Job Details

Level: Senior

Job Location: Downers Grove, IL 60515

Position Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $0.01 - $0.01 Salary

Travel Percentage: Up to 50%

Job Shift: Day

Job Category: Sales

Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with an over 100-year operating history. Through our portfolio of operating companies, we deliver trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. With worldwide sales distribution and service networks we provide immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all the markets we serve in the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors. Duravant’s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability.

Position Summary

The Vice President of Sales – Food Automation is a senior executive responsible for defining and executing the commercial growth strategy across the Food Automation Group. Reporting to the Group President, this role drives revenue growth, market expansion, customer engagement, and commercial excellence by aligning go-to-market strategy, sales, marketing, integrated solutions, and strategic account management across the portfolio.

As a key member of the Food Automation executive leadership team, the VP of Sales establishes long-term commercial priorities, identifies growth opportunities, and builds scalable commercial capabilities that support profitable growth. The role leverages market, customer, and competitive insights to strengthen value propositions, enhance go-to-market effectiveness, and improve commercial performance across the Operating Companies.

The VP of Sales is responsible for creating a unified commercial operating model by driving process standardization, CRM and technology adoption, forecasting discipline, pipeline visibility, KPI management, and cross-functional collaboration. This leader fosters a high-performance commercial culture focused on business development, customer success, strategic account growth, and operational excellence.

This position provides direct leadership to the Director of Marketing, Director of Integrated Solutions, and Vice President of Strategic Accounts, ensuring alignment across commercial functions and creating a scalable platform for sustained growth across the Food Automation Group.

Qualifications

Position Requirements:

15+ years of progressive commercial leadership experience with demonstrated success driving growth, market expansion, and commercial transformation within complex industrial, capital equipment, automation, manufacturing, or technology-based businesses. Proven experience building and scaling commercial organizations, including the development of go-to-market strategies, customer segmentation frameworks, sales operating models, strategic account programs, and commercial performance management systems. Experience leading multi-business-unit, multi-site, or global commercial teams through periods of growth, integration, and organizational change. Demonstrated ability to implement commercial disciplines, forecasting processes, CRM adoption, marketing effectiveness programs, and KPI-based management frameworks that improve revenue predictability and operational effectiveness. Experience across multiple industries or market segments is strongly preferred, with the ability to identify and apply best practices from diverse commercial environments.

This role is expected to be based within a reasonable commuting distance of a Food Automation operating company location (Ball Ground, GA; Riverside, MO; or Woodland, CA). The position follows a hybrid work model, with a regular on-site presence required to support business operations.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen with deep understanding of sales processes, pricing strategies, and financial drivers.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive alignment across diverse teams.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Experience with CRM systems, business intelligence tools, and sales analytics.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with ability to engage at executive levels.
• Strong leadership, project management, and change management capabilities.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this role, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and use hands to operate standard office equipment. Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds may be required. Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to approximately 50%, depending on business needs.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment. Travel to Operating Companies, customer sites, and manufacturing facilities is required. While visiting customer or production environments, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, noise, and varying temperatures. The role requires flexibility to work across time zones in a global organization.

Why You Should Apply

• Compensation: Competitive compensation including short-term and long-term incentives
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefit programs designed to support employees’ health, well‑being, and financial security
• Development: Education and training opportunities, including an educational assistance program
• Time Off: Paid holidays and paid time off
• Driven Team Members: A cross‑functional, collaborative environment focused on delivering results
• Core Values: Do What’s Right, Champion Customer Success, Respond Fast - Deliver Faster, Work Together - Win Together, Ignite What’s Next
• Culture: A people‑first culture driven by the success and engagement of our employees
• Community Involvement: Active participation in local communities, including volunteer opportunities throughout the year through our Doing Good Program

Equal Opportunity & Accommodation Statement: Duravant is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and will provide accommodation throughout the recruitment process in accordance with applicable legislation.