Sales Team Lead

Overview

This is an opportunity to take charge of sales leadership for a well-established national safety product distribution business in New Zealand. The position is based in the Waikato/BOP region and focuses on both team leadership and commercial growth across a territory showing strong momentum in the construction market.

The role is permanent and field-based, with responsibility for leading a team of five Account Managers operating across Hamilton, Rotorua, and Tauranga. It combines hands-on coaching, performance management, customer relationship development, and revenue growth.

What You Will Do

• Spend regular time in the field with each team member to coach capability, observe activity, and provide practical feedback that improves consistency.
• Set clear expectations around sales activity, hold the team accountable in a constructive way, and create individual development plans.
• Look after your own portfolio of important accounts while also generating new business, especially within the expanding construction sector in Waikato/BOP.
• Help Account Managers improve conversion rates through solution-led selling, upselling, and attention to margin.
• Develop and sustain senior-level customer relationships, including connections with owners and chief executives.
• Ensure the team uses the CRM properly so activity records and pipeline reporting remain accurate and visible.
• Work closely with internal partners across Category, Trade Centres, Marketing, Pricing, and Sales Operations.

Skills and Experience

• Experience leading sales teams in a field-based environment, with the ability to manage performance while preserving a healthy team culture.
• A coaching-first leadership style that involves working alongside people in the field rather than simply directing from a distance.
• Strong commercial judgement and a consistent record of meeting revenue and margin goals.
• Background in solution selling and handling relationship-driven sales processes that often take three months or longer.
• Experience in FMCG, safety, industrial, or similarly structured sales environments is preferred, though candidates from other backgrounds may be considered if they are strong hands-on leaders and coaches.
• Confidence building relationships and engaging effectively with senior stakeholders both internally and externally.
• High emotional intelligence and the flexibility to guide a team through change and growth.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a high-autonomy leadership role with an engaged team and a region that is actively growing. The construction activity in Waikato/BOP is creating meaningful new business potential, and the team is already progressing well. The position suits someone who is comfortable being both a leader and a doer: visible, supportive, and actively involved in the field.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their CV through the application process provided. For a confidential conversation, contact Jessica Walker on 021 244 6405 or email [email protected].