Grafton Recruitment
Strategic Sales Manager
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Strategic Sales Manager (UK)
Reporting to: Managing Director (UK)
Contract: Permanent
Location: UK-based
Salary: £60,000–£70,000 - plus company car and commission
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated, results-driven Strategic Sales Manager to accelerate the growth of our client, a UK aviation business. This is a high-profile, revenue-generating role focused on winning new customers, expanding existing accounts, and driving sustainable sales growth across airports, airlines, and ground handling organisations.
As a key member of the commercial team, you will be responsible for identifying and converting new business opportunities, developing strategic account plans, and building strong relationships with senior decision-makers. You will take ownership of the full sales cycle, from prospecting and opportunity creation through to negotiation, contract award, and long-term account development.
Success in this role will come from your ability to understand customer challenges, position compelling value propositions, and deliver tailored solutions that drive measurable operational and commercial benefits. Working closely with internal stakeholders, you will play a pivotal role in increasing market share, strengthening customer partnerships, and delivering ambitious revenue targets.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially astute sales professional who thrives in a competitive environment, enjoys being in front of customers, and has a proven track record of winning complex B2B sales opportunities and developing strategic client relationships within a consultative sales environment.
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Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute strategic sales plans aligned to UK growth and revenue objectives.
- Identify, qualify, and prioritise new business opportunities across airports, airlines, and ground handling organisations.
- Generate and convert a robust pipeline of opportunities through proactive prospecting, networking, referrals, and industry engagement.
- Build compelling business cases, value propositions, and commercial proposals that clearly demonstrate customer ROI.
- Lead the full sales lifecycle from initial engagement and needs analysis through to negotiation, contract award, and handover.
- Achieve and exceed agreed sales, revenue, and profitability targets.
- Grow strategic accounts by identifying upselling, cross-selling, and long-term partnership opportunities.
- Develop trusted relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers at operational, commercial, and executive levels.
- Represent the business professionally at customer meetings, airports, exhibitions, and industry events across the UK and internationally.
- Collaborate with operations, product, marketing, and customer success teams to deliver seamless solutions and exceptional customer experiences.
- Maintain accurate CRM records, sales forecasts, pipeline reporting, and account plans.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging customer requirements to identify new revenue opportunities.
- Share market intelligence and best practice to contribute to a high-performance commercial culture.
- Ensure all sales activities are conducted in line with company policies, contractual obligations, and relevant industry regulations.
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Skills & Experience
Essential
- Proven track record of success in B2B sales, consistently achieving or exceeding revenue and growth targets.
- Strong experience developing and implementing strategic sales and business development plans.
- Demonstrated ability to win new business and manage complex sales opportunities.
- Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Experience engaging and influencing senior stakeholders and decision-makers.
- Commercially astute, highly motivated, and results-oriented.
- Strong pipeline management, forecasting, and account planning capabilities.
- Proficient in CRM systems and sales reporting tools.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Willingness to travel extensively throughout the UK and occasionally internationally.
Desirable
- Experience within aviation, airport services, ground handling, logistics, or other operationally focused industries.
- Understanding of airport operations and key aviation stakeholders.
- Experience selling solutions, services, technology, or operational products to enterprise customers.
- Existing network of contacts within the aviation sector.
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