Sales & Marketing Director (MD Designate)

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a well-funded, highly innovative healthcare/medical device start-up.

12 months after releasing their patented prototype, and with £multi-million interest from several major global corporations, they have begun early-stage deliveries of their first innovative product, already receiving unprecedented universally positive feedback

Their ground-breaking yet simple patented product, developed over a 10 year timescale, is the result of significant technical and intellectual firepower coupled with the commercial/business-brain of a renowned, supportive Chairman.

As the business secures further funding to accelerate the development, bring all manufacturing processes in-house and increase production to satisfy demand, a key step is the appointment a highly-commercial Sales & Marketing Director.

The appointee will take ownership of the commercial strategy, designing and developing the sales strategy across numerous markets, verticals and international territories, both directly and through a distribution network.

This key role will drive the commercial growth of the business over the short to medium term and assure it’s long term success. The role as Sales & Marketing Director is an outstanding opportunity to not only take a key role in an exciting, entrepreneurial and innovative business, but to be a key part of, and benefit from, the business’s future.

This executive appointee will take full responsibility for commercial growth through sales and business development; supported, mentored and with significant input from the Chairman, who himself possesses over 40 years of business leadership experience and the technical/engineering teams.

They will be expected to design, own and deliver the sales and business development strategy ensuring optimum commercial success, market exposure, and maximum customer experience.

Regardless of the strength of the patented technology, profitable sales growth is critical to the success of this business. The Sales & Marketing Director will lead from the front. The embryonic nature of this business dictates that the appointee will be very hands on for the initial phase of the business and its launch. Team development will come, but the personal sales success of the Sales & Marketing Director will be critical.

That said, being an inspirational leader will be vital alongside leading by example and ‘getting your hands dirty’. The sales process relies on leveraging the technical brains and functions in the business and engaging relationships, internally and externally at a senior strategic level, but especially within the client base, both directly and through the distribution network.

The Sales & Marketing Director will be the face of the business, a figurehead and motivational trailblazer. The appointee will work with a very varied team from finance to technicians and engineers; the ability to engage with colleagues from scientific and back-office functions will be essential.

Alongside driving sales, they will seek to continually improve operational standards, applying an operational excellence approach and drive forward new initiatives and innovations to constantly improve revenue and profitability.

Taking the lead with the commercial design and planning for the group, the appointee will be tasked with communicating the operational and commercial vision for the business, with internal and external support where required, and will be the key to exceeding expectations in this innovative and potential-filled business. Operational efficiency is key in the early ‘launch-phase’ and will form a strong foundation to enable maximum commercial and financial benefit to be gained from the business, but driving top-line growth will be paramount to long-term success.

Suitable candidates will have a significant, high-achieving sales and business development career with a technical product, ideally within a technical healthcare/medical device manufacturing environment. They will ideally also possess some degree of technical/engineering understanding; but their recent focus will be highly commercial sales and business development focus.

This is not a stand still role.The career potential for this role is uncapped. It is expected the individual will quickly progress to a more general management role, assuming the role of Managing Director in the medium term.

The product is already experiencing significant interest, and expected to see exponential growth year on year. Sales growth will be dramatic, keep abreast and optimizing the commercial benefit from it will be paramount.

The successful candidate will have significant entrepreneurial ability and desire, and be hugely excited by a very high paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

The priorities of this role include:

• Develop the sales and marketing strategy for the business, identifying business needs, market potential and innovative strategies for long terms success for target sectors/target customers in line with company objectives
• Measure the achievement of the strategy and the business plan with regular reviews
• Deliver the results in accordance with the strategy and agreed plans identifying areas for profitable growth.  To assume responsibility for the performance, conduct and motivation of the department.
• To understand the market environment, to lead the department effectively, providing clear direction, motivation and enthusiasm to ensure all work towards common goals
• To lead and develop the sales team, ensuring maximum productivity, effectiveness and customer facing skills to ensure a high-performance culture of business excellence and continuous improvement
• Manage the sales reporting on a regular basis to assess company performance against KPIs for revenue, margin, order size and conversion. Ensure an effective sales pipeline and lead tracking process
• Manage the implementation of the Marketing strategy – including campaigns, events, digital marketing, website and PR, social media presence and direct programs to improve social media reputation and recognition.
• To derive and maintain the positioning of the business as a strategic partner with major customers to deliver contacts through meetings/visits to site as well as supporting customer visits to our facility.
• Undertake continuous analysis of competitive environment to fully understand competitor positions and strategy to develop market share
• Ensuring the CRM is being effectively and provides a competitive advantage
• Control of contract documentation to ensure the commercial suitability of all contracts that the risk, contractual obligations, profitability and cash flow are all in line with the business needs and meet the financial targets set

Specific Performance Deliverables and KPIs:

• The sales and profit performance of the Company.
• Enterprise Value of the business.
• Setting and delivery of the Sales & Marketing Strategy
• Meeting various deadlines
• Accuracy of budgets and forecasts
• Customer satisfaction performance 
• Input into cost reduction solutions
• Improvement and delivery of management information

The appointee will impress from first meeting. They will on the up in their career and on a definite career path, with ascension to the role of Managing Director in their sights. They will be strategic in their approach, constantly seeking fresh ideas, fresh markets, looking at broadening their, and the company’s market. They will be adept at long term planning, and communicating with, and knowing their market, it’s trends and be able to accurately forecast because of it. But they will still love to sell. This is a small entrepreneurial business; the Sales & Marketing Director will lead by example and the best candidates will still want it that way.

Core Capabilities:

• Results driven
• Customer service focus
• Leadership capabilities
• Planning and monitoring
• Judgement and decision-making
• Forward thinking
• Excellent verbal and written communication, consulting and networking skills
• Excellent negotiation and numeracy skills
• Ability to lead, and work within a team
• Excellent people management skills
• Integrity
• Self-motivated
• Ability to prioritise workloads, meet deadlines and maintain accuracy at all times
• Ability to work independently and with the vision to ensure customer development
• Must be able to travel when required

Qualifications & Experience:

• Preferably degree educated
• Experience of the Medical Device/Healthcare sector; manufacturing or supply-chain
• Strong and demonstrable exposure to key network organisations
• Experience of selling and dealing with ‘value added’ highly technical services/products
• Demonstrable ability to lead process changes
• Excellent communication and listening skills, both internally and externally and appreciation of cultural requirements
• Ability to tailor communications to the appropriate audience.

This is a career defining, fantastic opportunity for an experienced, operationally aware and commercial client-facing professional, with exposure to the Medical Device sector, to add significant value to an exciting, disruptive business, and reap the rewards to doing so.