International Sales Director

Job description

Coopers Fire specialises in the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of advanced, bespoke Smoke and Fire Curtain systems for a wide range of buildings. Our purpose is clear: to save lives by delivering high-quality, innovative products and effective fire protection solutions.

We are committed to creating an environment where our colleagues can thrive, perform at their best, and take pride in their work. Our core values — Integrity, Pride and Passion, Teamship, and Pioneering — guide everything we do.

By supporting our people, embracing diverse perspectives, and continuously challenging convention, we work collaboratively to lead the market through innovation — always focused on safeguarding lives.

The RoleCoopers Fire is seeking a commercially strong, strategically aligned International Sales Director to reshape, rebuild and grow our export business.

Following a recent decline in export revenue, this role is central to delivering our next phase of international growth. The successful candidate will implement our proven UK specification-led sales model globally, strengthen distributor performance, and build a high-performing international team.

This is not a role for someone looking to reinvent the strategy. Our UK approach works. The opportunity is to execute it internationally with discipline, professionalism, and energy.

Key Objectives

Rebuild export revenue toward and beyond historic levels

Recruit two Export Specification Sales Managers

Appoint new distributors in Scandinavia, Central Europe and selected Southeast Asian markets

Improve service levels and professional standards across the international distributor network

Strengthen forecasting accuracy and commercial visibility to support manufacturing and engineering

Strategic ResponsibilitiesExport P&L Ownership

Responsible for delivering international revenue and margin targets

Drive revenue growth, margin improvement, and commercial discipline

Control export pricing strategy and distributor commercial terms (in alignment with the Managing Director)

Specification-Led Global Strategy

Roll out Coopers Fire's UK specification model internationally

Ensure distributors protect and convert UK-originated global specifications

Develop in-country specification capability to prevent competitive substitution at detailed design stage

Drive CPD-led architect engagement and passive fire education internationally

Distributor Leadership & Performance Management

Recruit, appoint and, where necessary, replace distributors

Establish clear KPIs, performance expectations and behavioural standards

Build closer, more professional relationships with distributor principals

Ensure distributors operate with integrity and alignment to Coopers Fire's standards

Conduct regular in-market visits to strengthen relationships and accountability

International Team Development

Lead UK-based Export Sales Managers

Recruit and manage overseas Specification Sales Managers in key territories

Build a structured, process-driven export function

Drive accountability, clarity and performance across the team

Operational & Strategic Integration

Deliver structured export forecasting to support manufacturing planning

Feed market intelligence into engineering to influence product development

Provide commercially grounded input into R&D investment decisions

Contribute actively to broader company strategy as a member of the Senior Management Team

About YouExperience & Capability

Significant experience in passive fire protection or construction product sales

Proven success managing international distributor networks

Strong understanding of specification-led selling (architects, consultants, major projects)

Experience leading multi-territory sales teams

Commercially astute

Process-oriented and disciplined in forecasting and reporting

Comfortable working closely with manufacturing and engineering functions

Personal Attributes

Strategically aligned and able to execute an established playbook

Collaborative and able to work closely with the Managing Director

Commercially serious, personally grounded

Energetic and motivated by growth challenges

Prepared to challenge constructively, but not disruptively

Enjoys building strong, long-term professional relationships

TravelThis role is UK Head Office based and requires regular international travel to support distributors, recruit partners, and develop in-market specification capability.

Why This Role MattersThis is a pivotal leadership role at Coopers Fire. The International Sales Director will directly influence revenue growth, global brand positioning, distributor professionalism, and long-term international expansion.

The right individual will help establish a stronger, more disciplined, and more strategically aligned global presence for Coopers Fire.

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Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Waterlooville

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

26-05-2026

Profession type

Sales

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English