At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage key online accounts and drive sales growth through innovative strategies.
- Company: Join Walker Books, a leading children's publisher with a creative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, generous leave, health insurance, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Diverse workplace committed to inclusion and creativity.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that shapes the future of children's literature.
- Qualifications: Experience in online sales and strong negotiation skills are essential.
Department: UK Trade Sales
Reporting To: UK Sales Director
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week)
Location: Vauxhall, London (Hybrid Post Probation)
Closing Date: Friday 4th September 2026
About Walker Books
Walker Books UK is part of the vibrant international Group that includes Candlewick Press, Holiday House and Peachtree in the USA and Walker Books Australia. Renowned for its truly original publishing and outstanding quality, the Walker Books Group is home to a wide range of children's and young adult books.
About the Role
We are seeking a proactive and commercially minded Key Account Manager to grow sales through online channels. The Key Account Manager is responsible for managing and growing sales across a portfolio of key online retailers, including eBooks, to deliver profitable growth across Walker’s list, as well as for our third-party publishers. The role focuses on building strong strategic plans to drive sell-through and executing impactful promotions in collaboration with the campaigns team as well as editorial.
Key responsibilities:
- Account Management
- Act as primary relationship owner and point of escalation for Amazon (physical and digital), ensuring a first-class day-to-day working relationship.
- Oversee strategy and implementation of our Amazon advertising with our third-party advertising partner, and monitor advertising spend against budget.
- Lead negotiations on terms, promotional investment and merchandising positions with key online retail partners.
- Submit products for Amazon promotions across Walker Books and third-party clients, staying within acceptable margin parameters.
- Manage accounts for all library eBook platforms, understanding this market and identifying opportunities for Walker Books.
- Apply expert knowledge of online retailing, promotional mechanics, pricing structures and sales trends to drive commercial growth.
- Oversee direct to consumer sales via Walker’s online shop.
- Sales Development
- Track developments in hardware, software and retailer platforms, and adapt Walker's approach accordingly.
- Identify, research and evaluate new digital platforms and retail opportunities; in conjunction with the UK Sales Director, build business cases and recommendations for senior management, and instigate new customer relationships.
- Recommend pricing strategy in UK to optimise revenue, drawing on analysis from the Online Sales Executive.
- Work with the wider UK Sales team where print retailers have a digital partner, maximising ebook sales opportunities for key titles.
- Communicate retailer developments and category performance to editorial to build understanding of online and digital sales.
- Attend relevant digital trade conferences and events, feeding back key learnings to the wider team.
- Planning and Forecasting
- Set and continually refine online and digital sales strategy for key titles and brands, working closely with editorial, campaigns and third-party publishers.
- Monitor performance against targets and take proactive action to address underperformance or capitalize on opportunities.
- Prepare accurate sales forecasts and advise on reprint recommendations, working closely with operations and finance.
- Ensure excellent execution of agreed activity, from launch campaigns to seasonal peaks (e.g. Christmas, World Book Day).
- Market & Performance Analysis
- Analyse sales data and market trends to inform decision-making and account strategy.
- Track competitor activity and retail trends within children’s publishing and the wider consumer market.
- Provide regular reporting, insights, and recommendations to senior sales leadership.
- Partner with metadata leads to improve discoverability, metadata quality and online sales performance across retail platforms.
Key Performance Indicators
- Meeting budget for online and digital Key Accounts.
- Contribution to, and delivery of, UK digital strategy.
- Quality of communication, planning and execution of digital commercial plans.
- Strength of internal and external relationships with digital providers, maximising commercial opportunity.
- Knowledge and practical application of new digital opportunities.
- Growth in online and digital sales of new authors and brands.
Skills and Experience
To be successful in this role, you will be able to demonstrate evidence of the following skills and/or experience:
- Proven track record in online/digital or key account sales, ideally including direct experience of managing Amazon.
- Experience negotiating trading terms, promotional investment and merchandising positions with major retail partners.
- A track record of building business cases and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the confidence to translate sales data into strategy and back a recommendation with evidence.
- Sound understanding of online retailing: promotional mechanics, pricing structures, sales patterns and metadata/SEO principles.
- Confident, credible negotiator, comfortable representing Walker externally with senior retail contacts.
- Strong Excel skills; working knowledge of BookScan and Amazon Vendor Central is a strong advantage.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across editorial, campaigns and Group companies.
- Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise own workload against competing deadlines.
Why join Walker Books?
