Sales Manager in Sonning

Are you an experienced Sales Manager with a successful background in Independent Retirement Communities? Do you have the leadership skills to develop a high-performing team, shape an effective sales strategy, and deliver results? If so, this could be an exceptional opportunity to join Inspired Villages as Sales Manager at Widmore Park, Sonning Common, Oxfordshire, our newest retirement village.

You will join Widmore Park at an exciting stage in its development, with the opportunity to help shape the sales strategy, build market awareness, and develop a strong sales pipeline. Your primary focus will be leading, coaching and developing a team of Sales Advisors to deliver exceptional results. You will create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring the team has the direction, skills and support needed to achieve its targets.

Working closely with Marketing and the wider village leadership team, you will help formulate and implement the sales strategy, ensuring activity reaches the right audiences and generates high-quality enquiries. While this is predominantly a leadership role, you may also manage your own sales opportunities. Our commission structure rewards you for both your team's sales and those you personally achieve.

About the Role

As Sales Manager, you will lead the sales function at Widmore Park and take overall responsibility for sales performance, pipeline management and the customer journey. You will:

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Village Advisors to achieve and exceed sales and occupancy targets.
• Set clear expectations and objectives, providing regular feedback, coaching and performance support.
• Create a positive, results-focused sales culture in which team members feel motivated, supported, and accountable.
• Work collaboratively with Marketing to formulate and implement the sales and marketing strategy for Widmore Park.
• Help build awareness of Widmore Park and establish a strong sales pipeline ahead of opening.
• Use customer, market and performance insights to identify target audiences and commercial opportunities.
• Take ownership of the sales pipeline, monitoring activity, conversion, and sales progression.
• Review individual and team performance, identifying development needs and taking action to improve results.
• Ensure enquiries are followed up promptly, consistently and effectively.
• Support the team in progressing customers from initial enquiry through to reservation, exchange, completion and move-in.
• Lead by example and manage your own sales opportunities where appropriate.
• Ensure every prospective resident and their family receive an exceptional, consultative and personalised experience.
• Build strong relationships with local stakeholders, referral partners, estate agents, community organisations, and other sources of new business.
• Develop a strong referral network to generate both sales and care leads.
• Oversee new home sales, rentals and part-exchange opportunities.
• Monitor availability and inventory, identifying trends and implementing appropriate action.
• Ensure the CRM system is used effectively and customer records are accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Produce accurate sales reports, analyse performance against targets and recommend actions to improve results.
• Work closely with the Village Manager, Regional Sales Manager, Marketing and wider project team.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for an inspiring and commercially focused sales leader who understands the Independent Retirement Community sector and knows how to bring out the best in a team. You will have:

• Previous sales experience within an Independent Retirement Community or retirement village environment.
• A proven track record of leading, coaching and developing a sales team to achieve strong results.
• Experience contributing to and implementing a sales strategy in partnership with Marketing.
• Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, challenge and support individuals with different levels of experience.
• A sound understanding of the end-to-end retirement property sales process, including reservations, sales progression, exchange and completion.
• Experience managing sales performance, pipelines and CRM systems.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to use data and insight to identify opportunities and inform decisions.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• The confidence to build trusted relationships with prospective residents, their families, colleagues and external partners.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to take ownership and maintain momentum.
• Experience supporting the launch of a new retirement community or development would be advantageous.
• A genuine commitment to delivering an outstanding customer experience.

Why Join Inspired Villages?

At Inspired Villages, we are driven by a simple purpose: to build real communities that enhance the lives of our residents every day. Our retirement villages are about much more than property. They are vibrant communities where people can enjoy independence, wellbeing, connection and a fulfilling later life. As Sales Manager at Widmore Park, you will join ahead of opening and play an important role in shaping its success. You will have the opportunity to influence the sales strategy, develop a talented team and help establish a thriving new retirement community.

Your Benefits

Salary from £40,000 per annum, negotiable depending on experience. Commission earned on both team and personal sales. Bupa Health Cash Plan, including Employee Assistance Programme. Private Medical Insurance. Life Assurance at four times your annual salary. 25 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays. Holiday buying scheme – purchase up to one additional week. Big birthdays off for milestone birthdays ending in 0. 5% matched pension scheme. Retail discounts across a wide range of outlets. Access to SMART tech for everyday convenience. Ongoing learning and development opportunities. Wellbeing hub and resources, including discounts on wellbeing initiatives. Cycle to Work scheme. Electric car scheme. The opportunity to play a key role in the successful launch of a new Inspired Villages community.

About Inspired Villages

Inspired Villages is creating a new generation of retirement villages and later-living communities designed to help people enjoy more from life. Our purpose is to support residents to lead connected, active, healthy, and happy lives. Our communities bring together high-quality homes, wellbeing, hospitality, activities, and support to create places where residents can live life on their own terms.

If you are an experienced Independent Retirement Community Sales Manager looking for an opportunity to lead a team, influence strategy and make a genuine impact, we would love to hear from you. We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible, as applications will be reviewed and interviews may be arranged ahead of the closing date. We reserve the right to close this advert at any stage of the recruitment process.

At Inspired Villages, we invite everyone, regardless of background, to join our thriving community. Here, you'll be included, involved, and inspired to contribute your unique talents. We are committed to creating a culture of belonging, where individuality is celebrated and you are supported to be your best every day.