Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Area Sales Manager – Commercial to join a global organisation operating within the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and aviation industry.
Reporting directly to the Vice President of Commercial Sales & Service, the Area Sales Manager will be responsible for maintaining and expanding business across an assigned portfolio of commercial customer accounts throughout North America.
This is a highly visible, customer-facing position offering the opportunity to work closely with some of the most recognised commercial aviation customers across the region. The successful candidate will take ownership of key relationships, identify opportunities for growth and support customers throughout the lifecycle of the equipment.
The role involves significant travel across the assigned territory, with occasional international travel.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage key commercial customer accounts and develop long-term relationships across the assigned territory.
- Remain actively involved with customers throughout the equipment lifecycle, from initial commissioning through to ongoing service and support requirements.
- Identify opportunities to expand existing customer relationships and introduce additional products and solutions where appropriate.
- Develop a strong technical and commercial understanding of the organisation's products and services to effectively support customers.
- Build trusted relationships with customers at multiple levels of their organisations.
- Develop a strong understanding of key competitors and the wider commercial Ground Support Equipment market to identify new sales opportunities.
- Maintain a strong awareness of customer requirements, market developments and emerging commercial opportunities.
- Participate in national and international sales meetings, providing the leadership team with accurate market and customer insights.
- Collaborate with other members of the sales and service teams on customer proposals and commercial opportunities.
- Utilise ERP systems and internal business tools to generate quotations, reports and other sales documentation.
- Maintain accurate and timely customer, opportunity and sales information.
- Undertake additional responsibilities as required by the wider commercial leadership team.
Qualifications & Experience
The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate the following:
- Bachelor's degree required; a technical or business-related degree would be advantageous.
- Minimum of 5 years' relevant professional experience, with a demonstrable track record of sales success.
- Experience selling technical equipment, machinery, vehicles or related aviation solutions would also be advantageous.
- Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to establish credibility with key customers.
- A proactive, self-motivated approach with the ability to work independently across a large geographical territory.
- Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify and develop new business opportunities.
- Ability to work autonomously, reliably and accurately.
- Strong communication, presentation and customer-management skills.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
- Comfortable working with ERP, CRM and other internal sales systems.
- Mechanical or technical aptitude would be advantageous.
- Strong team player who is comfortable collaborating with sales, service and technical colleagues.
- Willingness and ability to travel overnight up to approximately 70%, including occasional international travel.
- Previous experience within the aviation industry would be advantageous.
What's on Offer
This is an excellent opportunity to join an established and growing international organisation within the aviation and Ground Support Equipment sector.
The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package, significant autonomy across the assigned territory, exposure to major commercial aviation customers and the opportunity to build a long-term career within a stable global business.
The successful candidate will also benefit from extensive customer interaction, national and international travel, and the opportunity to work with a broad portfolio of specialist Ground Support Equipment and aviation solutions.