Managing Director (Material Handling Equipment, Process Equipment) - Sales and Business Development

Location: Chicago Area. Candidates must live within reasonable commuting distance of the facility. The role requires travel for customer engagements and internal meetings, including periodic visits to the company's German HQ.

Please note, we are happy to provide the full job specification, including all relevant information and details, upon request for interested candidates.

Company Profile

The company is a well-established US subsidiary of a privately held global leader in designing and manufacturing industrial machinery. With over a century of innovation and expertise, the company specializes in vibratory, thermal processing, and air separation equipment, serving diverse industries such as recycling, mining, automotive, plastics, and food production. Headquartered in Germany, the company operates globally with approximately 1,200 employees. It has seen significant growth, including recent strategic acquisitions of complementary US manufacturers to expand its product portfolio and market reach.

In the US, the company boasts a strong track record, with sales, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities based in the Chicago area since 2006. To support its rapid expansion, the company has acquired a newly renovated production facility in the Southeast, doubling its manufacturing and warehouse capacity. With approximately 30 employees across two locations, the company is seeking a dynamic Managing Director to drive the next phase of its growth journey.

Opportunity Summary

The company is seeking a self-motivated, technically adept team player to take on the role of Managing Director for their US subsidiary. The ideal candidate will be sales-driven, possess a strong technical background, and demonstrate a proven ability to communicate and foster collaboration across departments. As the company continues its growth, the Managing Director will lead sales efforts for large mechanical equipment, targeting both new and existing customers across the US. This individual will focus on building and maintaining strong client relationships while ensuring operational excellence. The successful candidate will bring expertise in sales, finance, operations, and engineering, along with a strong commitment to teamwork and stakeholder engagement.

This opportunity is ideal for a professional passionate about driving results and fostering collaboration within a dynamic, diverse, and growth-oriented team environment that values long-term success and an entrepreneurial mindset.

General Requirements

• Proven leadership experience with at least 10 years of direct, hands-on experience in selling large mechanical equipment, ideally within one or more of the following industries: mining, foundry, stamping, forging, fasteners, plastics, or dry chemicals.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field. Further master's degree in engineering or MBA in finance, strategic planning and/or management highly desired.
• Prior P&L responsibility and experience managing cross-functional teams.
• Prior work experience in German/European industry is a plus.
• Team oriented player that understands what it takes to coordinate numerous different people and personalities to be effective and efficient.
• High ethical standards, personal integrity, positive attitude and honesty.

Sales Requirements

• A proven track record of successful sales across all levels, including engineering and C-suite executives.
• Direct experience managing multiple long-cycle sales processes.
• Strong understanding and application of solution-selling techniques.
• Experience in developing and supporting sales representative networks.
• Hands-on marketing experience is a plus.
• Proficiency in CRM systems is required; experience with CRM system implementation is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and generate quotations autonomously.

Technical Requirements

• Strong understanding of large machine design and manufacturing operations is required.
• Knowledge of material handling equipment and processes is highly desirable.
• Experience with vibratory equipment and/or metal conveyors is preferred.
• Familiarity with stage-gate processes for developing and launching new products is a plus.
• Ability to understand customer needs, translate them for internal evaluation, and effectively communicate technical solutions back to the customer.

What the company offers:

You'll lead a highly skilled, results-driven team and play a central role in driving the company's growth. With a strong focus on collaboration, you'll work closely with global leadership, while having the freedom to implement impactful initiatives within a dynamic, forward-thinking company.

The company knows how important health and welfare benefits are to employees and their families. That is why they strive to offer a wide range of benefit plan designs that you might otherwise find only at a larger corporation:

• 20 paid vacation days and 9.5 paid holidays
• Health insurance options, with dental and vision coverage, including potential domestic partner coverage
• 401(k) program
• Life and disability insurance options
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Commuter benefits
• Car allowance
• Additional voluntary benefits available