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

Requirements

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)

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!