At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic sales team and drive SMB growth with hands-on coaching.
- Company: Join Zinc, a trusted background-check platform revolutionising hiring.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, remote work options, and unique perks.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant culture with exciting team retreats and social events.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Sales management experience and a proven track record in SMB sales.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 75000 £ per year.
Zinc is building the most trusted background-check and employment-history platform in the market. Our SMB business is the engine - high volume, fast-moving, and growing. We're looking for a Sales Manager who knows how to win in that environment and who can build a team that does the same. This is a permanent role, initially stepping in to cover a period of maternity leave and leading an established team from day one. You'll own the SMB segment end to end: pipeline, process, people, and performance. This isn't a purely strategic role - you'll be in the deals, on the calls, and leading from the front.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the SMB number - pipeline health, conversion rates, forecasting accuracy, and revenue delivery against a £2m target.
- Player/coach from day one: cover deals when reps are out, join key calls, and model the behaviour you want to see.
- Build and maintain best-in-class SMB playbooks, KPIs, and processes - including pipeline development, forecasting, enablement, and performance management.
- Hire well and ramp fast - plan for +1–2 AEs in Sep/Oct and own the full hiring and onboarding process.
- Lead with kindness, not niceness - have the hard conversations early, hold the bar, and protect the culture of the team.
- Work cross-functionally with marketing, partnerships, and outbound to ensure the top of funnel is healthy and the hand-offs are tight.
- Coach reps individually: weekly 1:1s, pipeline reviews, call coaching, and clear development plans tied to quota attainment.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Required
- At least 1 year of sales management experience, with direct responsibility for quota-carrying reps.
- Proven track record selling and scaling in the SMB segment (£10k–£50k ACV).
- Comfortable as a player/coach - not just managing from a dashboard, but in the work.
- Strong process builder: you’ve created or meaningfully improved a sales playbook, not just followed one.
Preferred
- 2+ years of management experience, ideally at a SaaS or HR-tech company.
- Several years at a single org – depth of experience in one GTM motion over job-hopping.
- Experience hiring, onboarding, and ramping AEs in a fast-growth environment.
- Familiarity with background screening, compliance, or HR-tech buying cycles.
What we offer
- £60k Variable
- 24 days holiday + Bank Holidays + your birthday off
- £1200 annual benefits allowance (ThanksBen, from month 2)
- Early finish Fridays (16:00)
- Yearly company retreat abroad (This year Turin)
- 30 days to Work from anywhere
- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave
- Statutory pension with NEST (3% employer, 5% employee)
- Zinc shares, issued through the EMI Scheme
- Unlimited access to MoreHappi coaching
- Company socials, quarterly team socials
- Free Monday lunches
- Nursery workplace benefit scheme (Yellownest)
- Option to lease an electric car through Electric Car Scheme
- Celebrated Zinc anniversaries
SMB Sales Manager employer: Zinc
Zinc is an exceptional employer that prioritises a vibrant work culture and employee growth, making it an ideal place for the VP of People role. With a commitment to scaling while preserving its unique environment, Zinc offers generous benefits such as 24 days holiday, early finish Fridays, and a yearly retreat abroad, alongside a strong focus on professional development and leadership collaboration. Join a dynamic team in London where your contributions will directly shape the future of the company and its people strategy.
