Who they are
Our client is a Ghent-based technology company building the future of automation in rail. They are on a mission to increase the safety and efficiency of railway operations by enabling rail vehicles to operate autonomously. By making trains safer and more efficient, they actively contribute to a modal shift and a more sustainable future.
What sets them apart is a strong focus on the most challenging rail environments, including urban settings, shunting yards, and industrial sites. Supported by high-profile partners and world-leading customers across Europe and beyond, they are already delivering the future of railway operations today.
Our client is an equal opportunity employer. They are committed to creating a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals. All people processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military service status, citizenship, or any other protected characteristic. They aim to foster an environment where everyone feels confident bringing their authentic selves to work and collaborating openly with colleagues and customers.
What you will do
As Sales Lead, you will take full ownership of their commercial growth — from shaping the strategy to executing it alongside the sales team. You will lead efforts to bring autonomous and driver-assistance rail technologies to new markets and customers, expanding their footprint across Europe, the US, and beyond.
You will inspire, grow, and lead a high-performing commercial team, ensuring they have the vision, tools, and drive to succeed in competitive, complex B2B markets. By owning the full customer journey, you will build trusted, long-term partnerships. Acting as both strategist and dealmaker, you will represent the company externally, influence market direction, forge key alliances, and secure the opportunities that will define their future growth.
You will report directly to the CEO.
Tasks and responsibilities
As Sales Lead, you will:
- Lead the commercial strategy by designing and executing a bold, data-driven growth plan that positions the company as a global leader in rail innovation.
- Drive market expansion by identifying, pursuing, and securing opportunities with major transportation and industrial clients, building a strong and sustainable revenue pipeline.
- Navigate complex, multi-stakeholder B2B sales cycles in regulated, technically demanding environments, including tendering and certification-heavy requirements.
- Ensure every stage of the customer journey creates value, builds trust, and delivers measurable impact for customers and the business.
- Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing commercial organisation with a shared vision and clear success metrics.
- Shape the company’s presence and voice in the market through thought leadership and industry events, positioning them as a go-to name in the sector.
- Translate customer insights into actionable input for product and operational teams, influencing future roadmaps.
- Lead complex, high-value negotiations that result in long-term contracts and strategic partnerships.
Requirements
- Proven commercial leader with 7+ years of experience, ideally in deep tech, mobility, or industrial technology.
- Experience managing international commercial activities, including market entry and expansion in Europe and the US.
- Strong ability to navigate complex, regulated B2B sales cycles, including tenders, technical objections, and certification-heavy processes.
- Demonstrated success in partnership development, deal structuring, and collaborative go-to-market models.
- Exceptional communicator and negotiator, fluent in English, Dutch, and French; additional languages (e.g. German) are a strong plus.
- Strategic thinker with the discipline and drive to execute.
- Builder of high-performing teams who leads with clarity, vision, and accountability.
- Deeply customer-oriented, with a strong sense for long-term value creation.
- Comfortable influencing stakeholders at all levels, from technical experts to C-suite executives.
What they offer
- A full-time position with a competitive salary package.
- An international environment within a fast-growing, disruptive scale-up.
- Flexible working hours to support different working styles.
- A beautiful office in Ghent.
- A collaborative, transparent, and fun-loving company culture.
- Regular team events and quarterly offsites.
- 32 days of vacation.