Sales Director

Industrial Water Treatment & Specialty Chemical Solutions (Canada)

About the Opportunity

A growing provider of industrial water treatment and specialty chemical solutions is seeking a Sales Director to lead commercial activities across Canada. This role is responsible for driving profitable growth, developing talent, strengthening customer relationships, and executing strategic business objectives throughout the region.

This is a true player-coach position requiring both direct customer engagement and leadership of a commercial team. The successful candidate will leverage their industry network, develop future leaders, expand market presence, and work cross-functionally to ensure long-term customer success and business growth.

Position Summary

The Sales Director is responsible for leading regional sales strategy, customer retention, account growth, forecasting, budgeting, and team development. This individual will serve as a key commercial leader while maintaining active involvement with customers and strategic accounts.

The role requires a balance of leadership, technical understanding, business acumen, and relationship-building capabilities. Success will be measured through revenue growth, customer retention, talent development, forecasting accuracy, and overall business performance.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Leadership & Growth

• Develop and execute regional sales strategies aligned with business objectives
• Drive revenue growth through expansion of existing accounts and acquisition of new business opportunities
• Leverage industry relationships and professional networks to generate new opportunities
• Identify target applications, markets, and strategic growth initiatives
• Ensure achievement of sales, margin, and profitability goals

Customer Relationship Management

• Foster strong executive-level and operational relationships across key accounts
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and long-term retention
• Conduct business reviews and strategic planning sessions with customers
• Address customer concerns and escalate issues as needed to ensure timely resolution
• Promote a customer-focused culture throughout the commercial organization

Value Creation & Continuous Improvement

• Champion a total-value approach focused on delivering measurable customer outcomes
• Identify opportunities to improve customer performance and reduce operating costs
• Support implementation of process improvements, chemical solutions, and technology-driven initiatives
• Drive documentation and tracking of project value and business impact
• Promote continuous improvement across customers and internal teams

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing commercial team
• Create succession plans and support long-term talent development initiatives
• Provide ongoing mentoring, training, and performance coaching
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth
• Support onboarding and development of future commercial leaders

Forecasting, Budgeting & Business Planning

• Lead regional forecasting, budgeting, and commercial planning activities
• Ensure accurate sales forecasts and pipeline management
• Monitor business performance against key financial and operational targets
• Review results regularly and implement corrective actions where needed
• Participate in sales and operations planning processes to support business objectives

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with operations, technical service, supply chain, customer service, and leadership teams
• Ensure alignment between customer needs and business priorities
• Support implementation of strategic initiatives across the region
• Communicate market trends, customer feedback, and competitive insights to internal stakeholders

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree
• 10+ years of sales, business development, or commercial leadership experience
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and developing talent
• Proven track record of revenue growth and account expansion
• Strong forecasting, budgeting, and business planning capabilities
• Ability to build relationships across all levels of customer organizations
• Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making abilities

Preferred

• Experience within industrial water treatment, specialty chemicals, pulp & paper, or related process industries
• Experience managing regional or national sales organizations
• Knowledge of strategic account management methodologies
• Experience working within a matrixed or cross-functional business environment

Core Competencies

Drives Engagement

Creates an environment where employees are motivated and empowered to achieve business objectives.

Ensures Accountability

Holds self and others accountable for commitments, performance, and results.

Collaborates

Builds strong partnerships across teams and functions to achieve shared goals.

Communicates Effectively

Delivers clear and impactful communication tailored to diverse audiences.

Develops Talent

Invests in employee growth and creates opportunities for long-term career development.

Why Join?

This opportunity offers the chance to lead a growing commercial organization, influence regional strategy, and make a meaningful impact on both customer outcomes and business performance. The role combines leadership, customer engagement, and strategic planning while providing a platform to build high-performing teams and drive sustainable growth across the Canadian market.