At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and motivate a sales team to achieve targets and drive performance.
- Company: Exciting technology-led business with a focus on growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, three-month handover, and opportunity for career development.
- Other info: Engaging 12-month challenge with excellent support and established processes.
- Why this job: Take ownership of a successful sales function and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior sales management and strong analytical skills.
12-Month Fixed-Term Contract | Senior Sales Leadership Opportunity
Are you an experienced sales leader who knows how to drive performance, develop people and turn commercial opportunities into results? We're working with an exciting, technology-led business looking for a confident and commercially astute Head of Sales to join them on a 12-month maternity cover contract.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an established sales professional who enjoys taking ownership, leading from the front and ensuring a sales function continues to perform at its very best. You'll be stepping into an established role within a growing business, with the benefit of an anticipated three-month handover to ensure a smooth transition. The foundations are already in place, with excellent processes and structures recently implemented. Your role will be to maintain that momentum, embrace what's working and ensure the business continues to achieve its commercial objectives.
The Role
This is a varied and influential position where you'll take responsibility for the ongoing performance and effectiveness of the sales function. You'll be expected to provide strong commercial leadership, support and motivate the sales team, and maintain a clear focus on sales activity, pipeline management and results.
- Taking ownership of the sales function, ensuring consistency and strong day-to-day performance.
- Leading, supporting and coaching a team of sales professionals to achieve their objectives.
- Maintaining a proactive approach to business development and new client acquisition.
- Monitoring sales pipelines, conversion rates, KPIs and overall team performance.
- Analysing sales data to identify trends, opportunities and areas for improvement.
- Maintaining and building upon the existing sales processes, reporting structures and best practices.
- Supporting the team with client engagement, negotiations and closing opportunities where required.
- Ensuring sales targets and commercial objectives remain firmly on track.
- Providing clear and meaningful reporting to senior management.
- Working collaboratively with the wider business to ensure a joined-up approach to growth and customer relationships.
About You
We're looking for someone who can confidently step into a senior sales leadership position, quickly understand the business and take ownership without needing to reinvent the wheel. You'll ideally have:
- Proven experience in a senior sales management or leadership position.
- A strong track record of driving sales performance and delivering commercial results.
- Experience managing, mentoring and developing a sales team.
- A proactive, hands-on approach to business development and winning new clients.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret sales data and translate it into meaningful action.
- Excellent pipeline management and forecasting experience.
- Confident negotiation, influencing and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to maintain structure, accountability and focus in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience within a construction, property or related commercial environment would be advantageous, but we're equally interested in strong sales leaders from other sectors who can demonstrate the right commercial mindset and transferable experience.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is a particularly interesting opportunity for an experienced sales professional who may be looking for a defined interim assignment or a change from the traditional permanent career path. With an anticipated three-month handover, you'll have the opportunity to get to know the business, understand the existing processes and build relationships before taking full ownership of the role. The emphasis is on continuity, commercial awareness and keeping an established sales function performing well. Whether you're an experienced interim leader or a senior sales professional looking for an engaging 12-month challenge, we'd love to hear from you.
The Details
- Position: Head of Sales – Maternity Cover
- Contract: 12 months, fixed term
- Handover: Approximately three months anticipated
- Location: Barnstaple
- Salary: Up to £59,000 per annum
Interested? If you're a confident, commercially minded sales leader who can hit the ground running and keep a successful sales operation moving forward, get in touch for a confidential conversation.
Head of Sales - Maternity Cover in Barnstaple employer: Cooper Golding
Join a dynamic and supportive team at our Barnstaple warehouse, where we prioritise safety, efficiency, and teamwork. As an employer, we offer a stable Monday-to-Friday schedule, opportunities for professional growth, and a friendly work culture that values each employee's contributions. With a focus on maintaining a clean and organised environment, you'll find a rewarding role that keeps you engaged and motivated.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sales - Maternity Cover in Barnstaple
✨Get Involved in Local Networking Events
Sales and business development thrive on personal connections, so hit up local networking events! These gatherings are a goldmine for temporary roles, allowing us to meet potential employers like Cooper Golding in person and leave a memorable impression.
✨Leverage Industry-Specific Job Boards
Jump onto job boards tailored for sales roles like SalesGravy or AngelList. Temporary positions often pop up there, so keep your eyes peeled and apply directly to roles that excite you — this could fast-track your application with companies like Cooper Golding.
✨Perfect Your Elevator Pitch
In sales, we know how crucial first impressions are. Craft a snappy elevator pitch that highlights your strengths and your interest in temporary roles. That way, when you meet someone from Cooper Golding or another potential employer, you’re ready to wow them on the spot!
✨Follow Up and Stay Engaged
After applying for a temporary position, don’t sit back and wait! Shoot a follow-up email about a week later. This shows your enthusiasm for the role at Cooper Golding and helps keep you on their radar — you might just make the right kind of noise!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sales - Maternity Cover in Barnstaple
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Sales Skills:In sales and business development, it's all about proving you can drive results. Make sure your CV highlights any previous experience in hitting targets or boosting sales. Numbers really speak — include any sales figures or goals you've smashed to grab our attention!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:This is your chance to shine! Talk about why you're excited about the temporary role at Cooper Golding and how your skills can help us thrive. We want to see your motivation and how you can bring value to our team in a short period.
Highlight Your Relationship-Building Skills:Sales is all about connections. In your application, don't forget to mention your ability to build relationships with clients or colleagues. Share any examples where you've successfully nurtured partnerships or handled client objections — these stories can really help us see your potential.
Be Clear About Your Availability:Since this is a temporary position, let us know when you're available to start and how flexible you are with hours. This clarity helps us assess how well you fit into our immediate needs at Cooper Golding!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cooper Golding
✨Know Your Numbers
In sales and business development, being numbers-savvy is crucial. Brush up on key metrics like conversion rates and sales growth percentages that are relevant to the role at Cooper Golding. It’s all about showing you can analyse data to drive better decisions.
✨Be Prepared for Role-Play Scenarios
Expect role-play scenarios where you're asked to sell a product or handle objections. It’s a great chance to showcase your communication skills and your approach to overcoming challenges. Practice these with a friend or in front of the mirror – it can really help you feel at ease during the interview!
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
Since this is a temporary gig, emphasise your adaptability and willingness to jump in quickly. Share examples of how you've successfully adjusted to changes in previous roles or projects. Cooper Golding will want to know you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Network and Collaborations
Temporary roles often require a strong network. Bring up any partnerships or connections you have that could benefit Cooper Golding. Whether it’s past clients or industry contacts, showing you can leverage relationships is a big plus in sales!
