Lead Profitable Growth Across APAC as Director, Automation Sales

Are you ready for the next step in your career? Join us as Director, Automation Sales and take ownership of profitable revenue growth and market expansion across the APAC pulp and paper industry. In this role, you will translate business strategy into actionable sales and marketing plans, lead a high-performing automation sales team, and drive customer success across the region. You will build strategic customer partnerships, influence major investment decisions, and contribute to the final negotiations of significant automation sales opportunities. This is an opportunity to make a measurable business impact while positioning advanced automation solutions at the forefront of a transforming industry.

Your responsibilities

• You will lead and develop the APAC automation sales team, fostering a high-performing and results-driven culture.
• You will drive profitable revenue growth and market expansion across the pulp and paper industry.
• You will translate business strategy into actionable sales and marketing plans that support regional growth objectives.
• You will lead day-to-day sales activities and ensure customer success across the APAC region.
• You will drive sales of automation systems, including DCS, QCS, analyzers, new investments, upgrades, and rebuild projects.
• You will develop and execute sales plans, forecasts, and budgets to improve business performance.
• You will build and maintain executive-level customer relationships, aligning solutions with customer business targets.
• You will contribute to the final negotiations of major sales opportunities and strategic customer investments.
• You will collaborate with internal experts and regional teams to deliver customer-focused solutions and successful outcomes.
• You will ensure Valmet is well positioned to compete and win in the pulp and paper automation market.

Expectations from you

• You have a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
• You bring 15+ years of experience in the pulp and paper industry.
• You have a strong track record of leading sales teams and achieving ambitious growth targets.
• You have experience selling automation solutions, systems, or services within the pulp and paper sector.
• You have strong commercial acumen and contract negotiation experience.
• You are experienced in developing sales strategies, forecasts, and budgets.
• You have the ability to build and manage senior-level customer relationships.
• You have advanced English proficiency.
• Travel is required across the APAC region.

To succeed in this role

To succeed, you will bring deep expertise in the pulp and paper industry combined with strong sales leadership capabilities. You understand complex and long-cycle sales processes, can translate business strategy into commercial results, and build trusted relationships with strategic customers. You are comfortable leading diverse teams, navigating major negotiations, and consistently delivering growth in a competitive market environment.

We also expect you to align with Valmet’s Leadership Principles—practical behaviors that guide how we lead, collaborate, and succeed together:

• Take accountability – Act with ownership, set clear expectations, and follow through
• Lead with courage – Champion change, try bold ideas, and learn quickly
• Build on trust – Listen to understand, be open, and create psychological safety
• Collaborate for growth – Work across boundaries, value diverse perspectives, and focus on customer value

We offer

You will join a team responsible for driving automation sales growth and expanding Valmet’s market position across the APAC pulp and paper industry. The team works closely with customers, business leaders, and technical experts to deliver automation solutions that improve performance and support long-term customer success. As the sales leader for the region, you will have the opportunity to shape strategy, develop talent, influence major business decisions, and create measurable commercial impact. You will operate in a highly collaborative environment where customer focus, business growth, and teamwork are central to success.

Valmet offers an inspiring and challenging international environment where you can contribute directly to business growth and industry transformation. We value our employees and support continuous development through learning opportunities, modern tools, and collaboration with talented colleagues across the globe.

When everything works together

Valmet is where the best talent from a wide variety of backgrounds comes together. We work together with our customers throughout the entire lifecycle, delivering cutting-edge technologies and services as well as mission-critical automation and flow control solutions. Backed by more than 225 years of industrial experience and a global team of over 19,000 professionals close to customers; we are uniquely positioned to transform industries toward a regenerative tomorrow.

At Valmet, diversity of thought drives innovation. We are committed to a respectful and inclusive environment, where people can be themselves and are supported to contribute at their best. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience, and potential, never on personal characteristics such as gender, gender identity, age, ethnicity, nationality, disability, neurodiversity, religion, sexual orientation, or political views.

Join the team – and lead the way with us!

www.valmet.com/careers