Area Sales Manager

We are proud to be one of Knutsford's largest privately owned employers. There are always opportunities for people with Engineering, Sales or Purchasing experience. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates who have prior experience in the valve or petrochemical industries.

Job Title - Area Sales Manager

Location - must be based within the Home Counties region - ideally residing in or near the RG, OX, HP, LU, MK, SG, AL, SL, WD or EN postcode areas - to effectively cover the assigned sales territory.

The Oliver Valves Group of Companies is one of the world's leading manufacturers of instrumentation, subsea, and pipeline valves for the global oil, gas, and energy sectors. With over 45 years of engineering excellence, we design and deliver high-quality valve solutions trusted by major operators and contractors worldwide. Our Group comprises Oliver Valves, Oliver Valvetek, Oliver Twinsafe Valves, and Oliver Hydcovalves, with operations in the UK, India, Malaysia, and the UAE. We take pride in our innovation, technical expertise, and commitment to safety, reliability, and customer service.

We are seeking a driven and commercially focused Area Sales Manager with a background in engineering to develop and manage sales across the Oliver Valves product range within a defined region. This is a key position for someone passionate about building long-term relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and influencing major specifications with end users, contractors, and OEMs.

You will take ownership of your territory which will include the Southern Region of the UK, along with some international coverage, working closely with distributors and customers to achieve annual sales targets, expand market share, and deliver profitable growth for the Oliver Valves Group.

• Develop and manage sales for the full range of Oliver Valves products within the assigned territory.
• Achieve annual sales targets as agreed with the Sales Director.
• Build strong relationships with End Users, Contractors, OEMs, and Distributors to influence product specification and secure orders.
• Manage and expand distribution channels to drive year-on-year revenue growth.
• Identify and appoint new distributors aligned with company requirements.
• Proactively identify new OEM clients and secure new business opportunities.
• Track and convert project opportunities into profitable orders.
• Deliver strategic account management for key customers throughout the sales lifecycle.
• Collaborate with the wider sales team and senior management to meet revenue, profit, and market share goals.
• Provide market intelligence and client feedback to support product innovation and business strategy.
• Represent Oliver Valves at exhibitions, customer seminars, and industry events.
• Prepare and share relevant marketing materials and PR content with the Marketing Department.
• Spend up to 80% of time in external client meetings, maintaining close contact with the market.

You are an ambitious, self-motivated sales professional with a strong technical background and a proven ability to deliver results in a competitive industrial market.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven experience in technical or solution-based sales, ideally within valves, flow control, oil & gas, or related engineering sectors.
• Strong understanding of the sales cycle from specification through to order conversion.
• Experience managing distributor networks and developing OEM or End User relationships.
• Demonstrable record of achieving or exceeding sales targets.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and customer requirements.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the assigned territory (up to 80% travel).
• Engineering qualification (mechanical or related discipline).
• Familiarity with major industry standards and client approval processes
• Experience using CRM systems and managing key account pipelines.

• 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with tenure
• Pension, Medi-cash, and life assurance schemes
• Comprehensive training and product support
• Opportunity to work with an established British manufacturer with a global footprint
• Career growth and international exposure within a technically advanced and respected organisation

Ready to be part of the team?

If you have the passion and drive to take on this Area Sales Manager position, apply now