Manager, Sales Growth & Partnerships

About this Role/Executive Summary

The Sales Growth & Partnerships role is a critical addition to Steele Rubber Products growth strategy and sales evolution. As a leader within the field sales organization this individual will steward key customer relationships while actively identifying and developing new customers and business partners. This role carries meaningful influence over sales strategy account prioritization and the development of new partnerships while providing a true seat at the table in shaping the ongoing sales business plan. For the right leader this is an opportunity to help build refine and scale a high-performing sales organization while directly impacting the companys next phase of growth.

Business Context & Growth Mission

Steele Rubber Products has built a strong foundation through quality reputation and consistent sales performance. This role represents an intentional next step: appointing the first fully dedicated sales leader with clear ownership of execution growth strategy and evolution of the sales function.

The opportunity is not to fix what isnt broken but to unlock whats possible. By combining disciplined account stewardship with proactive new customer and partner development this leader will apply best-practice sales principles to create momentum focus and repeatability. The role is designed for a hunter-farmer hybrid who can drive near-term results while helping shape the future-state sales model processes and direction.

This position sits at the intersection of strategy and execution offering meaningful influence over how Steele Rubber Products grow today and in the years ahead.

Company Snapshot

Steele Rubber Products is a second and third-generation family-owned manufacturer specializing in high-quality rubber components and weatherstripping. Founded in 1958 by Lynn Steele the company was built on craftsmanship problem-solving and a deep connection to the automotive restoration community.

What began as a solution to a single restoration challenge evolved into a trusted brand known for engineering precision product depth and customer loyalty. By leveraging in-house tool and die expertise Steele Rubber Products established itself as a leader in reproducing hard-to-source rubber parts for classic and specialty vehicles.

Headquartered in Denver North Carolina since 1975 the company has steadily expanded its product catalog manufacturing capabilities and market reach while remaining committed to quality and customer satisfaction. Steele Rubber Products was an early adopter of digital catalogs and vehicle-specific product organization reinforcing its reputation as an innovator within a traditionally hands-on industry.

Today Steele Rubber Products employs more than 60 team members and is owned and operated by the Steele familys second and third generations. While best known for automotive restoration the company now serves multiple adjacent markets including Camper RV and Trailer Marine Service Vehicles and Street Rod and Custom applications-continuing its legacy of solving complex customer problems with precision-engineered solutions.

The mission has not changed and that is to provide superior rubber sealing solutions in an expeditious customer-focused manner!

The Role: Core Responsibilities

Serve as a catalyst for the continued evolution of Steele Rubber Products sales organization bringing modern sales thinking disciplined execution and a growth-oriented mindset to both strategy and day-to-day activity.

Own the retention expansion and long-term health of key customer and partner relationships ensuring consistent value delivery while identifying opportunities for deeper engagement and incremental growth.

Proactively identify pursue and nurture new ideal customers and strategic business partners that align with the companys growth priorities and long-term vision. Serve as the point person to guide and assess end-to-end opportunity management from lead stage through approval/contracting.

Leverage existing sales knowledge tools systems and resources to drive performance-while maintaining a continuous improvement lens to optimize processes account focus and go-to-market execution.

Act as a key individual contributor in the near term setting the standard for sales effectiveness professionalism and accountability across both field and inside sales efforts.

Partner with leadership to help shape sales strategy execution plans and performance expectations as the organization transitions from its current state to a more scalable future-ready sales model.

Play an active role in building what comes next in supporting mentoring and eventually helping lead additional sales team members as the department grows.

The First 90 days: Defining Early Success

The first 90 days are intentionally structured to set this role up for long-term success. Steele Rubber Products is committed to investing in a thorough onboarding and knowledge-transfer process that builds confidence clarity and early momentum.

During this period the focus is on deep learning and immersion gaining a strong understanding of the companys products services customers markets and value propositions. This includes comprehensive training and onboarding ensuring success is built on mastery rather than assumption.

