Sales Manager, Ford Energy

In this position... The Sales Manager is a dynamic, customer-facing role responsible for supporting and accelerating the growth of Ford Energy’s grid-scale and commercial BESS business. Reporting directly to the Director of Sales, you will serve as the commercial execution engine for our target customer segments, including major utilities, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), major integrators, and data center hyper-scalers . In this role, you will own the day-to-day management of the sales pipeline, drive lead development, coordinate technical and commercial proposals, and manage customer-facing activities. This position is ideal for a highly driven, entrepreneurial sales professional with a strong technical aptitude who wants to work alongside senior leadership to secure large-scale Master Supply Agreements (MSAs) and shape the future of the American energy grid. What you'll do... Key Responsibilities 1. Lead Development & Strategic Pipeline Leadership - Deal Origination: Identify, qualify, and support the capture of business opportunities within assigned business segments, such as data center, utilities and IPPs. - Account Management: Serve as a key account manager for designated accounts, helping position Ford Energy as a leading domestic BESS provider. - Market Intelligence: Analyze market trends, regulatory shifts, and competitor positioning to refine Ford Energy’s go-to-market strategies. 2. High-Impact Customer Engagement & Advocacy - Customer Relations: Build and maintain relationships with technical decision-makers, and project managers at target client organizations. - Value Proposition & Technical Pitching: Lead high-impact technical workshops, site visits, and factory tours, masterfully articulating Ford Energy’s product capabilities and financial value proposition. - Customer Voice Integration: Collect and communicate customer feedback regarding technical requirements to product development teams. 3. Deal Structuring, Negotiation & Bid Management - Commercial Support: Contribute to the structuring and negotiation of commercial agreements, including supply and service contracts, in alignment with established guidelines. - Proposal Coordination: Coordinate the development of technical and commercial proposals, ensuring alignment with pricing and risk guidelines. - Cross-Functional Orchestration: Mobilize and lead cross-functional teams (PMO, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Manufacturing) to deliver winning bid submissions under tight deadlines 4. Technical & Product Liaison - Technical Sales Authority: Serve as a trusted advisor to clients on complex technical topics. - Roadmap Influence: Collaborate with engineering teams in Dearborn and manufacturing in Kentucky to translate customer requirements into future product roadmap features. You'll have... Required Qualifications Experience & Education: - Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, or a related field required. - Professional Experience: 5 years of professional experience, with a strong preference for 2+ years in technical sales, commercial account management, or business development within the BESS, renewable energy, utility, or grid infrastructure sectors. - Technical Sales Background: Proven experience supporting the sale of highly technical, capital-intensive products or complex industrial solutions. Core Skills & Mindset: - Rapid Technical Aptitude: Ability to quickly learn, master, and articulate complex BESS technology, battery chemistry, and grid-integration dynamics. - Commercial Acumen: Strong business etiquette, professional presentation skills, and developing financial judgment required to support multi-million-dollar contract negotiations. - Entrepreneurial Drive: A high-achievement orientation with a competitive, startup mindset—comfortable with ambiguity, proactive in problem-solving, and driven to win. - Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate cross-functional…