Sales Manager
Marine Mechanical, Electrical & Automation | Southeast Asia
📍 Based in Singapore, covering Southeast Asia but strong focus in Singapore at the beginning | Reports to: Sales Director
About the Role
Our client is looking for a commercially-driven, relationship-first sales professional to lead growth across Southeast Asia for its Mechanical, Electrical and Automation product and service lines serving the marine industry (ship owner and managers).
You'll take ownership of an established portfolio of around 10 clients — ranging from smaller operators to major fleets of 600+ vessels — with a mandate to grow it further, initially focused on the Singapore market with a clear path to expand into Hong Kong, Malaysia, and eventually Thailand and Vietnam as the territory develops. There is genuine long-term progression potential in this role, including the opportunity to grow into a Sales Director position as the region scales and manage a team.
This is a field role, not a desk job. Roughly 80% of your time will be spent on business development and 20% on account management — the majority of it in front of clients. You'll be out meeting clients in their offices, at trade shows, and just as importantly over lunches, dinners, coffees, and industry events. If you build business through relationships as much as through pipeline, and you want ownership of a region rather than a desk, this role is built for you.
What You'll Do
- Develop and execute sales and commercial strategies to hit revenue and gross profit targets across Southeast Asia
- Identify and win new business, and build long-term partnerships with new and existing clients
- Design and drive strategic sales plans to expand the client base
- Negotiate contract terms and close new projects
- Represent the company at trade shows and industry events, and organise customer-facing marketing activity
- Conduct market and competitor research to spot opportunities and stay ahead of industry trends
- Work cross-functionally with other departments to support product launches and shared commercial goals
- Report regularly to the executive team, including a weekly update to the Managing Director
- Maintain strong working knowledge of the full Product & Service Portfolio
- Keep CRM data and pricing accurate and up to date
- Support finance/accounts on collection of overdue balances
Compensation
Basic salary + Performance-based incentive scheme on top of base salary (commission structure is still being finalized on the client side — see note below). 1-2% of every sale achieved.
Travel
Regular travel across Southeast Asia is required, with Singapore as your home base.
What We're Looking For
- Proven B2B sales/business development experience with similar products and a strong network of ship owners and managers in Singapore
- Able to work independently and potential to grow into Sales Director
- A genuine hunter mentality — comfortable being out of the office, building relationships face-to-face, and entertaining clients regularly
- Strong negotiation and contract experience
- Based in Singapore