Director of Sales Training and Development - ImageFIRST Healthcare Laundry Specialists

Founded in 1967, ImageFIRST® is a leading healthcare services organization. Acquired by private equity firm Calera Capital in 2018 and subsequently recapitalized in 2023 through a continuation fund vehicle, ImageFIRST has undergone rapid growth in its transformation as the largest national healthcare linen rental and laundry services provider. The Company serves 25,000+ outpatient and hospital customers through a nationwide network that includes 85 sites and 650 delivery routes. The leaders in infection prevention, ImageFIRST prides itself on improving both staff and patient experiences through a premium product offering and white-glove service model.

As the nation's leader in healthcare laundry linen services, ImageFIRST is seeking an experienced Director of Sales Training and Development to drive the design, execution, and continuous improvement of sales training programs. This role will be based our of our  Chicago, IL office.

This role is critical to building a high-performing sales team that can meet the demands of the healthcare industry and drive revenue growth. The Director will ensure that the sales team is equipped with the necessary skills, tools, and knowledge to excel in a competitive, service-driven environment. This individual will bring over 10 years of experience in building comprehensive training programs and have a proven track record in developing sales professionals and leaders.

This role is pivotal for ImageFIRST’s continued success in the healthcare laundry services industry, ensuring that the sales team is not only equipped for immediate success but also positioned for future growth and leadership within the company. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of strategic thinking, hands-on leadership, and a passion for developing talent to drive sales excellence.

We are seeking a Director of Sales Training and Development to join our Sales team in Addison, Illinois.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Development of Training Programs:
  • Design and implement a structured, scalable sales training program tailored to the unique needs of the healthcare laundry services sector.
  • Create comprehensive onboarding processes to quickly ramp up new sales team members and ensure they understand ImageFIRST’s services, value propositions, and target markets.
  • Develop specialized programs for experienced sales professionals to refine their skills in areas such as customer relationship management, consultative selling, and solution-based sales.
• Leadership and Development:
  • Build and nurture a team of sales trainers and development professionals to execute training programs that align with ImageFIRST's business objectives.
  • Focus on leadership development by creating pathways for internal talent to grow into sales leadership roles, ensuring a strong leadership pipeline within the sales organization.
  • Provide hands-on coaching and mentorship to senior sales leaders to enhance their leadership capabilities and team management skills.
• Sales Process Optimization:
  • Ensure that sales training programs are closely aligned with the organization’s sales process, promoting consistency and efficiency across the sales team.
  • Identify and address gaps in the current sales process through data analysis and feedback, making continuous improvements to drive performance.
• Collaboration with Key Stakeholders:
  • Work closely with the executive leadership team, regional sales leaders, marketing, and HR to ensure sales training aligns with business goals and market demands.
  • Collaborate with the product and operations teams to ensure that sales training reflects ImageFIRST’s evolving service offerings, technologies, and innovations.
• Measuring Effectiveness:
  • Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the effectiveness of sales training programs, focusing on metrics such as sales performance, time-to-productivity for new hires, and leadership development.
  • Conduct regular assessments of training outcomes and make adjustments to improve the overall effectiveness of the programs.
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Mimum Qualifications:

• Experience:
• 10+ years of experience in sales training and development, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven history of creating structured, scalable sales training programs in a B2B environment, ideally within healthcare or a service-based industry.
• Demonstrated success in developing both individual contributors and sales leaders, with a focus on fostering internal growth and leadership development.
• Education:
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, or a related field required. 
• Skills:
• Sales Process Mastery: Deep understanding of sales methodologies, processes, and techniques, particularly in long-cycle, relationship-based sales environments.
• Training Expertise: Expertise in learning principles, instructional design, and the ability to deliver both in-person and virtual training programs.
• Data-Driven Approach: Ability to leverage data to assess training effectiveness and make informed improvements.
• Leadership Development: Proven ability to identify, develop, and promote sales leaders within an organization.
• Healthcare Industry Insight: Familiarity with the healthcare industry, particularly within service or support roles, is highly desirable but not required

Key Traits and Attributes:

• Strategic Vision: Ability to foresee the future training needs of the sales organization and develop programs to address those needs.
• Results-Oriented: Focus on driving measurable outcomes through training initiatives, including increased sales performance and leadership growth.
• Influential Communicator: Strong communication and presentation skills to engage and motivate sales teams across all levels.
• Adaptability: Able to adjust strategies and approaches in a fast-paced and evolving market like healthcare services.
• Collaborative Leader: Comfortable working across departments to ensure training programs are aligned with broader company objectives.

Performance Metrics:

• Sales Team Productivity: Improvements in sales quota attainment and closing rates across regions.
• Leadership Development: Growth in internal promotions and the effectiveness of new sales leaders.
• Employee Retention: Enhanced retention rates for high-performing sales professionals.
• Onboarding Efficiency: Reduction in time-to-productivity for new hires post-training.
• Training Program Satisfaction: Positive feedback from both sales teams and leadership on the relevance and impact of training programs.

Required Competencies and Characteristics:

• Thrives in a high growth, fast-paced environment
• Effective leadership and organizational skills
• Exceptional  training and communication skills
• Strategic thought partner with strong ability to consume and distill information into executable  deliveryof training.
• Demonstrated self-starter; able to work both independently and in a heavily team-oriented environment
• Ability to deal with ambiguity and drive decision-making through data and sales playbook
• Delivers high quality work product/results within established deadlines
• Role model Our Values as a Company
  • Be Safe: Keep yourself and those around you safe
  • Be Honest: Be guided by truthfulness in all you do  
  • Be Respectful: Value those you come in contact with
  • Be Remarkable: Create a positive moment with every interaction
    
    

Benefits:

• Competitive pay
• Medical, Dental, Vision 
• Pet, Legal, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance 
• 401k (match)
• Paid Time Off package
• Great company culture
• Collaborative team environment 
  
  

EOE / Drug-Free Workplace 

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.  We are fueled by the talent, passion, and diversity of our associates.