Sales manager

Who are we?

We are New Directions, a group of companies that provide UK wide services (including recruitment, training, care provision and other support services) within education, social care, domiciliary care and the pharmaceutical sector, from a network of offices across the UK.

Voted Best Employer - Cardiff Life Awards 2024

Summary of Role:

The Sales Manager will adopt a strategic approach to advance the Checks Direct brand and enhance sales revenue, playing a pivotal role in Business Development and Team Leadership. This is a 'Player/Leader’ role, equal emphasis will be placed on driving revenue generation and team management.

Main Duties:

• Proactively prospect via cold calling, in-person networking and social platforms to build and maintain a robust sales pipeline
• Leverage virtual and in-person sales tools and tactics to ensure that both personal and team revenue targets are met and exceeded
• Represent Checks Direct at conferences, seminars, industry events and business networking
• Cultivate and nurture strategic partnerships with 3rd party providers, introducers and industry influencers
• Keep up to date with industry trends and existing and potential future competitors
• Coach, support and train your team in sales methodologies
• Work with your team to identify new opportunities and develop targeted sales pitches
• Drive, multi-stakeholder sales cycles and effectively present our value proposition to all relevant stakeholders
• Manage all aspects of the sales cycle including prospecting, qualification, evaluation, contract negotiations and close
• Work closely with the marketing and development teams to ensure sales objectives are met
• Capture and relay customers feedback to relevant internal stakeholders
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of our Checks Management System and services, including a deep understanding of their applications
• Develop a detailed understand of our Capabilities, USPs and Differentiators
• Ensure that all stages of the sales cycle are undertaken effectively and concurrently to achieve the required results
• Identify and manage risk in our business activities and take responsibility for reporting risks in a timely, open and appropriate manner
• Forecast, manage and update pipeline activities using our sales tools
• Monitor the team's sales performance, identify and act on areas of improvement
• Train new hires and ensure a smooth onboarding into the sales team
• Track, measure and suggest improvements to KPIs that will increase the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts
• Track and communicate weekly goals and objectives to the team to drive consistent performance
• Conduct weekly progress pipeline meetings and provide day-to-day mentoring, coaching & professional development to the sales team, including weekly 1:1 meetings, shadow sessions, supporting sales functions to close challenging deals
• Organise team coaching sessions and develop training programs
• Maintain a healthy relationship with all employees and internal stakeholders
• Be approachable and a point of escalation for any sales-related issues

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Previous and proven experience as a manager in a senior role, overseeing a team in a demanding sales environment
• Competent salesperson with the ability to manage the sales process, end-to-end.
• Ability to communicate, present to and influence key stakeholders at all levels of an organisation, including executive and director level
• Ability to identify, open and grow new markets and geographies
• Experience of managing operational fulfilment of a service, to ensure customer satisfaction as a business scale
• Strong analytical skills for margin control - closely monitor e-commerce and gross profit margins to meet company targets, taking ownership of monthly sales projections
• Leadership and coaching skills
• Sales forecasting expertise
• Excellent numeracy skills
• Excellent communication - written and verbal (telephone)
• Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative
• Ability to work in collaboration with marketing, product and development teams to deliver projects and business objectives
• Full understanding of business development activities using different resources including social media
• Advanced Microsoft Package Skills (Word/PowerPoint/Excel etc.)
• Good knowledge of compliance and experience in vetting related legislation including that of the Disclosure and Barring Service, Rehabilitation of Offenders act would be highly advantageous
• Experience of managing the operational execution and working with developers and UX designers
• Knowledge of agile/DevOps/project management methodologies and software development lifecycle processes
• Digital marketing campaigns knowledge and related experience

Personal Qualities:

• Self-motivated
• Innovative approach
• Confident and tenacious
• Able to develop effective working relationships
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Strong team player

What we offer:

Fantastic employee benefits including:

• Generous Commission Scheme
• A flexible working environment, with the opportunity for hybrid working
• Health Cashback scheme
• Life Assurance of 4 x salary
• Pension Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• A generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (rising to 30 days holiday after two years’ service)
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave through salary sacrifice
• A day off for your birthday
• A Giving Back day - to offer your services to the local community
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme (subject to qualifying eligibility criteria)
• Cycle to Work Salary Sacrifice Scheme (subject to qualifying eligibility criteria)
• Opportunity to join our 3% interest Christmas savings scheme
• Employee referral scheme; you can earn between £250 and £500 for each successful referral into the business
• Regular social, health and well-being events
• Free on-site parking
• On-site Gym