Director of Sales - Battery Recycling

CSG Talent is supporting an innovative German technology company that has developed and patented a process for recycling li-ion batteries.

Unlike conventional recycling routes, the technology achieves high material recovery rates and enables the recovery of materials including lithium & graphite. We are now looking for a Director of Sales to accelerate international growth through the sale and licensing of its recycling processes and associated equipment.

This is not a conventional sales position. You will need to understand the technical process, demonstrate its commercial and environmental advantages, and lead complex discussions with automotive OEMs, cell manufacturers, recyclers and international technology partners.

Working closely with the CEO and wider management team, you will take responsibility for the company's international sales strategy, customer relationships and commercial organisation.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, developing and motivating the sales team.
• Developing and implementing the international sales strategy.
• Progressing existing customer discussions through to contract award.
• Selling and licensing patented battery recycling processes and associated technology
• Preparing proposals and negotiating complex licence, equipment and purchase agreements.
• Building commercial business cases that demonstrate CAPEX, OPEX, recovery advantages against competing technologies.
• Acting as the principal customer contact throughout the complete sales cycle.
• Developing relationships with automotive OEMs, gigafactories, battery manufacturers, recycling companies and industrial partners.
• Building and managing additional international sales and technology partnerships.
• Coordinating with the company's recycling operation regarding the acceptance and processing of end-of-life batteries.
• Monitoring competitors, market developments and customer requirements.
• Introducing appropriate sales governance, CRM processes, forecasting and performance indicators.
• Providing wider commercial input across the business as it moves into its next stage of growth.

Your Background

The successful candidate will combine technical credibility with a proven record of international commercial leadership.

You should bring:

• A completed technical degree, ideally in Mechanical, Chemical, Process or Industrial Engineering.
• Proven success selling complex process technology, engineered systems, capital equipment, industrial plants or technology licences.
• Experience leading and developing an international sales or key account team.
• A strong record of negotiating and closing complex, long cycle commercial agreements.
• The ability to translate technical performance into a compelling commercial business case.
• Experience managing senior relationships with OEMs or other large industrial customers.
• Strong commercial judgement and the confidence to operate with C-level decision makers.
• Experience using CRM and ERP systems to manage pipelines, forecasting and commercial performance.
• Fluent German and English.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Europe and internationally.

Experience within battery recycling, lithium-ion batteries, automotive manufacturing, critical materials, chemical processing or industrial recycling would be highly advantageous.

The Person

This opportunity will suit an entrepreneurial and technically minded sales leader who is comfortable working within a growing, hands on organisation.

You will need to be:

• Commercially ambitious and technically curious.
• Comfortable creating structure while remaining directly involved in customer negotiations.
• Persuasive, credible and confident discussing complex technology.
• Able to motivate a team and collaborate across technical, operational and leadership functions.
• Independent, resilient and comfortable operating within a changing international market.
• Motivated by the opportunity to make battery recycling more economical and environmentally sustainable.