Sales Manager / General Manager USA

OUR CLIENT

On behalf of our client, ROPEBLOCK, we are seeking a Sales Manager/GM for the U.S.  This is an excellent career opportunity for a motivated, charismatic sales professional who will help the company to develop and grow the US market to the next level. The ideal candidate will have experience selling technical products to OEMs in the mechanical equipment industry. The position is based in Richmond, VA.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Established in 1994, Ropeblock is a globally renowned developer and manufacturer of lifting and rigging hardware. Market leading crane manufacturers as well as large end-users call upon the company’s expertise to meet the specific challenges they are faced with. Its products are used in critical equipment such as mobile cranes, port cranes, ship cranes, offshore cranes and platforms, dredging equipment, pendant structures, mooring systems, and in the heavy lift industry.

Company website: https://ropeblock.com/

POSITION SUMMARY

In this role you will report directly to the Commercial Manager, who is based in Europe and who travels to the US. on a regular basis. Your office will be at the company’s warehouse facility in Richmond, VA.

As the Sales Manager U.S.  (70% job scope)  

After an onboarding and training period, which will include a visit to the headquarters and manufacturing plant in Europe, you will develop and manage customers and prospects in the USA. These customers are spread over multiple market segments (Construction, Cargo Handling, Mining, Industry). All market segments find a common ground in the lifting & rigging profession. You draw up a plan for your area and bring it into action. To do so, you are trusted with considerable freedom with the support of management and the sales team. Account development (existing and new accounts) and technical consultation focus on long-term relationship building and growth of the North American market, involving frequent travel (30–40%).

As the General Manager (30% job scope)

You will manage the warehouse in the US, from where the finished product is shipped directly to our customers. You will supervise a full-time warehouse employee.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and manage customers and prospects in your area, adopting an integrated approach, systematically planning, and implementing sales and marketing activities.
• Understand customer applications and prepare suitable customer advice based on this.
• Establish, develop, and maintain strong business relationships with current customers in assigned areas to generate new sales of the company’s product lines.
• Visit the customers within the assigned area to collect the required information to submit to management/headquarters to prepare the quotations for the product lines to be submitted to the customer.
• Introduce customers to the internal organisation (communication and knowledge sharing) and play a leading role in account teams for your own key accounts.
• Assist in the resolution of customer problems and complaints.
• Maintain a high level of technical knowledge of the company’s product lines as well as the customer’s application process.
• Participate in trade shows, industry trade meetings, and other sessions as required.
• Maintain regular reporting to management about projects incl. maintaining an updated overview of the project pipeline.
• Manage the local warehouse in the USA.
• Expect travel to be 30-40% of your time, mainly in the USA, as well as occasional international travel.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Competitive compensation package, base salary plus bonus plus car allowance.
• Benefits package to include Health, Dental, Vision, and 401(k).
• Excellent career growth opportunity with an international growing company. Be part of a motivated and highly supportive team.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• An engineering degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in a technical sales role, covering a large region/territory.
• Sales experience in the lifting & rigging industry preferred (not a deal breaker).
• Self-driven, go-getter, sales hunter, thrives by working independently.
• Experience working closely with overseas colleagues in an international working environment is highly preferred.
• Proactive behavior, taking initiative, and seeking continuous improvement.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficient computer skills (MS Office suite, ERP)
• Ability to travel 30-40%, primarily within the region. Occasional international travel for training and collaboration purposes (Europe).