Director of Sales, Oil & Gas Insulation

Director of Sales, Oil & Gas Insulation

Our client in Houston, Texas is seeking a Director of Sales, Oil & Gas Insulation for a Direct Hire opportunity. This position will lead growth within the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, and Industrial markets across North America.

Client Profile

Our client is a global manufacturer of engineered insulation products and solutions serving industrial and energy markets. The organization has an established North American presence and a highly collaborative sales structure supported by technical experts, engineers, scientists, and a broader sales organization.

The Industrial/Energy segment represents one of the organizations most significant global growth opportunities. The company currently holds a relatively small share of the market and sees substantial opportunity to expand the business over the next several years. The incoming leader will have the visibility, resources, and organizational support to play a significant role in that growth. 

Director of Sales, Oil & Gas Insulation

The Director of Sales, Oil & Gas Insulation will be responsible for leading, maintaining, and increasing the companys presence in the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, and Industrial markets throughout North America to profitably grow sales.

This is a highly visible growth position for a commercially driven leader who understands the Industrial/Energy marketplace and can build relationships throughout the oil and gas project ecosystem. The organization provides significant product and technical support, making industry knowledge, relationships, and the ability to open doors particularly important to success.

Director of Sales, Oil & Gas / Energy Responsibilities

Lead and set business strategy, direction, and development for the Industrial/Energy business in North America

Manage and maximize sales and margins 

Lead an established team supporting both technical sales and field sales activities

Leverage the resources and relationships of the companys broader North American sales organization to support growth

Maintain and develop strong customer relationships with influencers and decision makers at all levels, including material and technical authorities, engineering and procurement personnel, and senior managers

Develop relationships with major end users, insulation contractors, international engineering companies, and distributors

Create and defend secure client specifications at all stages of projects, from front end design and detailed design through procurement and installation

Identify opportunities early in the project lifecycle and develop the relationships necessary to introduce and specify the companys solutions

Liaise with regional supply chain and customer service departments to ensure consistent information flow and responsiveness regarding Industrial/Energy materials

Support global efforts to expand the Industrial/Energy business with teams throughout South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific

Support and lead, where appropriate, participation in trade shows, industry associations, and standards committees

The current business has an approximately $20 million budget for the coming year with expectations for significant growth over the next two to three years. The Director will have the opportunity to help shape that growth while leading an established team of approximately five direct reports. 

Director of Sales, Oil & Gas Insulation Background Profile

Required Qualifications

Bachelors degree in a relevant field

Minimum 10 years of experience in the Industrial/Energy industry

High level of technical understanding of competitor insulation products

Strong technical affinity with the ability to identify and communicate technical functional requirements and performance characteristics

Strong IT and analytical skills

Effective communication and presentation skills at all levels within an organization

Proven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects

Results oriented and highly motivated team player with a strong desire to work with counterparts across different divisions to promote and grow sales globally

Willingness to travel approximately 50%

Ability to excel in a cross cultural, global team environment

Professional written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work independently and multitask in a fast paced environment

Proven experience creating technical solutions with end users and being perceived as a technical and commercial equal 

Preferred Qualifications

Engineering or physics degree preferred

Industrial insulation experience preferred 

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate brings established experience within the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, or broader Industrial/Energy ecosystem and has developed meaningful industry relationships over time.

The company is open to candidates from adjacent areas of the market, including insulation, piping, coatings, and related technical products. Direct aerogel experience is not required. The organization has engineers, scientists, and other technical resources available to train and support the right individual on its specific products.

More important is finding someone who understands the market, has established credibility and relationships, and can get in front of the people influencing major industrial projects. The company is not necessarily looking for someone who can bring a portable book of business. They are looking for someone with the industry network and credibility to open doors and create opportunities.

The successful candidate should also have an entrepreneurial mindset and be energized by the opportunity to build a significant business while having the infrastructure and resources of an established global organization behind them.

Features and Benefits

25% target bonus at the Director level

PTO and Holiday Pay

Multiple health and beneift plans

Support from the broader North American sales organization

Access to engineers, scientists, and technical experts for product and application support

Significant visibility with North American and global leadership

Opportunity to lead one of the organizations largest global growth initiatives

Opportunity to help grow a business currently budgeted at approximately $20 million toward a significantly larger North American operation

Approximately 50% travel