Job Title

Rust Automation & Controls is a family-owned industrial automation company celebrating 50 years in business , with a 10-year and growing presence in California. We specialize in valves, instrumentation, automation solutions, and high-touch technical services for mission-critical industrial applications. Our culture is grounded in longterm relationships, both with customers and with our people. Leadership is accessible, decisions are made quickly, and we care deeply about how we show up in the field for our team and customers. We are not a volume-driven, transactional sales organization. We win by being trusted, responsive, and service-oriented. This is a rare opportunity to build and own the life sciences vertical in California for a stable, valuesdriven company with meaningful growth ambitions. Position Overview Director of Life Sciences California (Bay Area Focus) Outside Sales Leadership | Biotech & Pharma Manufacturing Location: South San Franciscobased (must live within ~45 minutes) Territory includes the greater Bay Area and nearby life sciences hubs. Compensation Commission: $50,000$100,000+ We believe the compensation plan should realistically be 200k+; this person will be highly compensated with clear metrics that justify the cost. 80% of the commission compensation will be directly based on GM from customer accounts in the Bay Area, and the remaining 20% will be a lump sum contingent on LS GM growth across the territory. We are hiring a Director of Life Sciences California to lead and grow our life sciences business across the Bay Area and surrounding biotech hubs. This is a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy, visibility, and influence. While this role includes new customer development, it is ideally suited for someone who already brings existing relationships in Bay Area biotech, pharma manufacturing, and CDMOs and is excited to turn those relationships into longterm partnerships centered on the diverse offerings of our manufacturing partners. You will own the life sciences portfolio in California, driving growth through a combination of project-based selling and recurring, relationshipdriven business , supported by a strong inside sales, applications engineering, and project team based out of Salt Lake City. You will report directly to the Regional Vice President and work closely with senior management to shape strategy in this vertical. What you will do Own and grow Rust Automations life sciences business in California , with a heavy focus on the Bay Area Leverage existing biotech and pharma relationships to accelerate market entry and credibility Develop new strategic accounts while expanding presence within existing customers Valves and instrumentation Service capabilities, including calibration, commissioning, and loop verificationoften a key dooropener in regulated life sciences environments Engage regularly with: Process engineers Maintenance & reliability teams Procurement and sourcing Manage long-cycle, specification-driven project opportunities while building repeat and preferredvendor business. Serve as a trusted, visible presence at customer sites. This is a fieldbased, customerfacing role with direct account responsibility. Local day travel primarily, approximately two overnight trips per month. Qualifications 5+ years of experience selling into the life sciences market (biotech, pharma manufacturing, and/or CDMOs required) Existing Bay Area life sciences relationships you can activate A strong communicator who builds trust easily and enjoys being facetoface with customers Selfmotivated, organized, and comfortable operating independently Serviceoriented mindset, you care deeply about customer outcomes, not just closing deals Technically curious and credible (you dont need to be an engineer, but you know how to navigate technical conversations) Cheerful, grounded, and collaborative, not a lone-wolf or hardcharging, ego-driven seller Someone who values longterm relationships, stability, and culture, not just the next logo What Success Looks Like (1218 Months) Tripling life sciences revenue in the territory. Currently, 500k in LS GM across CA, 70k in the Bay Area. All numbers exclude service revenue. Establishing at least six new strategic life sciences accounts, ''''s trategic'''' is defined as accounts with over 50k in GM. Becoming a primary vendor at two or more key biotech or pharma facilities, with 100k or more in GM. Being recognized internally and externally as Rust Automations life sciences leader in California Competitive paid time off 401(k) with company match Company Vehicle Why This Role is Different Youre not inheriting a crowded territory, youre building something meaningful Youll have real autonomy with executive visibility and support Youll represent a family-owned company with staying power , not a shortterm rollup This role is designed as a longterm career home , with room to grow as the life sciences vertical expands The pay range for this role is: 175,000 - 250,000 USD per year (San Francisco) #J-18808-Ljbffr