Job title: Sales Manager
Company: WJ UK (WJ Groundwater Ltd)
Workplace type: On-site (with UK travel)
Office Location: Kings Langley, Hertfordshire
Job type: Full-time
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Job function: Sales, Business Development
Industries: Construction, Civil Engineering, Water/Utilities
Salary range: £65,000 – £68,000 + company car + private healthcare scheme + gym + bonus/commission
- Company car: Company car (available for personal use) with a monthly rental value
- Pension: Automatically enrolled into the WJ Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme. Contributions are made at 5% for both employee (minimum) and employer (maximum).
- Private Healthcare: At six months of service, option to be enrolled into Westfield Health Cash Plan for Specialist Consultations & Diagnostics, Scanning Service (MRI, CT & PET Scans), Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments (Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy and Osteopathy)
- Profit Related Bonus: A profit related annual bonus will be payable in December if WJ meets its profit targets
- Group Life Insurance: Automatically included in the WJ Death in Service Group Insurance at 3 times salary after 6-month probation period
- Gym Membership: Exclusive, discounted access to thousands of gyms, pools and spas with just one pass via our fitness partner, Hussle
About the role
We're looking for a player-coach Sales Manager to lead WJ's UK sales team and personally win work across our full portfolio dewatering, water management, water treatment, instrumentation & monitoring and professional services. Reporting to the Head of Business Development, you'll manage two Sales Representatives and an Estimator (with dedicated back-office support), own the enquiry-to-order process, and carry your own accounts and targets alongside the team's. We sell the way we work with clarity and integrity: honest technical advice, clear communication, and doing what we promise.
What you'll do
- Manage and grow key accounts while leading, coaching and developing the sales team.
- Own the pipeline: qualification, quotations, tender follow-up, forecasting and CRM discipline.
- Cross-sell our expanding portfolio and support framework and public sector pursuits (including AMP8 and defence).
- Ensure smooth handover of secured work to our delivery teams.
What you'll bring
- A track record in technical sales within water, construction or specialist subcontracting.
- Experience managing sales staff, plus sound understanding of estimating and pricing.
- Framework/public sector experience and strong CRM and forecasting discipline.
Why join WJ?
This is a rare opportunity to put your stamp on a growing sales function and help shape where the business goes next. You'll have the autonomy to bring your own ideas, leadership and vision, backed by the Head of Business Development and directors who are genuinely committed to investing in the team's growth, success and in your professional development. It's a role with real influence over strategy and the chance to build and develop a high-performing sales team. If that's the challenge you're looking for, we'd like to hear from you.
About WJ
WJ is the UK’s leading water management specialist the partner and contractor of choice for major construction and infrastructure programmes. Founded by academics and evolved through expertise, we apply scientific principles to solve complex water challenges: over 40 years’ experience and 4,000+ projects worldwide, including the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the London Olympic Park, Crossrail, Tideway, HS2 and currently Sizewell C. Our expanding service lines span dewatering & groundwater control, water treatment, surface water management, I&M, pumping tests, well drilling and professional services which are grounded in engineering, delivered in partnership. Our values of Confidence, Pride, Clarity & Integrity, and Independence guide every decision we make, and our ambitions are big: the AMP8 water sector, defence, energy and infrastructure markets.
Key areas of responsibility
Sales Delivery & Personal Account Management
- Personally manage and grow a portfolio of key accounts and strategic opportunities, carrying an individual sales target alongside the team target.
- Lead negotiations, presentations and technical sales discussions with contractors, consultants and clients at senior level.
- Sell across WJ’s full-service portfolio, promoting cross-selling of water treatment, I&M and professional services alongside core dewatering and water management offerings.
- Support the Head of Business Development in pursuing framework and public sector opportunities (including AMP8 water sector, defence, MRA, DEFRA, EA and NHS).
Team Leadership & Development
- Provide line management, coaching and development to two Sales Representatives and the Estimator, supported by eDOC back-office administration.
- Set individual objectives, targets and activity plans, monitoring performance and holding regular reviews.
- Build a positive, accountable, high-activity sales culture aligned with WJ’s values.
- Recruit, induct and train sales staff as the team develops, in conjunction with the Head of Business Development.
Pipeline, Enquiry & Quotation Management
- Manage the enquiry-to-order process, ensuring all enquiries are qualified, prioritised, and responded to promptly and professionally.
- Oversee the Estimator’s workload, ensuring quotations and tenders are technically sound, commercially robust and delivered on time.
- Maintain an accurate, well-qualified opportunity pipeline in the CRM, with reliable forecasting of order intake.
- Lead follow-up of quotations and tenders to maximise conversion and capture feedback on lost opportunities.
Client Relationships & Market Development
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with contractors, consultants, framework bodies and repeat clients across the UK.
- Represent WJ at industry events, exhibitions and client engagements.
- Gather and report market intelligence on clients, competitors, pricing and upcoming projects to inform sales strategy.
Sales Process, CRM & Reporting
- Ensure disciplined use of the CRM by the whole sales team, keeping records of activity, opportunities and client contact up to date.
- Produce accurate weekly and monthly sales reports for the Head of Business Development, covering pipeline, forecasts, win rates, and team activity.
- Ensure smooth handover of secured work to operations, including scope, pricing and client expectations.
Commercial Governance & Compliance
- Ensure quotations, tenders and contract commitments comply with WJ’s commercial governance, approval levels and IMS requirements.
- Work with the Managing Quantity Surveyor and Finance to ensure pricing, terms and risk are appropriately managed at the point of sale.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
- Proven track record of technical sales within the water, construction, civil engineering or specialist subcontracting sectors.
- Appropriate sector knowledge across water management, construction or related ground engineering services.
- Experience of winning work through frameworks and public sector procurement routes.
- Previous experience managing sales staff or a small team, with strong coaching and people management skills.
- Sound understanding of estimating, pricing and quotation processes for specialist services.
- Strong negotiation, communication and relationship-building skills at senior client level.
- Competent user of CRM systems with strong pipeline management and forecasting discipline.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
Desirable
- Direct experience of dewatering, groundwater control, water treatment or instrumentation & monitoring services.
- Technical qualification (e.g. engineering, geology, environmental) or formal sales/marketing qualification.
- Existing network within Tier 1/2 contractors, the AMP supply chain or public sector frameworks.
Working Conditions
Based at WJ’s UK Head Office (Kings Langley) with regular travel to clients, sites, framework meetings and industry events across the UK.
Occasional travel to WJ’s yard and project facilities to maintain knowledge of operational capability.
General Expectations
- Uphold WJ’s values and commitment to safety, quality and environmental performance.
- Promote continuous improvement and a positive, ethical sales culture across the business.
- Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role’s seniority and business development function.
Pay: £65,000.00-£68,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Gym membership
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Application question(s):
- Do you have proven track record of technical sales within the water, construction, civil engineering or specialist subcontracting sectors?
- Do you have experience of winning work through frameworks and public sector procurement routes?
- Are you competent user of CRM systems with strong pipeline management and forecasting discipline?
- Are you happy with the salary offered?
- Are you a British Citizen (right to work type)?
- Do you have appropriate sector knowledge across water management, construction or related ground engineering services?
- Do you have Previous experience managing sales staff or a small team, with strong coaching and people management skills?
- Do you have a Full UK Driving Licence?
- Do you need a visa sponsorship to work in the UK?
- Are you on a Student, Graduate, or any visa that is time limited?
Work Location: In person
