Regional Sales & Customer Relations Manager – Business & Private Jet Interiors (m/f/d)'

ABOUT DEPARTER - THE KNOW-WHO PEOPLE

Departer is a leading German Executive Search firm with over 20 years of experience in global leadership recruitment. Operating worldwide, we specialize in placing executives in medium-sized enterprises and private equity portfolio firms. With a deep understanding of internationally active businesses, we facilitate successful placements within global management teams across corporate headquarters and entities abroad.

Our client is a globally recognized, family-run specialist for high-end cabin interiors in the business and private aviation segment, distinguished by exceptional craftsmanship and an uncompromising standard of quality. From its recently established UK operation, the company delivers aftermarket cabin services for European customers, ranging from refurbishment and refinishing of surfaces and furniture to the recovery of soft furnishings and the renewal of floor and panel elements. To strengthen its foothold in the Farnborough business aviation ecosystem, the company is building a new regional presence in the area. As there is currently no physical office at this location, the role is designed as a home-based position for candidates living in or near Farnborough. To support this ambition, we are seeking a dedicated Customer Relations & Sales Manager (m/f/d).

As Customer Relations & Sales Manager (m/f/d), you will act as the local face of the organization within the Farnborough business aviation community, working from home while maintaining a strong field presence through regular on-site engagement with clients and partners at the airport and across the surrounding ecosystem. You will combine hands-on customer proximity with commercial ownership, developing the regional market and, in a subsequent phase, building and leading a local team.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a newly created regional presence from the ground up, with a high degree of autonomy, direct influence on the growth of the business in one of the most active aviation hubs in the region, and the freedom to build lasting relationships in an exclusive niche of the industry.

Your duties and responsibilities will include:

• Represent the organization on the ground in the Farnborough area, maintaining close relationships with owners, operators, and service providers through frequent personal visits at the airport and across the local business aviation community
• Develop the regional customer network, identifying commercial opportunities directly with operators, MRO providers, and service centers
• Cultivate durable customer relationships with a consistent focus on high levels of satisfaction
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, offering expert guidance on repair and refurbishment solutions tailored to their individual requirements
• Conduct cabin interior inspections, prepare detailed surveys, and issue commercial quotations
• Plan and steer cabin interior projects efficiently to ensure smooth and reliable execution
• Establish and progressively grow the local project team as the regional presence develops
• Assume responsibility, in a subsequent phase, for the technical oversight of local cabin interior specialists
• Act as the central point of contact for clients throughout the sales and delivery cycle

To be successful in this role, you should have the following skills and experiences:

• Completed technical training and/or a Bachelor's degree
• Practical experience with business and private aircraft cabin interiors
• Residence in the Farnborough area, or a clear willingness to relocate there, enabling frequent in-person interaction with clients and partners at the airport and within the regional aviation community
• Comfort working from a home-based setup with a pronounced field presence, including several on-site visits each week
• Background in operations or project management, ideally within the aviation or aerospace sector
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, combined with the ability to lead a small team and to solve problems pragmatically
• High level of motivation with a performance-oriented mindset and a genuinely hands-on approach
• Capacity to work autonomously and take initiative while remaining a strong team player
• Flexibility and willingness to travel frequently in support of international business development

Our client offers an attractive overall remuneration and benefits package reflecting your experience, flexible working arrangements, and a comprehensive range of company benefits. Personal and professional development is actively encouraged, and you will enjoy considerable freedom to bring your own ideas to life. Seize the opportunity to establish and grow a new regional presence and to play a decisive part in the future of a passionate, quality-driven organization.