Sales & Commercial Manager Franchise Network in Guildford

Are you a strategic sales leader with a passion for building strong partnerships and driving commercial growth? We are looking for a Sales & Commercial Manager to lead and develop our national franchise network, driving sales performance across National, Regional and Independent accounts within the convenience and forecourt sector. This is a pivotal leadership role, working closely with our Managing Director and Regional Sales Managers to shape and execute sales strategy, strengthen franchisee relationships, and deliver sustainable growth across the network. This is a field-based role; however, attendance at our offices in Farnham, Surrey will be required from time to time. As this is not an office-based role, all applicants living within a 2-hour radius of Farnham will be considered.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading the development and growth of sales across a national franchisee network
• Providing clear leadership and direction to Regional Sales Managers and the Franchisee Controller
• Acting as the key liaison between franchisor and franchisees, ensuring strong communication and aligned objectives
• Driving best practice in product display, service levels and operational excellence
• Shaping and delivering sales strategy across multiple account levels
• Reviewing structures, processes and resources to maximise performance
• Supporting franchisee recruitment and long-term relationship development

You will play a critical role in delivering annual sales and profit objectives, ensuring franchisees feel supported, motivated and equipped to succeed.

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience leading a sales division, ideally within retail, greeting cards or a franchise environment
• Strong understanding of franchise operations and franchisor/franchisee relationships
• Demonstrable experience motivating and developing high-performing teams
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence at senior level
• Excellent planning, organisational and communication skills

This is a demanding and rewarding field-based role requiring regular travel across the UK and Ireland. In return, you'll have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the growth and direction of Card Connection.

At UK Greetings, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and diverse employer. We are committed to building a culture where difference is valued and everyone can fulfil their potential, regardless of background. Ready to take the lead and drive meaningful growth? We'd love to hear from you.

Card Connection is the market leader in the franchised distribution of greeting cards and operates a Franchise Network which covers the UK and Ireland. We supply over 12,000 outlets, mainly in convenience, from independent retailers through to major National Accounts such as Spar, BP (M&S Simply Food), Budgens, WH Smith (Motorway), Shell, BWG Spar in Ireland and C.J. Lang's Spar in Scotland. Established in 1992, we are part of UK Greetings Ltd, the British subsidiary of one of the world's largest greeting card companies, American Greetings Inc. We provide unrivalled service to the retailer and have been described as one of the best run franchisees in the UK. We invest in people and are proud of our reputation as a caring and professional franchisor and employer. We take pride in being an inclusive and diverse employer - we are dedicated and committed to building a culture where difference is valued and everyone is able to fulfil their potential at work regardless of their background.

So if you feel like the role ticks all of the right boxes and you would love to be part of a talented team, you're in the right place!

Among the great benefits of working at Card Connection are:

• Employee Benefits Platform
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Pension Scheme
• Online Doctor and Employee Assistant Programme
• Employee Recognition Scheme