Head of International Sales (M/F)

Job description

Specialising in the recruitment of qualified and expert profiles, People Solutions by Arhis offers tailored support to help you take the next step in your professional journey.
We work with companies across various sectors (banking, insurance, industry, and services) that are actively looking for talented individuals like you.

At People Solutions by Arhis, we understand that every career path is unique. That’s why we put our recruitment expertise at the heart of your career project, offering you personalised and attentive guidance to help you find the opportunity that truly matches your ambitions.

We are currently recruiting for one of our clients a:

HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL SALES (M/F)

Luxembourg | Permanent Position | International Industrial Environment | Executive Committee Member

Do you have at least 10 years of experience in international B2B sales within a technical industrial environment, including significant responsibility for managing strategic key accounts?

Do you have a proven track record in managing complex industrial sales cycles, building long-term relationships with international customers and identifying new growth opportunities?

Can you combine strategic thinking, leadership and a strong understanding of technical, industrial and financial challenges to help shape a company's future?

If these three areas reflect your experience and ambitions, this opportunity could be an exciting next step in your career.

OUR CLIENT

Our client is an internationally active industrial company recognised for its technical expertise, product quality and long-standing relationships with leading industrial customers worldwide.

Operating in demanding and technically complex markets, the company has built its reputation on strong industrial know-how, a loyal international customer base and a lean organisation that encourages collaboration, responsiveness and efficient decision-making.

As its markets evolve and competition intensifies, the company is looking to bring fresh momentum to its international development.

We are therefore seeking a Head of International Sales who can build on established customer relationships while bringing fresh perspectives, new growth opportunities and a meaningful contribution to the company's strategic direction.

Reporting directly to the CEO and sitting on the Executive Committee, you will play a key role in shaping the company's future direction and performance.

YOUR ROLE

Your responsibilities will extend well beyond managing international sales.

You will be entrusted with protecting and developing a portfolio of strategic industrial accounts while helping the company strengthen its positioning in a changing market.

You will act as a trusted partner to customers, a driver of business growth, a team leader and an active contributor to strategic decisions.

The role combines a strong focus on developing existing customer relationships (approximately 75% of the activity) with identifying and securing new business opportunities (approximately 25%).

You will remain personally involved with the company's most important international customers, working closely with technical, operational and financial teams.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Shape the Sales Strategy and Drive Transformation

• Define and implement the international sales strategy across markets, customers and product lines.
• Monitor technological, competitive and economic developments to anticipate changes in the market.
• Identify new applications, business opportunities and potential areas for diversification.
• Help evolve the company's value proposition to strengthen its differentiation and competitiveness.
• Translate market insights and customer needs into actionable priorities for senior management and industrial teams.

Develop and Protect Strategic Customer Relationships

• Take direct responsibility for managing the company's most important international industrial customers.
• Strengthen existing partnerships while identifying opportunities to grow business within key accounts.
• Develop and execute medium- and long-term strategic account plans.
• Build relationships at multiple levels within customer organisations, including executive management, procurement, R&D, engineering and operations.
• Lead strategic negotiations and secure sustainable, profitable customer relationships.

Identify and Convert New Business Opportunities

• Explore new markets, customers and applications with sustainable growth potential.
• Focus on opportunities where the company's technical capabilities and industrial expertise provide a genuine competitive advantage.
• Manage complex, long sales cycles, from initial opportunity identification through technical qualification, testing, negotiation and contract award.
• Take a selective, value-driven approach to business development, prioritising long-term profitability over short-term volume.

Combine Technical Understanding with Financial Performance

• Understand customers' technical and industrial challenges and translate them into compelling value propositions.
• Work closely with R&D, Production, Procurement and Quality teams to develop realistic, competitive solutions.
• Ensure that customer commitments remain aligned with the company's industrial capabilities.
• Prepare and manage sales budgets, forecasts, revenue targets and margin objectives.
• Develop pricing strategies and continuously improve account and business profitability.

Lead the Team and Contribute to the Executive Committee

• Lead and develop an international sales team, promoting accountability, ownership and performance.
• Provide the Executive Committee with clear insights into customer expectations, competitive dynamics and market developments.
• Contribute to strategic discussions on investment priorities, innovation, industrial capabilities and future growth opportunities.
• Constructively challenge existing approaches and bring forward new ideas to support the company's transformation.

Requirements

Experience and Expertise

• You have at least 10 years of experience in international B2B sales within a technical industrial environment, including significant commercial leadership responsibilities.
• You have a proven track record in managing and developing major international industrial accounts in demanding, competitive markets.
• You are experienced in complex technical sales cycles, involving multiple stakeholders, qualification processes, testing and long-term negotiations.
• You have a solid understanding of industrial environments, including manufacturing processes, value chains, production capacity, supply chain constraints and operational challenges.
• You are comfortable working with complex technical products and engaging with technical experts, without necessarily being the technical specialist yourself.
• You have a strong grasp of pricing, margins, forecasting and profitability management.
• Experience in highly technical industrial sectors, particularly materials, components or manufacturing processes, would be a valuable asset.
• Professional fluency in both French and English is essential. German would be an additional advantage.
• You are willing and able to travel internationally on a regular basis, approximately 15 weeks per year.

Leadership and Personal Qualities

Beyond your professional background, we are looking for a leader who can combine strategic vision with a hands-on approach.

You will stand out through:

• Your ability to preserve and grow long-standing customer relationships while introducing new ways of working.
• Your intellectual curiosity and ability to understand technological and economic changes.
• Your willingness to challenge established thinking, bring fresh ideas and turn them into practical solutions.
• Your interpersonal skills and ability to build credibility with both technical specialists and senior executives.
• Your pragmatic, entrepreneurial mindset and strong focus on results.
• Your ability to engage, empower and develop a team.
• Your confidence in working within a lean, agile organisation where decisions are made quickly and individual contributions have a visible impact.

Why Join This Company?

This opportunity is designed for an experienced sales leader looking to go beyond the traditional scope of a sales management position.

You will join an established industrial company with strong fundamentals, long-standing international partnerships and recognised technical expertise, while having the opportunity to contribute directly to its next phase of development.

What makes this opportunity particularly attractive:

• A strategic leadership role with a seat on the Executive Committee.
• Direct access to the CEO and genuine influence over the company's future direction.
• An established portfolio of leading international customers and a stimulating technical environment.
• Significant autonomy to introduce new approaches and develop future growth opportunities.
• A lean, collaborative organisation with short decision-making processes.

This is an opportunity for a leader who wants not only to grow an international business, but also to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of an industrial company.

Does this opportunity match your experience and ambitions?

We invite you to submit your application. We would be pleased to discuss the position, its challenges and its potential with you in complete confidence.

Your Candidate Experience with People Solutions by Arhis
To ensure that your profile aligns with our opportunities, we guide you through a thorough recruitment process, including individual interviews, assessment centers, personality and motivation questionnaires, as well as coaching sessions led by our team of certified coaches.

Rest assured that we carefully review every application received, including those automatically acknowledged upon submission.
Your profile will be evaluated by a consultant specialized in your field of expertise.

We listen to your needs, keep you informed, and provide guidance throughout the recruitment process until your successful integration with our client. Our commitment is to offer you our expertise to ensure the success of your next professional endeavor.

www.peoplesolutionsbyarhis.lu