Company: Coopers Fire
Location: Waterlooville
Posted: April 17th, 2026
Coopers Fire specialises in the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of advanced, bespoke Smoke and Fire Curtain systems for a wide range of buildings. Our purpose is clear: to save lives by delivering high-quality, innovative products and effective fire protection solutions.
We are committed to creating an environment where our colleagues can thrive, perform at their best, and take pride in their work. Our core values — Integrity, Pride and Passion, Teamship, and Pioneering — guide everything we do.
By supporting our people, embracing diverse perspectives, and continuously challenging convention, we work collaboratively to lead the market through innovation — always focused on safeguarding lives.
Coopers Fire is seeking a commercially strong, strategically aligned International Sales Director to reshape, rebuild and grow our export business.
Following a recent decline in export revenue, this role is central to delivering our next phase of international growth. The successful candidate will implement our proven UK specification-led sales model globally, strengthen distributor performance, and build a high-performing international team.
This is not a role for someone looking to reinvent the strategy. Our UK approach works. The opportunity is to execute it internationally with discipline, professionalism, and energy.
Rebuild export revenue toward and beyond historic levels
Recruit two Export Specification Sales Managers
Appoint new distributors in Scandinavia, Central Europe and selected Southeast Asian markets
Improve service levels and professional standards across the international distributor network
Strengthen forecasting accuracy and commercial visibility to support manufacturing and engineering
Responsible for delivering international revenue and margin targets
Drive revenue growth, margin improvement, and commercial discipline
Control export pricing strategy and distributor commercial terms (in alignment with the Managing Director)
Roll out Coopers Fire’s UK specification model internationally
Ensure distributors protect and convert UK-originated global specifications
Develop in-country specification capability to prevent competitive substitution at detailed design stage
Drive CPD-led architect engagement and passive fire education internationally
Recruit, appoint and, where necessary, replace distributors
Establish clear KPIs, performance expectations and behavioural standards
Build closer, more professional relationships with distributor principals
Ensure distributors operate with integrity and alignment to Coopers Fire’s standards
Conduct regular in-market visits to strengthen relationships and accountability
Lead UK-based Export Sales Managers
Recruit and manage overseas Specification Sales Managers in key territories
Build a structured, process-driven export function
Drive accountability, clarity and performance across the team
Deliver structured export forecasting to support manufacturing planning
Feed market intelligence into engineering to influence product development
Provide commercially grounded input into R&D investment decisions
Contribute actively to broader company strategy as a member of the Senior Management Team
Significant experience in passive fire protection or construction product sales
Proven success managing international distributor networks
Strong understanding of specification-led selling (architects, consultants, major projects)
Experience leading multi-territory sales teams
Commercially astute
Process-oriented and disciplined in forecasting and reporting
Comfortable working closely with manufacturing and engineering functions
Strategically aligned and able to execute an established playbook
Collaborative and able to work closely with the Managing Director
Commercially serious, personally grounded
Energetic and motivated by growth challenges
Prepared to challenge constructively, but not disruptively
Enjoys building strong, long-term professional relationships
This role is UK Head Office based and requires regular international travel to support distributors, recruit partners, and develop in-market specification capability.
This is a pivotal leadership role at Coopers Fire. The International Sales Director will directly influence revenue growth, global brand positioning, distributor professionalism, and long-term international expansion.
The right individual will help establish a stronger, more disciplined, and more strategically aligned global presence for Coopers Fire.
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