Sales Manager

Job Details

Sales Manager
Based Leighton Buzzard (with national travel as required)
Package: Competitive salary + bonus scheme (OTE circa £55,000), company car or allowance
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday
Sector: Protective Packaging & Manufactured Solutions

Protecting what matters, together
At Macfarlane Packaging, we protect what matters most – our people, our customers, our communities and the environment. With more than 75 years of heritage, we combine long-term stability with a forward-thinking, continuous improvement culture.

You’ll be joining a supportive and collaborative business where expertise is valued, development is encouraged, and everyone has the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution.

About our business
Polyformes, part of Macfarlane Group, has been established for over 40 years and is recognised as one of Europe’s leading polyethylene foam converters. Based from our Leighton Buzzard manufacturing site, we support a wide range of customers with specialist protective packaging and foam conversion solutions.

The Sales Manager Role
This is a genuinely varied and hands-on sales leadership role, combining responsibility for managing an internal sales team with an active customer-facing commercial remit involving regular national travel.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will lead and develop a small internal sales team at our Leighton Buzzard site whilst also taking personal responsibility for developing customer relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and growing existing accounts across the UK.

This position will suit a commercially driven sales professional who enjoys balancing office-based leadership and team development with external customer engagement and field-based business development activity. You should therefore be comfortable both working from site on a regular basis whilst also being happy to travel nationally for customer meetings, account development, trade events, and commercial visits as required.

Working closely with internal teams and senior leadership, you will identify opportunities, present tailored protective packaging solutions, negotiate commercial agreements, and secure profitable new business growth. Alongside leading the internal function, you will play a key role in driving overall sales performance, maintaining pipeline activity, and supporting the wider strategic growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, motivate, and develop the internal sales team, ensuring high standards of performance, service, and accountability
Manage recruitment, onboarding, coaching, appraisals, and ongoing development of sales staff
Set and monitor sales KPIs, objectives, and performance standards across the team
Build and maintain a strong pipeline of new business opportunities through proactive prospecting, networking, referrals, and customer engagement
Develop relationships with both existing and prospective customers across a range of sectors and applications
Conduct customer meetings and site visits nationally to identify opportunities and present tailored packaging solutions
Prepare quotations, solution costings, and commercial proposals in line with company parameters
Negotiate pricing and commercial agreements to maximise margin and long-term account value
Work collaboratively with internal departments including production, operations, and customer service to ensure successful delivery and customer satisfaction
Maintain accurate records of sales activity, opportunities, quotations, and pipeline progression
Manage and develop allocated customer accounts, ensuring excellent levels of service and relationship management
Resolve customer issues and complaints professionally and efficiently
Support the business at trade shows, exhibitions, and customer events where required
Ensure all activity is conducted in accordance with company quality, health & safety, and operational procedures
Keep up to date with technical product developments and market trends

What You Will Bring

Essential

Minimum of two years’ experience in a B2B sales management or commercial leadership role
Previous experience managing or supervising an internal sales/support team
Proven track record of winning new business and achieving commercial growth targets
Strong consultative sales approach with the ability to identify customer needs and deliver tailored solutions
Experience generating opportunities through proactive prospecting, networking, and account development activity
Commercial awareness with the ability to negotiate effectively and manage margins
Comfortable balancing office/site-based leadership responsibilities with regular external travel for customer visits/meetings.
Self-motivated, organised, and capable of managing multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment
Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and CRM systems
Full UK driving licence

Desirable

Experience within packaging, manufacturing, foam conversion, distribution, or a related technical product environment
Experience working within a solutions-led manufacturing or bespoke products environment
Familiarity with technical or protective packaging applications

What You Will Get
We provide a competitive salary package alongside a rewarding bonus structure and a comprehensive range of benefits, which can include:

21 days annual leave (rising with service) plus bank holidays
Company car or cash allowance
Contributory pension scheme
Extensive training and development opportunities
Health and dental cover options for qualifying roles

Your Future With Us
At Macfarlane Group, we actively support career progression and internal mobility. This role offers genuine long-term opportunities within a successful and growing business, supported by structured development plans and ongoing training.

You’ll have access to both internal expertise and external development programmes, including accredited pathways with organisations such as the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) and the Institute of Sales Professionals (ISP).

How to Apply/Next Steps
We are moving quickly to identify high-calibre candidates and expect to begin interviews shortly. Please click ‘apply’ to submit your up-to-date CV. All applications will be acknowledged. If you have not heard from us within 2-3 weeks, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender expression, religion, or sexual orientation. Should you require any support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our recruitment team directly.

No recruitment agencies please