Director of Sales & Business Operations – Long-Term Path to General Manager
Location: New Brunswick, NJ
On-Target Earnings (Base + Bonus): $220,000-$250,000
Base Salary: $160,000-$170,000 + Bonus
Benefits: Medical Insurance, SEP-IRA with employer match, Holidays, Vacation, Travel Reimbursement
Job Type: Full-Time
Start Date: ASAP
Travel: 15–20%, primarily air travel throughout the U.S. & Canada
Sponsorship is not available
Director of Sales & Business Operations: Company Overview
Our client has been in business for more than 30 years under the same ownership team and is a privately owned manufacturer serving commercial and industrial customers with engineered electrical components and power-related solutions. With just 12 employees generating more than $14 million in annual revenue, each individual has a meaningful impact on the business. The company works closely with customers from initial specifications and quoting through manufacturing and ongoing account management, with a significant Fortune 500 customer base and a strong foundation of repeat, diversified business.
Director of Sales & Business Operations: Why This Position Exists
The first phase of the role is intentionally focused on sales and business development. This individual will assume responsibility for a defined group of sales territories while working closely with the ownership team to develop a strong understanding of the company's products, terminology, pricing philosophy, quoting process, and customer base. As their knowledge of the business grows, they will gradually take on broader commercial strategy and leadership responsibilities.
Initial Focus: First 6 to 18 Months
• Assume individual responsibility for a defined group of sales territories, building relationships with existing customers and identifying new business opportunities.
• Develop a strong understanding of the company's products, terminology, pricing philosophy, and quoting process.
• Build familiarity with the company's customers, sales process, and overall commercial approach.
• Gradually transition into broader commercial strategy and leadership responsibilities as their knowledge of the business grows.
Long-Term Opportunity: Director of Sales to Vice President to General Manager
While sales will remain at the heart of the position, the long-term vision is for this individual to gradually assume responsibility for the broader direction of the business as the ownership team transitions toward retirement. As the company continues to grow, so will the opportunity to expand the commercial organization and build additional infrastructure around the role.
The goal is not to move away from customers or sales, but to combine commercial leadership with broader responsibility for the overall success of the business while preserving the entrepreneurial, customer-first culture that has defined the company for more than three decades.
What Makes This Role Unique
This isn't a traditional sales leadership role. While roughly 75% of your time will be focused on sales and business development, you'll also be responsible for everything that comes with supporting custom projects. That includes reviewing customer specifications, interpreting and modifying technical drawings to meet international requirements, developing pricing, coordinating with manufacturing, and helping move projects from quotation through production.
As your knowledge of the business grows, so will your leadership responsibilities. While the long-term opportunity is to help lead the company, sales will remain at the heart of the role. If you're looking to transition into a purely operational leadership position with limited customer interaction, this likely isn't the right fit. The ownership team believes sales is the heartbeat of the business and expects its future leader to remain actively involved with customers while helping drive the company's continued growth.
Director of Sales & Business Operations: Minimum Qualifications
• 5+ years of leadership experience overseeing sales operations and commercial strategy.
• Proven experience leading and developing a sales team, including coaching, setting sales strategy, and driving performance.
• Experience developing pricing strategies with a strong understanding of margins, profitability, and commercial decision making.
• P&L ownership with the ability to interpret financial statements and make sound business decisions.
• Experience selling technical electronic products through distribution channels, directly to OEMs, or a combination of both.
• Experience managing complex, project-based sales opportunities from initial customer engagement through quotation, production, and ongoing account management.
• Success working in an entrepreneurial or small to mid-sized organization where balancing multiple responsibilities was expected.
• Travel Required: <20%, primarily one week of overnight travel every six weeks.
• Willing to work onsite in New Brunswick when not traveling.