Sales Manager

The Sales Manager will drive sustainable sales growth for Helvar across Italy and Slovenia by developing the specification market supporting the partner network, and strengthening Helvar’s brand presence in the region. The role is responsible for identifying opportunities, influencing key stakeholders (consultants, end-users, contractors), and enabling partners to win projects with Helvar solutions.

What we would like you to bring to the table:

• Strong sales experience in lighting controls, lighting, building automation, or smart-building technology.
• Proven ability to develop new business and manage partners or channels.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with consultants, designers, and end-users.
• Strong technical and commercial understanding of lighting-control systems.
• High energy, ownership, and ability to work independently in the field.
• Native-level Italian; fluent English (written and spoken).
• Structured, disciplined use of CRM tools (preferably Salesforce).
• Ability to travel across Italy and Slovenia as needed.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with DALI-2, wireless controls, hybrid solutions, IoT-based building systems.
• Experience working for a manufacturer or distributor in the lighting controls or building-automation domain.
• Existing network of consultants, integrators, and lighting designers in Italy.

What our Sales Manager in Italy and Slovenia will do for us:

Partner Network Support

• Manage and support existing Helvar partners to increase sales performance, capabilities, and market reach. Conduct regular partner business reviews covering pipeline, forecast, training needs, marketing activities, and must-win projects.
• Ensure partners follow Helvar best practices, brand guidelines, and commercial frameworks.
• Provide training, coaching, and technical-commercial support to improve partner self-sufficiency.

Specification Market Development

• Develop and execute a clear specification strategy targeting consultants, lighting designers, architects, and major end-users.
• Drive Helvar early into project specifications (concept & design stages).
• Create strong relationships with key influencers in the construction and refurbishment ecosystem.
• Promote Helvar solutions (ActiveAhead, Imagine, Insights, Hybrid) in line with market needs, regulations, and trends (EPBD, energy efficiency).
• Deliver effective presentations, technical workshops, and CPDs in Italian and English.
• Achieve revenue, margin, pipeline, and forecast accuracy targets for the region.
• Develop a healthy pipeline across all verticals (healthcare, education, hospitality, offices, logistics, museums, data centres).
• Follow up on must-win opportunities, ensuring Helvar is the preferred choice.
• Work closely with internal teams (product management, marketing, technical support, project services) to support major bids.

Brand Building & Market Presence

• Increase Helvar visibility and brand strength in Italy and Slovenia.
• Coordinate with marketing on campaigns, events, trade fairs, local webinars, and social media activities.
• Represent Helvar at industry events and professional associations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide structured market feedback on competition, pricing, technology trends, regulations, and customer needs.
• Contribute to regional strategy and annual sales planning.
• Ensure Salesforce is used consistently for pipeline,