The Role
Leads commercial strategy and sales execution for CPM Thermal Division, manages and develops a regional sales team, drives profitable growth, oversees strategic accounts and negotiations, and identifies new market opportunities. Partners cross-functionally on customer solutions, product development, pricing, forecasting, and pipeline management. Requires technical capital equipment sales expertise, strong business acumen, and domestic and international travel up to 50%.
Summary Generated by Built In
COMPANY OVERVIEW: CPM Holdings, Inc. is a diversified leading global supplier of process equipment and engineered technologies that sustainably feed, fuel, and build a better world. With its growing family of 17 market-leading product brands, CPM serves a variety of industries including animal feed, consumer food, green energy, advanced materials, and sustainable packaging. Founded in 1883, CPM has 1,700 employees across 36 facilities on 4 continents with presence in 150+ countries. From the food you eat to the fuels you require, CPM plays an important role in making the world more efficient and more sustainable. For more information, visit OneCPM.com.
JOB SUMMARY: The Sales Director is responsible for leading the commercial strategy and sales execution for the CPM Thermal Division. This role provides leadership to the regional sales team while driving profitable growth, expanding market share, strengthening customer relationships, and identifying new business opportunities across global food and industrial processing markets. Working closely with Engineering, Applications, Marketing, Operations, and executive leadership, the Sales Director develops sales strategies, supports product development through customer feedback, and ensures consistent execution of commercial objectives. This position requires both strategic leadership and direct customer engagement with key global accounts.
This opportunity is remote but requires candidates to be based in the Minneapolis, MN area.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES RESPONSIBILITIES:
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
BASE SALARY: $110,000 to $165,000 DOE
JOB SUMMARY: The Sales Director is responsible for leading the commercial strategy and sales execution for the CPM Thermal Division. This role provides leadership to the regional sales team while driving profitable growth, expanding market share, strengthening customer relationships, and identifying new business opportunities across global food and industrial processing markets. Working closely with Engineering, Applications, Marketing, Operations, and executive leadership, the Sales Director develops sales strategies, supports product development through customer feedback, and ensures consistent execution of commercial objectives. This position requires both strategic leadership and direct customer engagement with key global accounts.
This opportunity is remote but requires candidates to be based in the Minneapolis, MN area.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and execute the commercial strategy to achieve annual sales and profitability goals.
- Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the regional sales team.
- Establish sales objectives, performance expectations, and accountability measures.
- Develop annual sales forecasts, budgets, and business plans.
- Identify new business opportunities within existing and emerging markets.
- Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key customers, strategic partners, and industry stakeholders.
- Lead negotiations for major capital equipment opportunities and long-term commercial agreements.
- Execute sales strategies for strategic global accounts.
- Partner with Engineering, Applications, Marketing, and Operations to deliver customer-focused solutions.
- Bring the Voice of Customer into product development and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, and market conditions to identify growth opportunities.
- Ensure accurate pipeline management, forecasting, and reporting utilizing Salesforce.
- Support pricing strategies that balance customer value and company profitability.
- Represent CPM Thermal Division at customer visits, industry conferences, trade shows, and technical events.
- Drive collaboration across global commercial teams to maximize business opportunities.
- Maintain a high level of responsiveness to internal and external customers.
- Travel domestically and internationally up to 50%.
- Lead, coach, and develop the sales team to achieve business objectives.
- Conduct hiring, onboarding, performance evaluations, and employee development.
- Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and high-performing team environment.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or business
- 10+ years of technical related direct capital equipment sales experience in processing
- Minimum of 5 years of sales leadership experience.
- Proven success developing and executing commercial growth strategies.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing strategic customer relationships.
- Strong technical aptitude and understanding of engineered process equipment.
- Excellent presentation, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Strong financial and business acumen.
- Sound knowledge of PC use and applications
- Previous use of Sales Force
- Previous experience in the Cereal/Snack/Fruit/Vegetable or Nut Drying Industry
- Thermal processing or industrial drying experience
- Food processing industry sales experience
- Knowledge of Engineering and Manufacturing processes
- Required: English
- Bilingual: Spanish or Portuguese is a significant plus
- Must be able to lift to 25 lbs.
- Prolonged periods of sitting
- Walking / Standing / Driving
- Computer usage (daily)
- Must be able to physically withstand traveling
BASE SALARY: $110,000 to $165,000 DOE
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or business
- 10+ years of technical-related direct capital equipment sales experience in processing
- At least 5 years of sales leadership experience
- Proven success developing and executing commercial growth strategies
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing strategic customer relationships
- Strong technical aptitude and understanding of engineered process equipment
- Excellent presentation, negotiation, and communication skills
- Strong financial and business acumen
- Sound knowledge of PC use and applications
- English proficiency
- Previous Salesforce experience
- Experience in the cereal, snack, fruit, vegetable, or nut drying industry
- Thermal processing or industrial drying experience
- Food processing industry sales experience
- Knowledge of engineering and manufacturing processes
- Spanish or Portuguese bilingual ability
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The Company
What We Do
CPM Holdings is a global supplier of process equipment and engineered technologies for animal feed, oilseed, bioenergy, compounding, engineered materials and food processing industries. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, it operates five segments: California Pellet Mill, Crown, CPM Extrusion, CPM Packaging Group and CPM Thermal Processing, with 17 product brands. Its mission is to sustainably feed, fuel, and build a better world, with production facilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
