Sales Manager - Aerowork in Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui at Ravensdown

Lead the commercial engine behind New Zealand’s most capable aerial spreading network.

Aerowork is entering its next phase of growth. We’re looking for a commercially astute, strategically minded sales leader to design and drive the sales engine that will unlock new opportunity across New Zealand’s hill country.

If you’re motivated by building structure, creating momentum, and delivering measurable revenue impact — this is your opportunity to shape the future of a critical rural service business.

Smarter farming for a better New Zealand TM

Ka pūkekotia a Rongomātāne, ka poho kererū a Aotearoa

About Aerowork:

Aerowork delivers precision aerial fertiliser application to support New Zealand’s hill-country farmers. With a nationwide fleet of 13 GPS-equipped aircraft, 35+ loader trucks, and a full in-house engineering team designing and maintaining specialised aircraft components, we operate one of the most capable aerial spreading networks in the country.

As a 100% Ravensdown-owned subsidiary, Aerowork plays an essential role in helping rural communities grow stronger, safer, and more productive.

Now, we’re focused on elevating our commercial capability — and that’s where you come in.

Why this Role matters:

This is not a traditional sales role. It’s about building a sustainable sales approach.

You will design and embed the commercial frameworks, campaigns and messaging that strengthen Aerowork’s market position, increase customer lifetime value, and deepen integration with Ravensdown’s national sales strategy.

You will connect strategy to execution — ensuring pilots, area coordinators and sales teams are aligned, equipped and focused on delivering measurable growth.

Success in this role will mean:

• Increased revenue and customer retention across key regions
• Stronger cross-sell integration with Ravensdown
• Clear, consistent on-farm value messaging
• Structured, repeatable sales processes embedded across the network.

What you will deliver:

• Design and implement a national sales enablement framework, including campaign planning, prospecting strategy and performance tracking.
• Lead end-to-end commercial campaigns — from insight and targeting through to execution and measurable results.
• Strengthen the capability of pilots and area coordinators as confident, value-focused customer interfaces.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with farmers, corporate farm owners and rural stakeholders.
• Identify growth opportunities using customer, competitor and market intelligence.
• Collaborate with Ravensdown sales teams to develop integrated bids and bundled solutions.

This role combines commercial strategy, field engagement and hands-on execution while demonstrating a wide reaching leadership capability.

About You:

You’re a credible commercial leader who can operate comfortably in both woolsheds and boardrooms.

You understand how rural businesses make decisions. You can influence without formal authority. You bring clarity where there is ambiguity and structure where there is complexity.

You are energised by:

• Building systems that drive performance
• Turning insight into practical action
• Working alongside operational teams to lift commercial capability
• Delivering measurable revenue outcomes.

Experience and Capability:

We’re less concerned about years and more interested in impact.

You will likely bring:

• Significant experience leading complex sales activity across dispersed customer bases
• Demonstrated success designing and executing revenue growth initiatives

• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of margin, pricing and revenue drivers
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills across all levels of an organisation

• Experience using customer and market data to inform targeting and campaign decisions
• Confidence building trust across operational, technical and executive stakeholders
• The ability to operate autonomously and travel regularly

Experience in agriculture and/or aviation is advantageous, but commercial credibility and the ability to quickly build trust in a rural environment are essential.

What you’ll gain.

• A senior role with genuine commercial impact
• Autonomy to shape and embed national sales frameworks
• The backing of Ravensdown’s cooperative network
• Competitive remuneration package including company vehicle, insurances, phone and laptop
• Ongoing development within a values-driven, supportive organisation

This is a full‑time, permanent role, based in Whanganui, with the opportunity to work from home, and regular travel (on average - once a fortnight) in rural locations to engage directly with customers, pilots and stakeholders.

How to apply: Create a profile and submit your CV and Cover letter.

Applications Close: Sunday 5 July 2026

Ravensdown is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace. The successful applicant will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug and alcohol test.