Head of Cruise Sales

Travel Trade Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working (Manchester preferred)

OTE bonus

Generous company benefits

Personal development opportunities

Fam trips and experiences

Job summary

Travel Trade Recruitment is seeking a Head of Cruise Sales to steer the strategic direction and long-term development of the sales function. You will lead performance frameworks, align targets with business objectives and work across Marketing, Product, Operations and Customer Experience to optimize the customer journey.

You will partner with the Sales Manager to translate strategy into day-to-day execution, identify growth opportunities, and build a high-performing, customer-centric team.

Qualifications

• Experience leading sales teams and setting long-term strategy.
• Proven ability to drive revenue growth and improve customer experience.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the cruise sales strategy aligned with business objectives and KPIs.
• Identify new opportunities to drive sustainable revenue growth.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Product, Operations and Customer Experience to support the customer journey.
• Own department-wide KPIs, targets and reporting; implement performance frameworks.
• Lead long-term sales resource and capability planning with the Sales Manager.
• Ensure sales activity aligns with brand positioning and customer journey.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Sales strategy

KPIs & targets

Data analysis

Job description

We are looking for an ambitious, commercially focused and forward-thinking Head of Cruise Sales to lead the strategic direction, performance and long-term development of our sales department.

This is a key leadership role for someone who can look beyond day-to-day sales delivery to identify opportunities, challenge existing ways of working and build a high-performing, customer-focused sales function that supports the wider business strategy.

As Head of Sales, you will take ownership of the department's overall sales performance strategy, ensuring that targets, people and performance frameworks are aligned with our business objectives. You will focus on driving sustainable revenue growth, improving conversion and sales quality, enhancing the customer experience, and developing the long-term capability of the team.

Working closely with the Sales Manager, you will provide strategic direction, identify opportunities for innovation and ensure that the sales strategy is translated into effective day-to-day execution. You will also collaborate with teams across Marketing, Product, Operations and Customer Experience to ensure that sales activity supports the wider customer journey and contributes to the overall success of the business.

Key Responsibilities;

Sales Strategy and Business Growth

• Develop and lead the sales strategy in line with business objectives and KPIs.
• Identify new sales opportunities to drive sustainable revenue growth.
• Set strategic priorities to improve conversion, sales quality and customer experience.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Drive innovation and performance improvements alongside the Sales Manager.
• Analyse sales data and trends to identify opportunities and inform decisions.
• Develop initiatives to improve efficiency, quality and team capability.

Sales Performance and Quality

• Take ownership of department-wide KPIs, targets and reporting.
• Establish performance frameworks focused on revenue, conversion, quality and customer experience.
• Monitor results, identify performance gaps and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure consistent sales quality standards and accountability across the department.

People Development and Long-Term Capability

• Lead long-term sales resource and capability planning with the Sales Manager.
• Identify skills gaps and opportunities to strengthen team performance.
• Promote a culture of accountability, development and continuous learning

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Collaborate with Marketing, Product, Operations and Customer Experience to support business growth.
• Ensure sales activity aligns with brand positioning and the customer journey.
• Share sales insights and customer feedback to support wider business decisions.

Strategic Leadership and Partnership

• Provide strategic direction and guidance to the Sales Manager.
• Ensure sales strategy is translated into effective day-to-day execution.
• Partner with the Sales Manager to review performance and implement improvements.
• Align sales priorities with senior leaders and wider business objectives.

Experience required;

• We are looking for an experienced sales leader who can combine strategic thinking with commercial focus, using data, insight and collaboration to deliver meaningful and sustainable improvements.
• You will be comfortable challenging the status quo, identifying opportunities for growth and developing strategies that improve both business performance and the customer experience.
• You will also be a strong partner to the Sales Manager, providing direction and support while empowering operational leadership and encouraging ownership across the team.
• Proven experience in a senior sales leadership, sales strategy or commercial performance role.
• A strong track record of developing and implementing sales strategies that deliver measurable business results.
• Experience managing sales performance through KPIs, targets, reporting and structured performance frameworks.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret sales data, identify trends and translate insights into actionable strategies.
• Experience identifying and implementing process improvements, new initiatives and innovative approaches to sales performance.

This is an opportunity to play a significant role in shaping the future of our sales department and influencing how the business grows.

You will have the opportunity to develop and deliver a long-term sales strategy, introduce innovative approaches, strengthen departmental capability and work collaboratively with colleagues across the business.

For the right person, this role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact beyond immediate sales results: building a more effective, commercially focused and customer-centred sales function that is equipped to deliver sustainable success.

Package;

• Competitive basic salary plus OTE bonus
• Hybrid working in Manchester preferred, or fully remote will be considered
• Generous company benefits
• Personal development opportunities
• Great fam trips, discounts and experiences