage their own workload, follow up on leads and enquiries, prepare proposals and quotations, maintain accurate records within the ERP system and collaborate with internal teams to ensure customer requirements are met.
Main Responsibilities
- Identify prospective customers and generate new sales leads and business opportunities.
- Develop and manage a defined set of accounts, building strong, long-term relationships with customers.
- Undertake regular client visits to strengthen relationships, understand customer needs, identify challenges and uncover new sales opportunities.
- Identify new products, parts and services that could generate business growth.
- Plan and conduct customer visits independently, preparing visit plans and completing detailed visit reports with clear actions and opportunities.
- Proactively follow up on leads, enquiries, opportunities and proposals to convert them into sales.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of ASI’s products and services, communicating their value effectively to customers.
- Sell products and services through face-to-face meetings, telephone calls and video conferences.
- Prepare customer proposals, quotations, commercial offers and sales reports.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity and relevant business data to identify opportunities for growth.
- Represent the company at exhibitions, conferences, trade shows and industry events to raise the company’s profile and develop new business relationships.
- Maintain strong working relationships with operational teams and Project Managers, keeping up to date with project progress and ensuring customer requirements are communicated effectively.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of leads, opportunities, customer interactions and sales activity within the ERP system.
- Respond to customer enquiries and complaints, working proactively to achieve positive outcomes.
- Identify potential new projects, products and markets to support business development and revenue growth.
- Promote a positive, collaborative and commercially focused sales culture across the business.
- Undertake regular business travel, including customer visits at short notice where required, and carry out other reasonable duties in support of company initiatives and services.
Key Skills, Experience & Competencies
- 3–5 years’ sales experience, ideally within a B2B, manufacturing or aviation commercial sales environment.
- Proven ability to develop customer relationships, generate leads and convert opportunities into sales.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage with customers and colleagues at all levels.
- Good negotiation skills and commercial awareness, including an understanding of product costing and pricing.
- A customer-focused approach, with the ability to understand customer requirements and deliver effective solutions.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, manage multiple opportunities and meet deadlines.
- A proactive, self-motivated approach, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
- A good understanding of sales processes, account management and business development.
- Strong IT skills, including a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and Outlook.
- The ability to understand technical product specifications and customer requirements.
- Flexibility and willingness to undertake regular customer visits and travel at short notice.
- A full, valid driving licence and a valid passport with no restrictions to travel.
- ASI will not sponsor visas, candidates must have right to work in UK.
- Previous experience within the manufacturing, aerospace or aviation sectors, ideally in a technical B2B sales environment.
- Knowledge of plastic components, aerospace products and the aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market.
- An understanding of aviation parts, relevant certification requirements and industry standards.
- Experience using ERP systems to manage customer records, sales leads and opportunities.
- Experience using aircraft databases to identify potential customers, parts requirements and sales opportunities.
- Experience of preparing customer proposals, quotations, sales forecasts and commercial reports.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret sales data, market trends and competitor activity.
- Experience coordinating customer projects and working collaboratively with technical, operational and project management teams.
Personal Attributes
The ideal candidate will be:
- Confident and personable: Comfortable building relationships with customers and colleagues at all levels.
- Commercially driven: Motivated to win new business, grow existing accounts and achieve sales targets.
- Customer-focused: Committed to understanding customer needs and delivering excellent service.
- Proactive and organised: Able to manage their own workload, plan customer visits and follow up opportunities effectively.
- Resilient and solutions-focused: Able to overcome challenges, resolve issues and maintain a positive attitude.
- Collaborative: A team player who works effectively with the Sales Director and internal departments to achieve shared business objectives.
- Flexible and adaptable: Comfortable with hybrid working, regular customer travel and changing business priorities.
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