Sales Manager, TV Distribution

Please note that this role is based in the United Kingdom. To enable us to meet the statutory and regulatory obligations of the United Kingdom immigration system, you must have the appropriate immigration permission needed to work and reside in the United Kingdom for the duration of the employment.
We are looking for an experienced Senior Sales Manager to join our London-based TV distribution team on a 1‑year fixed‑term contract covering a maternity leave. The successful candidate will have extensive sales experience with solid analytical skills, managing all aspects of the Benelux & Icelandic distribution business. This position will collaborate with the SVP of Nordics, Benelux, CEE, Israel, Greece & Africa in leading sales efforts across Benelux and Iceland. The role involves achieving and exceeding annual sales targets across our catalogue, including finished programming and formats, while managing existing partnerships and driving new business opportunities. This role is responsible for maintaining in-depth knowledge of SPE\’s product categories, particularly unscripted, deep library, Foreign Language, and Kids/Animation, to continuously generate incremental revenue in the territory.

We are in the business of creativity making some of the most beloved films and television of all time for every platform in the world. As the most creative and proudly independent studio, our future is boundless.

What you’ll do

• Sales and Business Development: Manage existing deals and create new business opportunities in Benelux & Iceland, exceeding sales targets. Independently create, negotiate, and finalise deals that meet strategic objectives within SPT\’s guidelines. Maintain comprehensive product knowledge and generate incremental revenue across SPT\’s portfolio. Stay updated on market trends, competition, and client evolution.
• Formats: Drive all formats and unscripted ready‑made sales in Benelux & Iceland. Handle strategic planning, deal negotiations, format pitches, and performance tracking. Grow the unscripted formats and ready‑made business, exceeding annual budget targets and exploring new clients.
• Deal Negotiation and Management: Prepare for negotiations and analyse existing deal performance to support strong sales proposals. Collaborate with SPE\’s legal counsel and team to manage negotiations. Create, negotiate and paper smart and favourable terms which meet our strategic objectives, within SPT\’s policies and guidelines, ensuring optimisation of commitments (product/grant of rights) versus revenue generation.
• Budget Setting: Lead the preparation of annual sales budgets and mid‑range plans. Provide sales estimates and projections, ensuring targets are met or exceeded. Regularly update on sales performance.
• Sales Planning: Optimize product windowing and pricing to maximise value while considering business objectives and market conditions. Unlock more value from broadcast/linear/pay deals and understand client value. Collaborate with the immediate team, Senior Manager (for the territory cluster), Research and Analysis, Finance, as well as the wider sales planning team across EMEA.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of direct sales experience and track record of achievements in a similar sales role within the TV distribution business.
• Good understanding of all forms of TV/film distribution: Free TV, Pay TV, Basic TV, TVOD, EST, SVOD and PPV.
• Experience in successfully leading deal negotiations with the ability to clearly analyse, evaluate, and then communicate opportunities, uncertainties, and risks; working together with Legal and other departments.
• Ability to manage the end‑to‑end sales process; pre‑sales analysis, deal preparation, product presentation, negotiation and execution; post‑sales relationship management and deal optimisation.
• Confident “self‑starter” who is a creative, critical and autonomous thinker; thrives under the pressure of meeting tight deadlines.
• Communicative, proactive problem solver, flexible, adaptable, pragmatic and resourceful with strong organisational skills – works independently and uses own initiative.
• Very confident presentation and sales skills, adept at managing client relationships as well as internal relationships.
• Understanding of technology, digital distribution business models and client requirements.
• Must be a collaborative teammate; must be able to adapt: work hand‑in‑hand with the Legal and Business Affairs, Technology, Marketing, Publicity, Research, Operations, Analysis and other departments.
• Solid financial modelling and analytical skills, with a high proficiency in Excel and experience in consolidating and analysing complex data and information from multiple sources.
• Proficient in PowerPoint and Word, being able to present information concisely and effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel to individual markets in the territory on an occasional/ad hoc basis.

Benefits

• Participate in extensive learning & development opportunities at all levels, including curated instructor‑led classes and high‑impact online resources.
• Build your community by joining our Employee Business Resource Groups, and/or Sony Pictures Action – our racial equity and inclusion strategy.
• Access to an employee online store filled with a variety of discounted Sony products.
• Watch the newest movies and TV shows at our exclusive employee screenings at work.
• Entitlement to apply for an interest‑free season ticket loan.
• Automatic enrolment in the Company’s Pension Plan.
• Free counselling and advisory service.
• You will be automatically enrolled in the Company’s Life Insurance and Group Income Protection Plans subject to any applicable service requirements.
• The opportunity to attend various social events in our state‑of‑the‑art offices in Paddington.
• In addition to the above we have a range of other optional discounted benefits that are reviewed regularly (e.g., gym memberships, travel insurance, activity passes, car leasing, experience days and many more!).
• Sony Pictures Entertainment is committed to equal opportunity in all its employment practices, policies and procedures. No worker or potential worker will therefore receive less favourable treatment due to their race, age, creed, sexual orientation, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, religion, gender, marital status or Trade Union membership (if applicable).
• Competitive salary, with annual bonus eligibility.
• A choice of comprehensive health plan options that fit your lifestyle, including private medical insurance.
• Rest and recharge during a week off during the winter holidays, in addition to the 25 days of paid annual leave.