International Head of Sales, William Collins / 4th Estate

Introduction to the role:

To own and manage the performance of William Collins and Fourth Estate in international markets, selling to our overseas affiliates and distributors, and via colleagues operating in other markets, to drive growth for these businesses, for the UK division, and for the Group as a whole.  You will be a part of the senior commercial team in the division, helping to shape acquisition and publishing strategy with an understanding of the strategy of these lists and the commercial landscape in which they operate.  You will also be part of the senior team within Group International Sales and manage a shared Key Account Executive.

These two imprints within the prestigious HarperCollins trade stable are home to some of the world’s leading authors, from Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche to Nigel Slater and from Hilary Mantel to Max Hastings. 

Key tasks and accountabilities:

• Accountability for the performance for your divisional titles and imprints in nominated international markets and territories, delivering on agreed targets and objectives with a focus on profitable selling.

• Responsible for ensuring that divisional publishing, marketing, and publicity strategies take into account the needs of all international territories and markets wherever possible

• A key commercial player within the division, helping to shape the business by contributing to strategic planning, acquisitions, marketing/PR and design, informed by your knowledge of the current marketplace and your tastes as a reader

• Responsible for supporting the international Sales Director to manage wider Group business issues with dedicated markets/customers

• Excellent customer relationships with affiliate markets, which foster collaboration and understanding, and drive business growth and profit

• Knowledge of the wider Group business to inform divisional activity and help share and implement best practice within your own and other divisions

• Membership of HC group international sales leadership team and divisional publishing boards

• Management and development of the International Sales Executive

Skills required:

• Trade publishing sales experience, ideally at manager/senior manager level, required

• Experience of international markets desirable

• Able to demonstrate and communicate awareness of the markets for our books, and how the divisional strategies and publishing can fit these markets

• Ability to act autonomously within your divisional P&L in line with Group best practice, and to manage budgets, targets etc in conjunction with international Sales Director and commercial/finance teams

• An aptitude for selling results-driven, entrepreneurial, ambitious, strong on relationships, and able to adapt to customers’ requirements but also to push them to support our priorities

• A leader within Sales and within the business, demonstrating both individual accountability and a commitment to coaching and developing those around you, inspiring a strong team spirit and a high-performance ethos.

• A happy traveler, knowledgeable about international markets, publishing, and trends, and committed to getting to know your markets from the ground up

• Good communicator, in person and remotely (phone/email)

• Financially aware; able to make informed predictions and analyse results to inform future decisions

• Organised, able to prioritise, agile and quick to respond to customers and internal stakeholders alike

• A team player; effective with all colleagues, willing to help others where necessary, and contributing as widely as possible to our international success.

  Benefits:

Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office) 

28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days) 

Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave 

Private healthcare cover and life assurance 

Summer Hours  

Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal 

Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme 

Relocation Rent Support Loan  

Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work and Pride at HC 

Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes 

Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers 

Gym membership discount 

Onsite physiotherapy (London only) 

Charitable donation matching and  2 volunteering days 

We're a certified Carbon Neutral company 

Free e-books and audiobooks, newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books 

Subsidised canteen and retail discounts 

Onsite prayer room 

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to our Talent Acquisition Manager at [email removed - click apply for more details] with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.