Coeliac UK currently has an exciting opportunity for a Head of Sales to join them based in High Wycombe. You will join us on a permanent, full time basis working 35hrs per week (occasional evening and weekend work). Regular home working may be possible. A competitive salary of circa £40,000 plus 36 days holiday a year including bank holidays.

The Head of Sales role:

Coeliac UK is committed to increasing food safety for people reliant on gluten free food for health reasons. Commercial Services supports this by working with food sector businesses to raise confidence in gluten free foods, providing independent certification of gluten free products, accrediting catering functions and training.

New entrants into the market for gluten free food safety challenge us to develop a stronger sales focus that defines our value offer and differentiates us from emerging competitors. As Head of Sales you will be expected to develop compelling strategies for increasing market awareness.

Key responsibilities of the Head of Sales:

– Support the Director of Commercial Services in delivering the charity’s strategic aims and marketing objectives

– Manage sales activities across the charity’s product range (currently licensing, accreditation and training)

– Lead sales of advertising and sponsorship opportunities

– Undertake face to face and remote sales leading to customer engagement and acquisition

– Lead and manage the sales’ team to deliver against plan and budget

– Develop and roll out account management processes

– Monitor client feedback and sector trends to identify opportunities for improving existing products or developing new ones

– Market and deliver relevant insights to commercial partners to drive improvements in choice, price and service

– Develop relationships for the role and for the benefit of the charity’s overall mission

– Promote trade between the charity’s commercial partners

– Contribute to project teams to develop existing or new products

– Promotion of gluten free food safety in the press and at events

– Prepare and deliver pitches to prospective customers through to close deals

– Manage the sales pipeline to make best use of the charity’s resources and produces tangible sales

– Secure income to agreed targets

– Manage staff and the strategy against the charity’s policies and values

– Manage progression through the sales pipeline

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required for the Head of Sales:

– Strong sales background

– Scientific or technical background is desirable

– Ability to build relationships and rapport and skilled in account management

– Analytical and numerate with necessary skills to produce, monitor and interpret financial information and reports

– A positive, personable and confident communicator

– A confident motivated team player, experienced in managing people

– Ability to identify new business opportunities and generate additional income

– Ability to manage workload on own initiative within a team environment and to motivate people

– Attentive to detail

– Keen to help with and work on a variety of projects

– Flexible approach

– Knowledge of the FMCG market and ideally the gluten-free market is desirable

Our Head of Sales will ideally have the following Competencies:

– Likely to be general manager

– Lead multi-discipline teams to deliver income solutions to clients often with long lead times

– Operate in a slightly complex environment

– Build the annual plan in line with strategy

– Understand wider external processes affecting clients, how tenders are invited and can be won

– Focus on developing long term partnerships with key clients

– Anticipate internal/external issues which will impact income targets and organisation development plans

– Manage costs for very large projects

– Act as a resource for resolution of unique or complex problems affecting the management of accounts

– Develop longer term plans in line with overall strategy, manages resources to achieve the plan

– Develop the income strategy, lobbies key players and negotiates highly complex, high risk contracts

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties to be performed by the employee. This job description may be altered to reflect the needs of the charity.

If you would like to be considered as our Head of Sales, please apply now with your CV and cover letter. We’d love to hear from you