Head of Sales, HCCB (12 month FTC)

Key Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with the Sales Director to ensure the success of all divisional titles and imprints, delivering on agreed growth targets and corporate objectives
• Play a key role in developing marketing strategies with relevant teams, ensuring they are geared towards key retail stakeholders
• Management of the HCCB Sales Executive role - lead, direct, develop and motivate
• Play a key role in developing divisional strategies with editorial teams, ensuring they are well informed of the ever-changing UK retail landscape and that ongoing publishing reflects these factors
• Working with the Sales Director on acquisitions and acquisitions strategies alongside senior stakeholders within the division
• Preparation of annual sales budget and forecast throughout the year in conjunction with HCCB Sales Director
• Effective & results-based management of key accounts, delivering revenue & profit in line with targets
• Liaising with colleagues across Group Sales to ensure strong & appropriate representation of HCCB titles across retail channels
• Share best practice across divisions through relationships with other Sales Teams
• Build deep and broad relationships with key retail groups to maximise HCCB influence at retail
• Share best practice across divisions through relationships with other Sales Teams
• You will be expected to act independently in terms of day-to-day activities within the division. You will manage budgets and targets in conjunction with the Sales Director and commercial/finance teams

Skills & Expertise

• Significant senior sales & account-management experience within UK trade publishing, with a strong track record of delivering commercial growth across major retail accounts
• Knowledge of the UK children's market, including customer dynamics, consumer trends, physical and online retail, and the factors that drive successful frontlist and backlist performance
• A proven record in handling major customers and negotiating wider business deals, alongside strategic publishing/sales input into acquisitions and marketing plans
• Excellent relationship-management skills, with the credibility to influence both customers and internal stakeholders
• Commercial judgement and strategic thinking, balanced with the ability to manage detail, competing priorities and time-critical decisions
• Highly collaborative, with the ability to work effectively across teams (Editorial, Marketing/PR, Operations, Finance and the wider sales organisation)
• Advanced working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint
• Organised, resilient and proactive, with the ability to work under pressure, use initiative and maintain high standards