Regional Sales Manager (RSM)

CONFIDENTIAL CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Regional Sales Manager
Industrial Automation & Fluid Power Distribution

Global Manufacturer, Fluid Power & Automation | Remote / Home-Office (IN, KY, OH, MI) | $100K–$105K Base + Car Allowance | ~$120K Realistic OTE

THE HOOK
You've built distributor relationships from scratch before. You've walked plant floors, trained sales teams that weren't yours to train, and watched a territory grow in spite of thin coverage, not because of it. Somewhere out there is a four-state region doing exactly that right now, with no one running it.

This is that territory. A global manufacturer with a well-established international footprint is handing over Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan to one person, with a $100K+ base, a monthly car allowance, real commission upside, and the freedom to build the territory strategy from the ground up.

ROLE AT A GLANCE
Title: Regional Sales Manager
Territory: Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan (IKOM)
Reports To: Director of Sales
Location: Remote / home-office based within the territory
Travel: Approximately 70% in year one, tapering as distributor relationships mature
Structure: Individual contributor; no direct reports

THE COMPANY
Our client is a global manufacturer of fluid power and pneumatic components, with decades of engineering experience and a broad international distribution network of branches and distributors.

In the U.S., the company sells a full line of fluid power and pneumatic components primarily through a distributor network, with a smaller direct OEM channel, into industries such as material handling, automotive, life sciences, data centers, and custom automation. It's a growing, mid-size organization known for a close-knit team culture, a genuine emphasis on work-life balance, and hands-on leadership from the CEO.

This seat opened because the previous Regional Sales Manager was promoted internally, and leadership has watched the IKOM territory keep growing even without anyone dedicated to it on the ground.

"This region is flourishing without state oversight. It will do even better with the right person in it." — Director of Sales

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

• Full ownership of the IKOM territory, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan, with the autonomy to set your own account priorities and travel strategy

• A distributor network you'll train, develop, and expand, with a first-year target of onboarding at least 10 new key distributors

• Direct relationships with end users and distributor sales teams, built through regular customer visits rather than a forced call cadence

• New OEM accounts in the region, with 1 to 2 key relationships targeted in year one

• A seat at the table with senior leadership, reporting directly to the Director of Sales with visibility all the way to the CEO

THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE
Base Salary: $100,000–$105,000
Car Allowance: $750 per month
Commission Structure: Up to $10,000 (max), tied to quota attainment
Realistic OTE: ~$120,000 at plan
Benefits: Company-funded medical, dental, and vision; 401(k) with 5% company match
Reviews: Formal reviews at 90 days, mid-year, and year-end, tied to company, region, and individual performance

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
If you'd rather own a growing territory than inherit someone else's call list, this was written for you.

• 3–5+ years of outside sales experience in industrial, automation, or another technical/mechanical field (strong inside sales reps ready to make the jump will be considered)

• Mechanical aptitude and the comfort to hold your own in a technical, engineering-driven sales conversation

• A self-starter who wants ownership of a territory and can be trusted to run it with minimal day-to-day oversight

• A team-first collaborator with genuine internal drive, someone who builds real relationships rather than just working a pipeline

• A forward-thinking problem-solver who brings leadership solutions and plans, not just problems

THE PATH FORWARD
The next chapter here is territory-building. Leadership expects this seat to be focused on growing IKOM for at least the next five years, onboarding new distributors, deepening OEM accounts, and turning a territory that's already growing into one that's outperforming.

Beyond that, this is a role inside a company with a hands-on CEO and a track record of promoting from within; the last person in this seat was promoted internally. Prove out the territory, and the next conversation becomes real.

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS

1. 20-Minute Confidential Call — with Sully at VenTech Search to confirm fit before anything moves

2. First Interview — with the Director of Sales and one or two current Regional Sales Managers, focused on territory approach and sales philosophy

3. Second Interview — with the Director of Sales, the CEO, and the Head of HR, covering culture fit and long-term trajectory. A company-funded in-person visit may follow depending on fit

4. Internal Roundtable & Offer — leadership reviews finalist candidates internally, then extends an offer with VenTech coordinating every step of your communication

READY TO LEARN MORE?
This is a confidential search. If a growing four-state territory with real ownership sounds like your next move, let's talk before anyone else does.

Contact: Sully, Director of Business Development, VenTech Search Group
Phone: 602-888-8408 | Email: sully@ventechsearch.com | ventechsearch.com