Vice President of Sales

Position Summary

The VP of Sales will serve as the foundational sales leader for Brand during this critical early-stage growth phase. This executive-level position demands a experienced sales leader with deep understanding of B2B industrial markets, particularly welding equipment and consumables, who can build revenue generation systems from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

Revenue Foundation & Early-Stage Growth

• Develop and execute foundational sales strategies to achieve revenue targets
• Establish market presence and brand recognition in heavy industry verticals, including fabrication, shipbuilding, structural steel, oil & gas, and infrastructure
• Build sustainable sales processes, CRM systems, and pipeline management from startup phase
• Drive customer acquisition focusing on securing 25–40 key accounts in the first 18 months

Team Building & Startup Leadership

• Build a lean, high-performing sales team starting with 3–5 core sales professionals, scaling to 8–12 by end of Year 2
• Recruit sales talent with welding industry expertise and proven track records in startup or early-stage B2B industrial environments
• Develop comprehensive onboarding and training programs focusing on FCAW technical knowledge and consultative selling methodologies
• Establish performance-driven culture with clear KPIs and growth-stage appropriate incentive structures

Market Development & Customer Relations

• Identify and penetrate key market segments, establishing Brand as a credible alternative to established welding consumable suppliers
• Lead customer education initiatives positioning Brand as the technical authority in flux cored wire applications
• Cultivate strategic relationships with early adopters and reference customers in heavy engineering and fabrication sectors
• Spearhead participation in industry trade shows and technical conferences to build brand visibility and generate leads

Startup Operations & Strategic Execution

• Work closely with MD and founding team to refine go-to-market strategy and product positioning based on market feedback
• Establish distributor and channel partner relationships to accelerate market penetration
• Drive product-market fit validation through direct customer engagement and feedback loops
• Implement data-driven sales analytics to optimize conversion rates and customer acquisition costs

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related field; MBA preferred
• Minimum 12+ years of progressive B2B sales experience with at least 5–7 years in senior sales roles
• Proven startup or early-stage company experience, preferably in manufacturing, industrial equipment, or welding consumables
• Track record of building sales organizations from early stages and achieving first ₹50+ million revenue milestones

Technical & Industry Expertise

• Deep understanding of welding processes, particularly FCAW, GMAW, SMAW, and related consumables
• Knowledge of AWS welding standards, certifications, and industry best practices
• Familiarity with heavy industry applications including structural steel, shipbuilding, oil & gas, and infrastructure projects
• Understanding of metallurgy, weld quality parameters, and performance metrics relevant to industrial applications

Startup Leadership & Business Acumen

• Demonstrated success in building sales functions from ground zero in competitive B2B markets
• Experience managing early-stage sales cycles with 3–12 month decision timeframes in industrial sectors
• Proven ability to develop and execute go-to-market strategies for technical products in startup environments
• Strong financial acumen including revenue modeling, budget management, and pricing strategy development appropriate for early-stage companies

Essential Skills & Competencies

Entrepreneurial Sales Leadership

• Exceptional ability to build and motivate small, agile sales teams in resource-constrained environments
• Advanced relationship-building skills with ability to establish credibility quickly with industrial customers
• Strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution capabilities essential for startup environments
• Data-driven decision making using sales metrics, customer feedback, and market intelligence

Communication & Market Development

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English and Hindi; regional language proficiency advantageous
• Executive-level presentation skills for technical audiences, industry forums, and potential investors
• Ability to translate complex technical benefits into compelling business value propositions for early adopters
• Strong networking capabilities to quickly establish presence in welding and heavy engineering communities

Market Knowledge

• Understanding of Indian manufacturing landscape and heavy industry growth patterns
• Awareness of welding consumables market dynamics, competitive positioning, and emerging opportunities
• Knowledge of startup funding cycles, investor expectations, and scalable business model development