Business Development Manager in Knutsford, Cheshire

About the Organisation

We are a family-owned global leader that produces ultra-critical valves for the world's oil, gas, and hydrogen industries, where exceptional quality and on-time delivery are critical. With operations spanning the UK, USA, Dubai, Malaysia, and India, alongside a world-class Research & Development centre, we have ambitious plans to grow well beyond our current £100m turnover.

Our culture is agile, entrepreneurial, and decisive-completely free from layers of bureaucracy, endless committees, or slow-moving approval processes. We deeply value common sense, accountability, and direct action.

The Role & Opportunity

This is a high-profile, standalone global executive opportunity. You will be joining a brand-new, dedicated business unit backed by the massive infrastructure, financial strength, and reputation of our long-established global parent company.

As the sole person developing business for this new venture, you will have complete autonomy to spearhead worldwide opportunities, managing and scaling the sales of an entire innovative product range of valves for hydrogen and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) applications from the ground up. This role is fully collaborative and integrated with our core operations, requiring you to be based at our head office 5 days a week when not travelling internationally.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the sole commercial driver to develop sales of the specialised valve product range across assigned global territories.
• Identify new customers and project opportunities in emerging markets, building a robust pipeline and converting opportunities into orders.
• Build deep, technical relationships with engineering, maintenance, and shutdown teams at end-user organisations.
• Appoint, onboard, and manage international distributors and agents to accelerate regional market growth.
• Secure and maintain critical product pre-qualifications and Approved Manufacturers List (AML) approvals.
• Collaborate daily with the wider group's onsite inside sales, aftermarket, and project teams to support global customers through to project completion.
• Represent the organisation at high-level customer meetings, international exhibitions, seminars, and technical presentations.

What We Are Looking For

• Qualifications: A degree in Mechanical or Instrumentation Engineering, or a comparable, strong technical background.
• Expertise: Deep knowledge of valves and associated engineered products within the oil and gas or off-highway equipment sectors.
• Experience: Significant, proven sales experience in a relevant industry. You must have the confidence and capability to operate as a self-sufficient, standalone business developer.
• Global Capability: Demonstrated success developing business in international markets, with a proven ability to negotiate and close high-value sales.
• Communication: Exceptional gravitas and the ability to communicate confidently with technical teams, commercial contacts, and C-suite decision-makers.
• Mindset: A highly proactive, entrepreneurial approach with the drive to take global opportunities from initial contact through to completion without needing close management.

Remuneration & Package

• Base Salary: Competitive basic salary up to £100,000 depending on experience.
• Bonus: Performance-related bonus scheme.
• Allowances: £6,500 annual car allowance.
• Benefits: Attractive fringe benefits package designed for a key strategic appointment.

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INDFIR

The Portfolio Group are acting on behalf of our client in recruiting for this position.