We offer:
- A supportive working environment where all voices are respected and creativity is not hierarchical.
- Hybrid work (at least two days in the office per week) once you have successfully passed probation.
- 22 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (with annual leave increasing with length of service up to 27 days).
- Enhanced Pension Scheme.
- Health Insurance and Health Cash Plan.
- Life Assurance.
- Summer Hours.
- Remote working for up to two weeks per year.
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay.
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Plus, other great benefits!
All children deserve to see themselves, their families, and their communities represented in the books they read. As children’s book publishers, it is our goal to ensure that the books and content we publish authentically and joyfully reflect the world around us. As an employer, we are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive working environment where everyone is included, valued, and empowered to do their best and most creative work. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome candidates from all backgrounds without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, sex, or any other characteristic protected by law and those not yet protected by law.
If you have any queries about this role or require any reasonable adjustments for your application or throughout the recruitment process, please let our team know by contacting us at [email protected].
Please note we reserve the right to close vacancies before the closing date where we have received sufficient applications. We recommend submitting your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Online Key Account Manager in London employer: Walker Books
Walker Books is an exceptional employer that fosters a supportive and inclusive work environment, encouraging creativity and collaboration among its employees. Located in vibrant Vauxhall, London, the company offers hybrid working options, generous annual leave, and a commitment to employee well-being through health insurance and enhanced family leave policies. With a focus on professional growth and development, Walker Books empowers its team members to thrive while contributing to the meaningful mission of publishing diverse children's literature.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Online Key Account Manager in London
✨Leverage Your Network
In sales and business development, who you know can often be as important as what you know. Get involved with local networking events or industry meetups to connect with key players. Don't be shy—share your passion for the field and let folks know you're on the lookout for opportunities!
✨Show Your Skills Through Real-World Results
When targeting a full-time role like Online Key Account Manager at Walker Books, presenting tangible results from your previous sales experience can set you apart. Bring along case studies or examples of how you've closed deals or expanded accounts, and don't forget to showcase your problem-solving prowess. It’s all about quantifying your success!
✨Engage with Sales Communities
Dive deep into online sales communities, like Sales Hacker or LinkedIn groups dedicated to sales professionals. Engaging in discussions and sharing insights can boost your visibility and might just put you on the radar of hiring managers looking for fresh talent in business development.
✨Direct Applications Matter
While we all know the online application route, consider sending direct applications to companies you admire, including Walker Books. Tailor your message to explain why you’re drawn to them and how you can contribute as a Online Key Account Manager. Sometimes, a personal touch can grab attention faster than a generic application!
We think you need these skills to ace Online Key Account Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Those Sales Skills:In your CV and cover letter, highlight any previous sales or business development experience you have. Use numbers and examples to showcase your achievements – did you exceed sales targets or bring in new clients? Make those accomplishments shine!
Tailor Your Message for Walker Books:When writing your cover letter, make sure to tailor your message specifically for Walker Books. Show that you know the company’s mission and how your skills align with their goals in the sales landscape. This personalised touch will grab their attention!
Keep It Professional Yet Engaging:Sales is all about relationships, so while you want to maintain professionalism in your application, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Engage the reader and demonstrate your enthusiastic approach to sales and business development!
Proof of Performance:Include any relevant certifications or training you’ve undertaken in sales or negotiation tactics. If you’ve attended workshops or courses, list these to showcase your commitment to professional development. This extra touch can set you apart from the competition!
How to prepare for a job interview at Walker Books
✨Know Your Sales Methodologies
Brush up on popular sales methodologies like SPIN Selling or Challenger Sales. Being able to discuss these techniques and how you've applied them will show Walker Books that you understand the role and can hit the ground running in the sales game.
✨Demonstrate Your Deal-Making Skills
Prepare to share stories from your past experiences where you closed deals, overcame objections, or started new client relationships. We want to show Walker Books that you’re not just about numbers but also about building lasting connections in business development.
✨Prepare for Role-Play Scenarios
In a full-time sales interview, don’t be surprised if they throw in a role-play exercise to test your pitching skills. Practising how you would pitch a product or handle an objection will help us shine in this simulation—think of it like a dress rehearsal for your future sales calls!
✨Align Your Goals with the Company’s Vision
Take a moment to reflect on how your career ambitions align with Walker Books’s objectives. When we articulate how our personal growth ties in with the company’s goals, it shows commitment and a genuine interest in contributing to their success.
