At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a high-performing sales team to drive revenue growth.
- Company: Dynamic startup connecting students, universities, and advertisers.
- Benefits: Pension contributions, 25 days off, birthday leave, share options, and remote work budget.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping the future of student engagement.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading sales teams, preferably in media or advertising.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a collaborative and innovative culture.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: London, UK (Hybrid, 2-3 days in the office per week)
native has been building for 10 years, but we’re still very much a startup: fast-moving, ambitious, and building with intent. We are creating the infrastructure that connects students, Students’ Unions, universities, and advertisers through a managed marketplace. Our goal is to deliver for students by increasing engagement, while enabling Students’ Unions to secure sustainable funding. For advertisers, we offer meaningful, measurable routes to student audiences. The more aligned these incentives are, the more defensible and scalable our business becomes.
The Opportunity
The Head of Sales is accountable for the overall performance, structure, and effectiveness of native’s sales function. You will lead our Growth Sales Managers and Brand Labs Sales Director, ensuring the category-led sales model drives clear ownership, genuine expertise, and predictable revenue growth. Your role is to translate commercial strategy into execution by setting direction, building capability, and holding teams accountable for outcomes. This is not a player-coach role. You may support key deals where appropriate, but your impact comes from how the system performs, not what you personally close.
What You Will Be Working On
- Sales Strategy and Revenue Ownership
- Own overall sales performance across Growth and Enterprise segments
- Translate commercial goals into clear sales strategy, targets, and execution plans
- Ensure the category-led model delivers focus, expertise, and improved win rates
- Partner with Commercial Leadership to define revenue mix, priorities, and growth levers
- Own and evolve native’s category-based sales structure
- Ensure clear category ownership across Growth and Enterprise teams
- Prevent silos by enabling insight-sharing and collaboration across categories
- Team Leadership and Development
- Directly manage and develop a team of Growth and Enterprise Sales Execs including SDR's
- Set clear expectations across targets, behaviours, and ways of working
- Run regular, high-quality one-to-ones and performance reviews
- Coach individuals to improve sales quality, productivity, and confidence
- Address underperformance early with clear feedback and support
- Support progression and capability-building across the team
- Performance Management and Forecasting
- Own pipeline health, forecasting accuracy, and CRM discipline
- Use data to identify risks and unblock performance issues
- Hold leaders accountable for numbers, not narratives
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Work closely with Growth Account Management, Campaign Management, Marketing, and Product and Sales Operations
- Improve handovers, lifecycle ownership, and customer experience across the funnel
- Act as the voice of Sales in commercial planning and operational decision-making
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience leading a high-performing sales organisation
- Experience in media, advertising, or B2B services is essential
- Track record of scaling revenue through structure, process, and people
- Experience operating within category-led or verticalised sales models
- Strong commercial judgement and leadership presence
- Comfortable operating in fast-scaling environments
What’s in it for you
- Pension contributions of 5%
- 25 days off (excluding bank holidays)
- Day off on your birthday
- Share Options for all
- Work from home set-up budget
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme
- Paid maternity, paternity, adoption or shared parental leave
Head of Sales employer: Native
Contact Detail:
Native Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sales
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy to reach out for informational chats. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and services, especially how they engage with students and advertisers. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you’re genuinely interested in what they do.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Head of Sales. Highlight your leadership skills and how you’ve driven revenue growth in past roles. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team. So, hit that apply button and let’s get the conversation started!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sales
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role and our mission shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about connecting students with opportunities.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Sales position. Highlight your experience in leading sales teams and driving revenue growth, especially in media or advertising. We love seeing how your background aligns with our goals!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, so don’t be afraid to get straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Native
✨Know Your Numbers
As the Head of Sales, you'll need to demonstrate a strong grasp of sales metrics and performance indicators. Brush up on your understanding of pipeline health, forecasting accuracy, and CRM discipline. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive sales strategies in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role is all about leading teams, so be prepared to share specific examples of how you've developed high-performing sales teams. Talk about your approach to coaching, setting expectations, and addressing underperformance. Highlight your experience in running effective one-to-ones and performance reviews.
✨Understand the Market
Familiarise yourself with the media, advertising, and B2B services landscape. Research native's position within this space and think about how you can contribute to their growth. Being able to articulate your insights on market trends will show that you're not just a fit for the role, but also passionate about the industry.
✨Collaborate Across Functions
The Head of Sales needs to work closely with various teams like Marketing and Product. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully collaborated across departments in the past. Share examples of how you improved handovers and customer experiences, as this will demonstrate your ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.