At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sales strategy and build relationships with major retail partners to drive growth.
- Company: Join a dynamic publishing company committed to diversity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the publishing world while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven sales leadership experience and strong relationship-building skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Are you a strategic sales leader with a passion for driving market growth and championing commercial success? We have a rare and exciting opportunity for a Sales Director to drive the growth of our business with a particular focus on our Pan division. In this role, you will help shape the sales strategy for several of our major retail partnerships, playing an active part in bringing our published titles to a broad audience.
Responsibilities
- Collaborative sales leadership: Guide the Pan division's sales strategy, working closely with other Sales Directors and Heads of Sales to optimize market reach across UK and International.
- Account relationship management: Cultivate positive and productive relationships with key retail accounts to maximize product visibility and performance.
- Financial oversight & planning: Manage the Pan UK sales budget, taking accountability for accurate forecasting, cost management, and margin preservation.
- Acquisition support & author care: Contribute to acquisition strategies by participating in pitch meetings and ensuring high-quality author care, while coordinating print runs and stock levels with the wider team.
- Strategic partnerships: Lead negotiations and strengthen long‑term, mutually beneficial relationships with major trade retailers and wholesalers.
- People development & mentorship: Support and develop our core retail and account management teams, ensuring team members have the training, resources, and motivation to achieve their goals.
- Commercial innovation: Identify and implement fresh, innovative approaches to sales and promotion, utilizing digital tools and AI as well as market insights to improve workflow efficiencies and discover new growth opportunities.
Essential Experience, Abilities, Knowledge and Values You'll Need to Succeed
- Sales leadership & market insight: Demonstrated experience in a leadership sales role within trade book publishing, supported by clear knowledge of the UK and International markets.
- Financial & commercial acumen: Proficient budget‑management skills, with the ability to handle accurate forecasting and analyse market trends effectively.
- People management & collaboration: A supportive approach to managing and developing teams, with a focus on building an equitable, motivating, and collaborative working environment.
- Relationship‑building skills: Excellent communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to build trust and adapt your approach when working with customers, internal stakeholders, and authors.
- Operational agility & prioritisation: Excellent organisational oversight with a demonstrated ability to navigate complex business challenges, implement effective solutions, and balance competing commercial priorities across the division.
- Commercial innovation: A proactive interest in emerging industry trends, digital tools and AI, with a demonstrated ability to champion fresh approaches to sales, promotion, and workflow efficiencies.
- Inclusion and representation: An active dedication to promoting diverse voices and inclusive practices, taking personal responsibility for ensuring our workplace and publishing reflect the communities we serve.
- Community: A collaborative approach to building a supportive and vibrant environment.
- Curiosity: A strong drive for learning and a readiness to embrace different perspectives.
- Integrity: A foundation of openness and honesty, taking responsibility for actions and learning from mistakes.
In return, you will have the opportunity to work with the very best authors, illustrators, and copyrights in the world within a supportive and collaborative environment, alongside a competitive salary and excellent benefits package. This is a full time, permanent role, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.
Benefits
- 28 days' annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays
- Generous pension scheme
- Discounted private medical insurance or health cash plan
- Group income protection scheme
- Enhanced family pay and leave
- Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)
- 2 Volunteer Days per year
- 75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)
- Season ticket loan/advance
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounts on shopping and gym memberships; Christmas club savings
- Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch
Sales Director employer: Pan Macmillan
At Pan Macmillan, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture. As a Sales Director based in our vibrant Farringdon office, you will enjoy a competitive salary, generous benefits including 28 days' annual leave, and opportunities for professional growth while working with some of the best authors in the industry. Our commitment to diversity and employee development ensures that every team member is supported and empowered to thrive in their role.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sales Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Sales Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your insights on market trends and innovative sales strategies. This will help you stand out as a strategic leader.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to sales leadership. Think about how you can demonstrate your financial acumen and relationship-building skills during the conversation.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Sales Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Strategic Side:When writing your application, make sure to highlight your strategic sales leadership experience. We want to see how you've driven market growth in the past and how you plan to do it with us!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. This shows us that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your written application. We value authenticity and want to know who you are beyond your professional achievements. Share your passion for sales and how you can contribute to our team!
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pan Macmillan
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the UK and International book publishing markets. Understand current trends, key players, and how they impact sales strategies. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and market insight during the conversation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your approach to sales leadership and team development. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams and fostered collaboration. Highlight your ability to motivate and support team members, as this aligns with the company's values.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you can illustrate your relationship-building skills. Prepare anecdotes that showcase your ability to cultivate positive relationships with retail accounts and internal stakeholders. This will show that you can effectively manage account relationships and drive commercial success.
✨Embrace Innovation
Familiarise yourself with emerging trends in digital tools and AI within the publishing industry. Be prepared to discuss how you've implemented innovative approaches in past roles. This will demonstrate your proactive mindset and commitment to commercial innovation, which is crucial for the Sales Director role.
