At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sales strategy and drive growth for health-conscious FMCG brands.
- Company: Ambitious SME in the health and wellness space.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid working, and impactful leadership 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 experience and strong leadership skills.
Salary - TBC (c.500 per day inside IR35)
Location - London Hybrid
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.
This is a hands-on leadership role suited to an experienced operator who can quickly assess opportunities, bring structure, and drive sustainable revenue growth across key channels. 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.
Key Responsibilities
- 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.
About You
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. You will likely have:
- 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.
- The ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery and execution.
- 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.
Interim Head of Sales in London employer: Vertical Advantage
Join a dynamic and purpose-driven SME in the health and wellness sector, where your expertise as an Interim Head of Sales will directly influence the company's growth trajectory. With a strong focus on employee development and a collaborative work culture, this role offers you the chance to lead a capable team while driving innovative sales strategies in a fast-paced environment. Located in London, you'll benefit from a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance, making it an ideal place for ambitious professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Head of Sales 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 former colleagues or industry contacts. You never know who might have a lead on your next big opportunity.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in driving growth and managing key relationships. Share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated challenges in the FMCG space — this will set you apart from the crowd!
✨Be Ready for the Pitch
Prepare a quick pitch about yourself that showcases your skills and what you can bring to the table. Tailor it to the health and wellness sector, focusing on your hands-on leadership style and ability to drive sustainable revenue growth. Practice makes perfect!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to check out our website for the latest job openings! Applying directly through us not only shows your interest but also gives you a better chance of being noticed by the hiring team. Let’s land that dream role together!
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Head of Sales in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Interim Head of Sales. Highlight your experience in FMCG and any specific achievements that showcase your ability to drive growth and manage key relationships.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about health-conscious brands. Share your vision for how you can contribute to our growth and what unique skills you bring to the table.
Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, give us a glimpse of your leadership style. We want to know how you manage teams and foster high performance, especially in fast-paced environments like SMEs.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vertical Advantage
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Interim Head of Sales, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of sales metrics and performance indicators. Brush up on your knowledge of P&Ls, forecasting, and pipeline management. Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've driven revenue growth and how you achieved those results.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires a hands-on leadership approach, so be prepared to talk about how you manage and mentor teams. Share stories that highlight your ability to create accountability and foster high performance within a lean team. Emphasise your collaborative style and how it has led to successful outcomes in previous roles.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the health and wellness FMCG sector, including key trends and competitors. Be ready to discuss how you would identify and unlock new commercial opportunities for the business. Showing that you have a strategic mindset and can think on your feet will impress the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in a fast-paced SME environment. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you navigated them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
