Guided Search Partners (GSP)
Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity
We’re partnering with an industrial packaging organization seeking a Sr. Sales Manager, Industrial. This is a leadership-focused sales opportunity created as part of a broader organizational structure improvement. The previous incumbent retired on good terms, and leadership is using the opening to add a dedicated manager over the Industrial Sales team. This role will lead a team of four sales professionals across the U.S. and Mexico, with responsibility for team leadership, strategic account management, technical sales support, forecasting, and customer relationship management. The company serves industrial markets with metal and plastic closures, spouts, dispensing systems, and specialty closure products used on drums and pails. Key markets include oil, lubricants, agricultural chemicals, paint, solvents, industrial chemicals, bleach, and pool products.

What You’ll Do
You’ll lead an experienced industrial sales team while supporting strategic accounts, technical sales activity, and customer relationships.

Key areas of focus include:

• Lead a team of four sales professionals
• Support and develop 3 U.S.-based sales professionals and 1 Mexico-based sales professional
• Provide coaching, structure, and leadership to an experienced sales team
• Manage strategic customer relationships
• Support technical sales conversations around industrial packaging products
• Lead forecasting and sales planning activity
• Help improve the sales structure within the Industrial division
• Build credibility with the team through strong leadership and product understanding
• Travel to support customers, team development, training, and relationship building

Who You Are
You are a proven sales leader who knows how to coach, develop, and earn credibility with experienced sales professionals. You bring the confidence to lead people, not just manage accounts. You understand technical sales, customer relationships, and the importance of structure, follow-through, and clear communication. You would do well here if you have a strong industrial packaging background, prior people leadership experience, and the ability to balance strategic account management with hands-on team development.

Preferred Experience & Attributes
• Prior people leadership experience required
• Strong coaching and team development skills
• Experience leading experienced sales professionals
• Technical credibility in industrial packaging products
• Strategic account management experience
• Strong forecasting and customer relationship management skills
• Industrial packaging background preferred
• Experience with drums, pails, closures, caps, dispensing systems, or related products preferred
• Background in drum manufacturing, pail manufacturing, closures, caps, or dispensing systems preferred
• Ability to travel approximately 60%
• Midwest or East Coast location strongly preferred

Why This Role Matters
This role matters because the organization is strengthening its sales structure and adding focused leadership to the Industrial Sales team. The Sr. Sales Manager will help bring coaching, direction, and accountability to a team responsible for important industrial markets and customer relationships. This is a strong opportunity for a sales leader who enjoys developing people, supporting technical sales, and helping a team perform at a higher level. For someone who brings both leadership ability and industrial packaging credibility, this role offers the chance to step into a dedicated management position with clear impact.