Head of Sales in Stoke-on-Trent

This is a pivotal opportunity to join a well-established specialist capital equipment rental business at a key inflection point in its growth journey. Following a period of operational stabilisation and internal restructure, the business is now ready to accelerate growth, supported by strong utilisation, a clear five-year plan and the imminent launch of a new, market-leading product.

Backed by a long-standing, family-owned investment group, the business is seeking to appoint a Head of Sales to lead the next phase of commercial development. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role reporting directly to the Managing Director, with genuine influence over strategy, structure and execution.

This is a player-manager position with responsibility for both leading the sales function and personally driving key revenue opportunities. The focus is on new business acquisition, successful launch of a new product, and strengthening sales capability while protecting and growing existing customer relationships.

Key elements of the role include:

• Ownership and delivery of the overall sales strategy during a critical growth phase
• Leading the commercial launch of a new product, delivering first-year volume targets
• Personally winning new key accounts, particularly within UK food manufacturing and food logistics
• Maintaining close oversight of strategic existing customers, ensuring retention, renewals and expansion
• Developing a stronger hunter-led sales culture alongside effective account management
• Reviewing and evolving the sales operating model, including structure, coverage and incentives
• Operating with commercial autonomy on pricing and deal structures within agreed parameters
• Using CRM to drive pipeline discipline, forecasting accuracy and customer engagement
• Contributing to the longer-term development of a future pharmaceutical-focused solution

The role sits on the Senior Leadership Team but is not a statutory board appointment (at this time).

We are looking for a commercially astute, credible sales leader who enjoys being hands-on and close to the market. You are likely to have:

• Senior sales leadership experience (Head of Sales, Sales Director or similar) within specialist capital equipment rental or a technically complex B2B environment
• A strong track record of new business acquisition and key account growth
• Experience selling capital equipment into food manufacturing and/or food logistics or pharmaceutical manufacturing environments
• A background operating in a player-manager role, personally leading major deals
• Confidence in managing pricing, margins and deal structures
• Experience of consultative, solutions-led selling rather than purely transactional models
• A practical, action-oriented leadership style with the gravitas to operate at senior level
• High levels of integrity and discretion in a competitive market

Why join?

• A business at a genuine growth inflection point, not a turnaround
• Strong backing from a supportive, cash-rich parent group
• A newly launched, innovative product with clear market demand
• Direct access to, and influence with, the Managing Director
• The opportunity to shape the sales strategy, structure and culture
• A down-to-earth, commercially focused environment with short decision lines
• A role that can grow significantly in scope as the business expands with future succession planning opportunities

Location: North Midlands HQ. This role will involve regular travel throughout the UK; but candidates should ideally live within a reasonable commuting distance of the North Midlands.

Application Process: Apply via LinkedIn or send your CV to