Optical Lenses Category Sales Manager - UK East

If you've worn a pair of glasses, we've already met.

We are a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses. We offer our industry stakeholders in over 150 countries access to a global platform of high-quality vision care products (such as the Essilor brand, with Varilux, Crizal, Eyezen, Stellest and Transitions), iconic brands that consumers love (such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Vogue Eyewear and Costa), as well as a network that offers consumers high-quality vision care and best-in‑class shopping experiences (such as Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Salmoiraghi & Viganò and the GrandVision network), and leading e-commerce platforms.

Join our global community of over 190,000 dedicated employees around the world in driving the transformation of the eyewear and eyecare industry.

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Your #FutureInSight with EssilorLuxottica

Are you willing to pioneer new frontiers, foster inclusivity and collaboration, embrace agility, ignite passion, and make a positive impact on the world? Join us in redefining the boundaries of what's possible.

Your role:

• As an Optical Lenses Category Sales Manager (18-month fixed term contrat), you will be responsible for driving growth of the lens category across the Eastern region of the UK (Derby, Leicester, Coventry, Northampton and Oxford), combining ownership of Tier 3 customers with a strong focus on new business acquisition and account progression.
• This role exists to unlock growth at the base of the customer pyramid, while actively hunting for new opportunities and elevating customers through the tiers. The role plays a critical part in expanding market share, increasing lens penetration, and feeding future growth into Strategic Partnership Managers.
• Success in this role will come from the ability to balance disciplined account management with a relentless focus on winning and developing new business.

Main responsibilities:

• Manage and grow a portfolio of Tier 3 customers, delivering revenue growth through increased adoption of key lens brands and solutions.
• Increase penetration of key lens brands and solutions (e.g. Varilux, Transitions, Crizal).
• Identify, target, and win new independent optical customers, developing and executing effective territory and prospecting plans.
• Build strong customer relationships, increasing share of wallet through value-based selling and tailored commercial solutions.
• Drive customer progression by developing growth plans for high‑potential accounts and supporting their transition through customer tiers.
• Reactivate dormant accounts and convert lapsed customers into active trading partners.
• Act as a trusted lens category expert, promoting solutions that improve patient outcomes, practice performance, and profitability.
• Maintain a robust sales pipeline across new business, customer growth, and reactivation opportunities, using a structured sales approach to maximize conversion.
• Collaborate closely with Strategic Partnership Managers and cross‑functional teams to deliver a seamless customer experience and support onboarding, training, and customer development.

Main requirements:

• Experience in the optical industry, ideally as a Dispensing Optician or similar.
• Proven experience in field sales or account management within a fast‑paced commercial environment
• Track record in sales and business development, ideally within a field‑based environment
• Strong ability to generate new business while managing an existing customer base
• Commercially driven with a focus on growth and results
• Skilled in consultative, value‑based selling (e.g. SPIN)
• Strong relationship‑building and influencing skills
• Ability to prioritise effectively across competing demands

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Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and provide equal opportunities to all, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes us unique.