Senior Sales Director, New Business Development - American Greetings

Westlake, OH

Job Description

American Greetings is looking for a Senior Sales Director who will partner on the development of commercial plans for growth and corresponding action plans.

Our ideal candidate will lead efforts for double-digit growth across the entire Sales Organization, including training and tracking progress.

This role requires an individual who can independently deliver 25-35% of growth through new business acquisition, leveraging existing contacts and building new ones.

The candidate will also collaborate with business teams to develop necessary selling materials and lead corporate retailer interactions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Commercial Plan Development:
o Partner with the GVP of Sales to develop comprehensive commercial plans focused on expanding our presence through third-party retailers.
o Create and implement detailed action plans to achieve growth targets.

Leadership in Growth Initiatives:
o Lead strategic initiatives to achieve double-digit growth across the Sales Organization.
o Partner with GVP to train sales team on new business development best practices; monitor progress, and assist in meeting growth targets.

New Business Acquisition:
o Independently drive 25-35% of business growth through the acquisition of new customers, focusing on third-party retail channels.
o Utilize existing industry contacts and establish new relationships to expand the customer base and increase sales.
Collaboration on Selling Materials:
o Work closely with business teams to develop impactful selling materials.
o Support both new business initiatives and current account prospecting efforts with effective sales tools and resources.

Corporate Retailer Interactions:
o Lead preparations for corporate retailer touchpoints, including NACDS, PDMs, and new account prospecting, to secure and grow retail partnerships.
o Represent the company at industry events and trade shows to build relationships and identify new business opportunities.

Experience Required:

Required Length & Type of Experience:
o 7+ years of experience in sales, with at least 3 years in a senior sales leadership role.
o Familiarity with corporate retailer interactions and new account prospecting within the consumer products/retail industry.
o Proven track record of success in acquiring new business and driving sales growth within the retail/consumer products industry or related experience.
o Experience in developing and executing commercial plans and action plans specifically targeting third-party retailers.
o Strong background in leading sales teams, with a focus on training and progress tracking.
o Minimum of two years of experience in management supervision.
o Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
o Strategic, ambitious, and aggressive with a demonstrated history of achieving significant business growth.
o Collaborative, motivating, and inspiring leadership style that drives team performance.
o Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with retailers and internal teams.
o Ability to leverage existing contacts and build new relationships within the retail/commercial sector.
o Excellent negotiation skills to secure favorable terms with third-party retailers.
o Strong analytical skills to identify growth opportunities through market trends and customer data analysis.