Sales Manager, Defense

Introduction

Speed has always been in our DNA - join us on the fast lane for unlimited passion for technology and innovation. This is your chance to join a company that is transforming the industry and building the future.

Providing end-to-end expertise in advanced manufacturing, Valmet Automotive is a trusted partner for contract manufacturing and industrializing future technologies across automotive, defense, and high-tech industrial sectors. 

As a unique industry player in Finland, we offer unlimited opportunities to build an inspiring career.

We are looking for Sales Manager, Defense to build and boost our Defense business area growth. As Sales Manager, you won’t just sell—you’ll build and shape a new business area from the ground up together with the team. This is a role where your relationship-building skills, solution-orientated sales approach and technical insight will directly influence our success in a complex and evolving market. 

In this role, you will be working in close cooperation with other business, sales, marketing and technical experts. We expect you to have previous sales experience but will have room to grow in this role to be a professional in solution selling. 

In order to succeed you have to be curious, able to create tailored solutions for our customers and capable to understand the defense sector’s decision-making frameworks.

Key-responsibilities: 

• Drive new business by identifying high-potential customers, understanding their operational and technical requirements, and turning those needs into tailored solutions, strong value propositions, and long-term partnerships that support sustainable growth.
• Be a trusted advisor and ambassador in a growth-driven transformation, where our automotive expertise is expanded into new industrial sectors — strengthening our presence and relationships with key defense stakeholders.
• Participate developing and executing a scalable, forward-thinking sales strategy in collaboration with marketing and sales development, laying the foundation for a robust Defense sales function.
• Work cross-functionally across finance, technology, operations, and commercial teams to shape competitive proposals and deliver customer-focused solutions that are both technically and commercially viable.
• Represent Valmet Automotive at defense-specific forums, key industry events and exhibitions to expand our network and uncover new opportunities.
• Drive innovation and change by introducing best practices, challenging the status quo, and helping to establish a modern, agile sales culture within a newly formed team.

You’ll be a great fit if you: 

• Are proactive, resilient, and curious — ready to take ownership, adapt quickly, and find creative solutions in defense landscape.
• Have experience in B2B or B2G sales in solution selling or consultative sales environments. Exposure to defense sector stakeholders are considered as an advantage.
• Understand our competence and can translate it into customer value by creating tailored solutions, and are interested in manufacturing technologies or willing to develop your understanding of them.
• You are able to simplify complex technical concepts for diverse audiences. Communicate confidently and clearly in Finnish and English, German or Swedish as a plus.
• Excel in social situations and collaboration, building trust both internally and externally.
• Have a commercial or technical degree: M.Sc., or B.Sc. of technical or commercial field.
• Are eligible for a standard security clearance.

Location & Work Flexibility: 

Our main operations are based in Uusikaupunki, and this role requires regular on-site presence as well as travelling. However, you’ll also have the option to work from our office premises in Turku and Helsinki, with additional flexibility for remote work.  

Why Join Us? 

• Be part of a new and growing business, where you have genuine freedom to shape sales processes and strategy while building new business from the ground up.
• Play a key role in shaping the future of Defense sales in a high-impact position, working closely with top-tier industry partners as well as decision-makers both inside and outside the organization.
• Work in a learning‑oriented organization with modern leadership and plenty of opportunities to develop your skills, influence your role, and advance your career.
• An ePassi benefit that can be used for sports, culture, and wellbeing services. In addition, all employees have free access to our Harrastetalo Laturi activity center, which offers gym and workout facilities, free group exercise classes, and a golf simulator.

Now it’s your turn - Apply latest by 30.4.2026!

For further information

Antti Havola

Vice President, Defense Business

tel. 046 851 2052

Valmet Automotive, founded in 1968 in Finland, is a company focused on contract manufacturing of cars and other industrial products. Valmet Automotive is one of the leading vehicle contract manufacturers in the world, and one of the largest European manufacturers of convertible roof and kinematic systems, including electric vehicle charging flaps and active spoilers. The company offers its decades of expertise in serial production also beyond the automotive industry, for example, to the defense sector. Valmet Automotive’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets are externally validated by Science Based Targets initiative. Valmet Automotive operates in Finland, Germany, and Poland. Valmet Automotive’s gross sales in 2025 amounted to EUR 984.3 million and net sales were EUR 325.5 million.