At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sales teams, drive revenue growth, and transition to an e-commerce model.
- Company: Join Solera, a global leader in data and software services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and customer success.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of digital transformation in the automotive industry.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in sales and experience with digital sales models.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 ÂŁ per year.
Who We Are
Solera is a global leader in data and software services that strives to transform every touchpoint of the vehicle lifecycle into a connected digital experience. In addition, we provide products and services to protect life’s other most important assets: our homes and digital identities. Today, Solera processes over 300 million digital transactions annually for approximately 235,000 partners and customers in more than 90 countries. Our 6,500 team members foster an uncommon, innovative culture and are dedicated to successfully bringing the future to bear today through cognitive answers, insights, algorithms and automation. For more information, please visit solera.com.
The Role
The Head of Sales will lead two Solera cap hpi core commercial teams: Inside Sales and Motor Retail Key Accounts AM 100. This role is responsible for driving revenue growth across our vehicle history check and valuation data products, managing and developing sales managers, and ensuring high performance across both teams. A critical part of this role is leading the transition of a significant portion of our inside‑sales customer base toward an e‑commerce‑driven model. This is a major strategic shift for the business, requiring a leader with experience in digital transformation, commercial change management, and cross‑functional collaboration—particularly with marketing and product teams. Industry knowledge of motor dealers, automotive data, or related sectors is advantageous but not essential.
What You’ll Do
- Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, coach, and develop the Inside Sales Manager and Key Accounts Manager to ensure high performance across both teams.
- Set clear targets, KPIs, and performance expectations aligned with company objectives.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer focus.
- Ensure effective communication and collaboration between the two sales teams.
- Commercial Strategy & Execution
- Own the sales strategy for both inside sales and key accounts, ensuring revenue growth and customer retention.
- Identify new commercial opportunities within the motor dealer ecosystem and adjacent markets.
- Work closely with marketing to align campaigns, lead‑generation activity, and customer lifecycle initiatives.
- Collaborate with product and data teams to ensure customer feedback informs product development.
- E‑Commerce Transition Leadership
- Lead the strategic shift from a traditional inside‑sales model to a scalable e‑commerce‑driven customer acquisition and retention model.
- Work with marketing, product, and technology teams to define customer journeys, pricing strategies, and digital conversion funnels.
- Manage change across the sales organisation, ensuring teams understand and embrace new processes, tools, and expectations.
- Analyse performance data to optimise digital sales channels and identify opportunities for automation and self‑serve adoption.
- Key Accounts & Dealer Relationships
- Oversee the Key Accounts team to ensure strong relationships with major motor dealer groups and strategic partners.
- Support the team in negotiating commercial agreements, renewals, and upsell opportunities.
- Ensure key accounts receive exceptional service and tailored solutions.
- Forecasting, Reporting & Performance Management
- Own sales forecasting, pipeline management, and reporting to senior leadership.
- Use data to drive decision‑making, identify trends, and adjust strategy where needed.
- Ensure CRM discipline and accurate reporting across both teams.
What You’ll Bring
- Experience & Skills Required
- Essential
- Proven experience leading multi‑team sales organisations, ideally with both inside‑sales and account‑management structures.
- Demonstrated success driving commercial change, particularly transitioning from traditional sales models to digital or e‑commerce‑led models.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach managers and influence cross‑functional teams.
- Commercially astute with strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and organisational skills.
- Desirable
- Experience in the automotive, motor dealer, or vehicle data sector.
- Familiarity with SaaS, subscription models, or data‑driven products.
- Experience working closely with marketing teams to drive digital acquisition and customer lifecycle strategies.
- Personal Attributes
- Change‑ready and comfortable challenging the status quo.
- Customer‑centric mindset with a passion for delivering value.
- Confident, resilient, and able to navigate ambiguity.
- Collaborative and able to build strong internal and external relationships.
- Results‑driven with a focus on execution and continuous improvement.
It is impossible to list every requirement for, or responsibility of, any position. Similarly, we cannot identify all the skills a position may require since job responsibilities and the Company’s needs may change over time. Therefore, the above job description is not comprehensive or exhaustive. The Company reserves the right to adjust, add to or eliminate any aspect of the above description. The Company also retains the right to require all employees to undertake additional or different job responsibilities when necessary to meet business needs.
Head of Sales - Retail & Inside sales employer: Solera
Contact Detail:
Solera Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sales - Retail & Inside sales
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the automotive and sales sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, whether at a networking event or an interview, make sure to highlight your experience in leading sales teams and driving digital transformation. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've made an impact in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Research is key! Before any interview, dive deep into Solera’s products and services. Understand their e-commerce strategies and think about how your experience can help them transition smoothly. This will show that you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute from day one.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After interviews or networking chats, send a quick thank-you note. It’s a simple way to keep the conversation going and remind them of your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it shows you’re proactive—just the kind of attitude we love at StudySmarter!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sales - Retail & Inside sales
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills: When applying for the Head of Sales role, make sure to highlight your experience in leading teams. We want to see how you've coached and developed others to achieve high performance, so share specific examples that demonstrate your leadership style.
Emphasise Digital Transformation Experience: Since this role involves a significant shift towards e-commerce, it's crucial to showcase any experience you have with digital transformation. Tell us about times you've successfully transitioned sales models or implemented new technologies that improved customer acquisition.
Align with Our Values: We’re all about innovation and customer focus at Solera. In your application, reflect on how your personal values align with ours. Share stories that illustrate your customer-centric mindset and your passion for delivering value in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Solera
✨Know Your Numbers
As the Head of Sales, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of sales metrics and KPIs. Brush up on your knowledge of revenue growth figures, customer retention rates, and how to analyse performance data. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics to drive success in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills, so be prepared to share examples of how you've coached and developed teams in the past. Think about specific instances where you fostered a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Highlight your ability to influence cross-functional teams as well.
✨Embrace Digital Transformation
Since this position involves leading a shift towards an e-commerce-driven model, be ready to discuss your experience with digital transformation. Share insights on how you've successfully transitioned sales models in the past and what strategies you would implement to ensure a smooth transition at Solera.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
While industry knowledge isn't essential, having a grasp of the automotive and data sectors will set you apart. Research current trends, challenges, and opportunities within the motor dealer ecosystem. This will not only show your interest but also help you engage in meaningful conversations during the interview.