Role Summary
The European Sales Director – Direct Business will be responsible for managing and expanding direct sales operations across Europe, with a strong initial focus on Germany. This leadership role involves direct customer management, oversight of Regional Sales Managers, and strategic expansion into high-potential European markets such as France, Italy, Spain, and Israel.
The position is critical to generating sustainable top-line growth by targeting key customer segments and cultivating long-term strategic accounts in the aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial electronics sectors. This role requires a high degree of collaboration with the Sales Director – Variable Channel Partners (EMEA) to ensure unified go-to-market strategies and business planning.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and manage direct sales operations across Germany and wider Europe, focusing on strategic account development.
* Drive customer engagement plans for direct key accounts in aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial sectors.
* Supervise and support Regional Sales Managers across Europe, ensuring effective sales execution and quota attainment.
* Develop and implement direct sales strategies that align with overall business goals for CTS and AR products.
* Collaborate closely with the Sales Director – Variable Channel Partners to design joint business plans and go-to-market strategies.
* Identify, penetrate, and expand key account segments and defense OEM contractors across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Israel.
* Engage directly with key buyers, program managers, and procurement teams at major customer organizations.
* Take active ownership of accurate forecasting using Salesforce.com and contribute to the monthly SIOP (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning) process.
* Build a high-quality sales funnel, ensure CRM discipline, and drive conversion of opportunities through each sales stage.
* Conduct regular customer visits and participate in strategic negotiations to close high-value deals.
* Report key performance metrics, risks, and business trends to executive leadership on a monthly and quarterly basis.
Qualifications & Experience
Education:
* Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Electronics, or a related technical discipline.
* MBA or relevant management qualifications preferred.
Experience:
* 10+ years of progressive experience in direct sales leadership within electronic test and measurement manufacturing.
* Proven ability to manage direct customers and teams across complex markets, particularly in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Israel.
* Deep knowledge of buyers and procurement cycles in Aerospace, Defense, and Automotive industries.
* Strong track record in strategic account development and driving measurable sales growth.
Skills & Competencies:
* Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
* Strong analytical capabilities for forecasting, sales planning, and funnel management.
* Experience using Salesforce.com for pipeline and forecast accuracy.
* Familiarity with the SIOP process and ability to contribute to supply-demand planning.
* Collaborative mindset with ability to coordinate with channel sales leaders and cross-functional teams.
* Fluency in English; German or French language skills are a plus.
Travel Requirement
* Up to 50% travel across Europe for customer engagement and team management.
Why Join Us?
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to shape the direct sales strategy for one of the leading providers of compliance testing and amplifier technologies. Join a dynamic and collaborative team focused on high performance, innovation, and sustainable market growth.
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