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 2540 key accounts in the first 18 months
Team Building & Startup Leadership
- Build a lean, high-performing sales team starting with 35 core sales professionals, scaling to 812 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 57 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 312 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
