Managing Director

Position : Managing Director, Sales Director, Country Manager

Location : Sheffield based, covering the UK and Ireland

Reporting to : CEO in Germany

Salary package : £70,000 - £90,000 according to experience plus car, bonus etc

Hybrid : No. This role is based in the Sheffield office if not out with customers

People Management : Team of 6-7

Please note : the start date for this appointment will be 1st June 2026.

The Company :

With over 140 years of experience, four international production facilities and approximately 1.000 employees worldwide, Lechler is the leading manufacturer of nozzle and atomisation technology in Europe. Our products are used in a wide variety of industries and applications. These include the food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical, chemical and process engineering, metals manufacturing, cement industry and agricultural / horticultural.

Due to the upcoming retirement of the current Managing Director of the UK operation, we now have an opportunity for someone to join the organisation to lead them through the next phase of their growth.

Who will this role be suitable for ?

The Managing Director position at Lechler Limited is very much a hands-on leadership role. We envisage the focus of the successful candidate being :-

· 70-75% hands-on sales and business development including client management, relationship management, presentations, identifying new markets, organising and attending trade shows and exhibitions, negotiating and closing sales

· 20% people management, mentoring, leading, developing, supporting,

· 5-10% corporate functions, representing the UK business, strategic planning

You will need to be able to demonstrate proven success in sales management / business development within a technical arena (engineering, manufacturing etc) coupled with strong people management and commercial abilities.

Duties, Responsibilities and Deliverables

· Lead, coach and develop a motivated Sales Team to deliver ambitious financial and operational goals

· Drive growth across three divisions General Industry, Process Technology and Metallurgy through focused market development and key account management

· Build and maintain strong relationships with major clients, acting as a trusted technical and strategic partner

· Represent Lechler at industry events and trade fairs, enhancing brand visibility

· Identify new business opportunities and translate them into sustainable revenue streams

· Collaborate closely with corporate leadership in Germany to align local execution with the group's global strategy

· Foster a high-performance culture based on accountability, empowerment and continuous improvement

· Optimise operational structures and processes to ensure scalability, resilience and customer value.

About you :

· Degree qualified is very much preferred. This can be in either a business / commercial related subject or in a technical / engineering field.

· Proven success in a technical sales management position with experience of engineered products

· Growth focused, naturally inquisitive

· First class interpersonal and communication skills (spoken and written)

· People management experience is essential

· A natural mentor, happy to lead from the front

· Proficient with CRM systems and managing sales cycles

· Commercially aware. Experience of business-to-business contract negotiation

· Based within a reasonable commuting distance of Sheffield but able to travel throughout the UK and Ireland for business as required

· Able to travel to Germany for corporate events as required

· Experience of budgeting, managing a P & L, corporate reporting etc is desirable

· Full UK driving licence is essential

· A genuine drive to actively contribute to transformation and continuous organisational development.

· An understanding of marketing as part of an overall sales and business development strategy will be required

· The working language of the business is English

About Us

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. In line with our Diversity and Inclusion policy, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. As a Disability Confident Employer, and part of the Nicholas Associates Group, we are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, and we're happy to discuss flexible working options.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients. If you choose to apply, your information will be processed in accordance with the Nicholas Associates Group of companies