The role will have full access to the tools and resources needed to perform at a high level including an established & comprehensive Sales Playbook CRM customer and prospect targeting lists and defined sales processes. Equally important there is a clear commitment to consistent lead generation and process-driven business development to support sustainable growth.

By the end of the first 90 days success is defined not just by activity but by readiness: strong internal alignment prospect and customer engagement with a clear execution plan to drive retention expansion and new business growth moving forward.

Ideal Leader Profile

• Builder Minded Sales Leader
• Hunter-Farmer Hybrid with Strategic Patience
• High Business Acumen and Low Ego
• Strategic-minded sales leader: thinks beyond individual deals and operates with a systems perspective. Understands how sales decisions affect operations finance delivery and customer experience.
• Process-positive not process dependent
• Player first leader in the making valued teammate
• Growth oriented but sustainable (thinks in systems values consistency over heroics understands the growth vs. execution principles)
• Multi-channel business developer: Builds opportunities through a blended outreach strategy including phone email LinkedIn in-person networking and strategic follow-up. Does not rely on a single channel or passive inbound flow. Demonstrates comfort and discipline across all prospecting touchpoints.
• Tech-forward sales professional who is comfortable using core business tools (CRM Microsoft Outlook and Teams) is open to leveraging AI for prospect targeting and account research and able to quickly adopt new systems such as ERP platforms with training and support.

The ideal candidate brings a growth mindset strong sales fundamentals and the ability to thrive in an organization entering its next phase of expansion. Experience helping build or mature sales processes is highly valued.

Qualifications (non-negotiables)

Expansion & Growth-Oriented Selling Experience (5years)

Business Acumen & Financial Orientation

Sales Process Discipline & CRM Fluency

Consultative & Insight-Led Selling Skills

Field Execution & Account Planning

Change Resilience & Builder Mentality

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Cultural & Leadership Indicators

Preferred Experience (Nice but not required)

Industry experience (Auto RV) sales management experience with direct reports experience using HubSpot or SalesForce work with Ai/Sales intelligence tools ERP usage or knowledge prior sales training experience with starting or adding to a sales team networking affiliations trade show experience.

Tools Systems Ways of Working

CRM (Sugar- similar operating framework to HubSpot)

Chat GPT

Microsoft Teams & Outlook

Syspro (ERP system)

Compensation Snapshot

• OTE (On-Target- Earnings) $124000

Uncapped earnings

• Total compensation is designed with a 60/40 base-to-variable structure rewarding strong sales performance.

• Base Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience
• Commission program built on ability to establish new customers as well as leading growth/expansion within strategic key accounts
• Commission program features an accelerator for new business sales -- Once annual sales exceed the target commission rates increase allowing top performers to achieve higher earnings for revenue above target.
• Professional Development: Ongoing product industry and sales training with leadership support

Company Benefits: Health/medical benefits within cafeteria plan style long term disability life insurance participate in Profit Sharing/401k after six months of service PTO and 8 paid holidays per year.

Why Join Us Steele Rubber

This is an opportunity to join a stable family-based business with deep industry expertise and a clear commitment to doing business the right way. Our culture is grounded in respect honesty dependability open communication collaboration and customer focus-values that guide how we work with each other and how we serve our customers.

We are entering an intentional phase of sales expansion and evolution and this role will play a meaningful part in shaping what comes next. The right leader will not simply execute a playbook but will help author future versions of the sales organization from approach and process to account prioritization and customer engagement.

Youll work in an environment that values:

• Accountability with autonomy trusted to make decisions that matter for customers and business outcomes
• Continuous improvement and innovation with the freedom to challenge assumptions and improve how work gets done
• Agility and practical decision-making allowing the team to pivot quickly in service of customers
• Long-term relationships both internally and with customers and partners

As a long-standing organization with a strong foundation we offer the stability of an established business paired with the upside of growth. Leadership is committed to investing in training tools and professional development to ensure our sales team has the support needed to succeed and grow.

For the right individual this role offers not just a job but a career path with influence impact and longevity.

Required Experience:

Manager