At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sales strategy and drive growth for health-conscious FMCG brands.
- Company: Ambitious SME in the health and wellness sector.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid work model, and impactful role.
- Other info: Ideal for entrepreneurial spirits who thrive in dynamic environments.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a fast-growing business during a transformational phase.
- Qualifications: Proven FMCG sales leadership experience and strong commercial acumen.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 € per year.
Are you an experienced commercial sales leader with a passion for scaling purpose-led, health-conscious brands? We are partnering with an ambitious, high-growth SME FMCG business operating within the health and wellness space. With strong momentum, an expanding customer base, and increasing consumer demand for better-for-you products, the business is entering a pivotal growth phase and is seeking an Interim Head of Sales to help shape and accelerate the next stage of its commercial journey.
Working closely with the leadership team, you will lead the sales agenda across grocery, high street, specialist retail, and selected distributor partnerships, while developing a scalable route-to-market strategy aligned with ambitious commercial goals. Leading a small but capable commercial team, you will bring pace, clarity, and commercial rigour to the organisation — balancing strategic thinking with day-to-day execution in a fast-moving SME environment.
- Develop and execute a clear sales strategy to accelerate growth across grocery, retail, and wholesale channels.
- Identify and unlock new commercial opportunities, partnerships, and routes to market for a growing health-conscious FMCG portfolio.
- Lead key customer relationships and commercial negotiations, including JBPs, pricing strategy, promotional planning, and margin optimisation.
- Manage and mentor a lean sales team, creating clear accountability, capability development, and high performance.
- Strengthen forecasting, pipeline management, and sales processes to support scalable growth.
- Partner closely with founders and senior leadership to shape commercial priorities and support wider business objectives.
- Bring an agile, hands-on approach to solving challenges in a growing SME environment.
We’re looking for a commercially astute and entrepreneurial sales leader with strong FMCG experience, ideally within health, wellness, food, drink, natural products, or better-for-you consumer brands.
- Experience operating at Head of Sales, Commercial Lead, Controller level, or as a senior National Account Manager/SNAM ready to step into broader commercial leadership.
- A proven track record of driving growth within SME, scale-up, or challenger FMCG brands.
- Strong experience managing key retail relationships, commercial negotiations, and multi-million-pound P&Ls.
- A category-led selling mindset and strong understanding of FMCG routes to market.
- High emotional intelligence, resilience, and a collaborative leadership style.
This interim opportunity offers the chance to make a significant impact within a fast-growing business at a transformational stage of its journey — ideal for someone who thrives in entrepreneurial environments and enjoys building momentum quickly.
Head of Sales - Hybrid in London employer: Vertical Advantage
Join a dynamic and purpose-driven SME in the health and wellness sector, where your expertise as Head of Sales will directly influence the company's growth trajectory. With a strong focus on employee development, a collaborative work culture, and the opportunity to lead a passionate team, this role offers a unique chance to make a meaningful impact in a fast-paced environment. Enjoy the benefits of hybrid working in London, alongside the excitement of shaping innovative strategies for better-for-you products that resonate with consumers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sales - Hybrid in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, make sure to highlight your experience in scaling health-conscious brands. Share specific examples of how you've driven growth and managed key relationships in the FMCG space. This will show them you're the right fit for their ambitious goals.
✨Be Ready to Adapt
In a fast-moving SME environment, flexibility is key. Be prepared to discuss how you've tackled challenges in previous roles and how you can bring that agile mindset to their team. Show them you can balance strategic thinking with day-to-day execution.
✨Apply Through Our Website
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 to drive growth in the health and wellness sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sales - Hybrid in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Head of Sales. Highlight your experience in FMCG, especially in health and wellness, and showcase any achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive growth and manage key relationships.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about scaling purpose-led brands and how your entrepreneurial spirit aligns with our mission. Be specific about what you can bring to the table.
Showcase Your Leadership Style:We want to know how you lead a team! Share examples of how you've managed and mentored sales teams in the past, focusing on accountability and high performance. This will help us see if you’re the right fit for our dynamic environment.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you’ve got!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vertical Advantage
✨Know Your FMCG Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends in the health and wellness FMCG sector. Be ready to discuss how you've driven growth in similar environments and what strategies you would implement to scale the business further.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your collaborative leadership approach. Discuss how you've managed and mentored teams in the past, focusing on accountability and performance. This will demonstrate your ability to lead a small but capable commercial team effectively.
✨Be Ready for Commercial Negotiations
Expect questions around key customer relationships and commercial negotiations. Have specific examples ready where you've successfully navigated JBPs, pricing strategies, or promotional planning. This will show your expertise in managing multi-million-pound P&Ls.
✨Demonstrate Agility and Problem-Solving Skills
In a fast-moving SME environment, agility is key. Prepare to discuss challenges you've faced and how you've tackled them with a hands-on approach. This will illustrate your readiness to adapt and solve problems as they arise.
