Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the sales strategy for a plant-based food revolution.
- Company: Join a pioneering B Corp committed to sustainability and innovation in food.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday, company car, private medical insurance, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on personal growth and team empowerment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the growing plant-based market while leading high-performing teams.
- Qualifications: Proven sales leadership experience in FMCG with strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are looking for an ambitious and commercially driven Sales Director to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in shaping and leading the future growth of the business. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for implementing and delivering the company’s sales strategy across Field Sales, Telephone Sales and Customer Service teams, ensuring the achievement of customer acquisition, retention and revenue growth objectives. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, inspirational leader and hands-on commercial professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about building high-performing teams and long-term customer partnerships.
Main Responsibilities:
- Lead the development and execution of the company sales strategy to achieve and exceed annual sales targets.
- Drive sustainable revenue growth from our Top 5 customers and expansion of the customer base across existing and new customers.
- Act as the commercial figurehead of the business, personally managing key strategic customer relationships and supporting major contract negotiations.
- Build, inspire and lead a customer-focused sales organisation that understands and delivers against customer needs and objectives.
- Work collaboratively with the Category and Purchasing teams to identify new business opportunities and market growth areas.
- Lead and develop a multi-functional team including National Account Managers, Business Development Managers, Telephone Account Managers and Customer Service Advisors.
- Design and implement development, coaching and mentoring programmes to support team progression and succession planning.
- Continuously review and evolve the sales structure to support business growth and customer requirements.
- Work closely with Operations and Supply Chain teams to ensure sales growth can be operationally supported.
- Partner with Marketing to develop and execute integrated sales and marketing initiatives.
- Contribute actively within the Senior Leadership Team, sharing best practice and identifying cross-selling opportunities across the business.
- Foster a positive, accountable and customer-centric culture built from our core Company values and behaviours.
- Ensure company values and expected behaviours are consistently demonstrated across the team.
- Prepare and present sales performance updates, market insights and growth opportunities to senior leadership and Board meetings.
- Lead through periods of change with resilience, adaptability and strong people leadership.
What do you need?
We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute sales leader with a proven track record of delivering growth and leading high-performing teams. You will ideally have:
- Significant senior sales leadership experience within a FMCG commercial environment.
- Proven ability to develop and execute successful sales strategies.
- Strong leadership and people management skills with experience managing multi-disciplinary sales teams.
- Excellent relationship-building and negotiation skills.
- Experience managing key national accounts and strategic customer partnerships.
- Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify and capitalise on market opportunities.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, including Board-level reporting.
- A collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across departments.
- Experience leading teams through change and business transformation.
- A results-driven mindset with a strong focus on accountability and customer service excellence.
What will differentiate you?
- Senior sales leadership experience within a Private Equity backed business.
- Strong relationships and connections within the foodservice and wholesale sector.
In return what do we offer?
- Competitive basic salary.
- 25 days holiday plus public holidays with option to purchase additional annual leave.
- Company car.
- Private Medical Insurance.
- Cash health plan (money back for dentist, opticians, physio etc.).
- Life assurance (4 x salary).
- Staff discount on all products.
- Pension.
- We promote good physical and mental health and can provide additional support to our employees via our Mental Health First Aiders and Employee Assistance Programme.
Sales Director employer: Vegetarian Express
Contact Detail:
Vegetarian Express Recruiting Team
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. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you stand out as someone who truly fits into their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to talk about your achievements and how they relate to the role of Sales Director. Show them you’re not just a fit, but the perfect fit for driving their sales strategy.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Sales Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Sales Director role. Highlight your relevant experience in sales leadership and how it aligns with our mission at StudySmarter. We want to see how you can contribute to our growth!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've driven revenue growth or built high-performing teams. Numbers speak volumes, so include metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value authenticity and want to get a sense of who you are beyond your professional experience. Share your passion for plant-based food and how it resonates with your career goals.
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 gives you a chance to explore more about our company culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vegetarian Express
✨Know Your Sales Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand the company's sales strategy and how it aligns with their mission. Be ready to discuss how your experience can help shape and execute this strategy, especially in driving revenue growth and managing key customer relationships.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
As a Sales Director, your leadership style is crucial. Prepare examples of how you've built and inspired high-performing teams in the past. Highlight your experience in coaching and mentoring, as well as how you've led teams through change and transformation.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Familiarise yourself with current trends in the foodservice and wholesale sector, particularly around plant-based products. Be prepared to discuss how you can identify and capitalise on market opportunities, and how your commercial acumen can benefit the company.
✨Prepare for Board-Level Discussions
Since you'll be presenting to senior leadership, practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently. Prepare insights on sales performance and market growth opportunities, and think about how you can contribute to cross-selling initiatives within the business.