About the role
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!
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