UK Sales Director

Lavazza Professional UK; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading coffee company is seeking a UK Sales Director in Basingstoke to manage a sales team and drive profitability. The role involves developing sales strategies, leading a team of 25, and ensuring customer retention. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership skills and a proven track record in sales management. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits including a car allowance and private medical cover.

Benefits

Competitive salary plus annual bonus scheme

Car allowance

Well Being Package

Company Pension

Private Medical cover

Life assurance

Generous benefit package

Qualifications

• Proven leadership skills across all teams and operating levels.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate at a senior level.
• Strong financial and analytical skills for evidence-based decision making.

Responsibilities

• Lead and engage a sales team of 25 associates.
• Drive lead generation and conversion of business prospects.
• Define and manage local channel sales targets and budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Problem Solving

Customer Orientation

Collaboration & Partnership

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our UK Leadership Team at LAVAZZA Professional located in Basingstoke, North Hampshire.

Why LAVAZZA Professional?

Lavazza Professional is the Business-to-business (B2B) arm of Lavazza Group. As a global coffee business, we have grown over the last 120 years from a small Italian artisanal company to be an industrial giant. We remain family owned and our passion for quality coffee is coupled with a spirit of entrepreneurship, defined by innovation and a sense of responsibility. In the Lavazza Group we are committed to build a better world, one coffee at a time. We offer products of superior quality, obtained through a sustainable model based on innovation, passion and expertise.

At Lavazza Professional, our goal is to fuel workplace productivity and wellness, proudly serving premium Lavazza coffee from our Multi-drink and Barista Collection systems, our industry leading, versatile office coffee and vending technologies offer tailored options to fit any workspace, any size of business and any industry.

As a company, we have a profound commitment to Sustainability and are proud to announce our “Roadmap to Zero” to completely neutralise the Group’s carbon footprint by the end of 2030. You can be proud to join a company dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and employee development.

The Package –

Competitive salary plus annual bonus scheme

Car allowance

Well Being Package

Company Pension

Private Medical cover

Life assurance

Generous benefit package

The role – UK Sales Director

Reporting to the UK Business Leader, this role is a member of the UK Market Leadership Team.

The role is supported by a team of 3 Regional Sales Managers, creating new business deals and managing large account customer retention, with the smaller customers in the local channel managed through the office-based Customer Account Manager (CAM) Team.

The direct Local Channel accounts for approx. 30% of our UK Market Net Sales and is a critical pillar for the UK business strategic plan, supporting the overall growth and earnings targets in the coming years.

The Local Sales Director is responsible for leading the local sales team of 25 associates to deliver the sales and profitability objectives of the channel, through the successful sourcing and conversion of new business prospects and the retention and expansion of the existing Lavazza Professional customer base.

The role leads and manages all aspects of the local sales funnel, driving a strong lead generation process (in collaboration with the UK Marketing Director), generating quality customer appointments and converting them into profitable, sustainable business partnerships.

Budgeting

In collaboration with Commercial Finance, they define and manage the local channel sales targets, and overhead budgets on an annual basis, accurately forecasting the year’s delivery of new business, repeat machines and drinks volumes and associated revenues and margins.

Sales tools and compensation plans

The Local Sales Director will work on continuously improving the Local sales approach to be able to land the best quality business whilst retaining existing Local Accounts. The role holder will work collaboratively with other functions to develop the right sales materials, strategies and compensation plans that will drive the right behaviors and deliver the planned results.

Strategy Development

As a collaborative member within the UK Leadership team, the role influences business strategy by identifying and sharing market trends, shaping new solutions & competitive differentiation to grow the Lavazza Professional portfolio of offerings, services and business opportunities.

Leadership

The Local Sales Director will lead, engage and develop the functional sales capabilities and productivity of their team to deliver top-line growth and improvements in channel profitability year on year. Through visible leadership and regular, engaging communication, they will model the Lavazza values of Authenticity, Passion for Excellence, Inventiveness and Responsibility.

Skills Required include:

Collaboration & Partnership

The ability to encourage positive teamwork and a cross-functional way of working, including everyone in daily activities. It involves building a diverse network inside and outside the organization and effectively integrating different points of view to create shared value.

Problem Solving & Decision-Making

The ability to make effective decisions, even in absence of complete information, balancing fact-based/data-driven approach with creativity and being accountable for outcomes and risks.

Customer Orientation

The ability to manage the needs and expectations of customers (clients, colleagues, other stakeholders). This involves the ability to develop/improve/innovate products, services and processes, measure the results achieved and value created and quickly adjust actions accordingly.

Big Picture & Vision

Has a broad understanding of the business/industry and the direction of the Lavazza Group, monitoring market trends and external factors. Finally, it requires an integrated knowledge of the Group’s organization, processes and dynamics, the ability to identify interconnections and, most importantly, how their role directly impacts the Group context.

Leading People

Leading People is the ability to motivate and inspire others, give meaning to actions, create a “free and safe” work environment and support team members in their professional development. Finally, it involves the ability to assign SMART goals to team members, readjust their workload and priorities (if necessary), delegate and use mistakes as opportunities for growth, providing and seeking continuous feedback.

ESSENTIAL -Leadership & interpersonal skills across all teams and operating levels

ESSENTIAL Ability to negotiate at a senior level both internally & externally

ESSENTIAL - Strong financial and analytical approach underpinned through evidence-based decision making

ESSENTIAL -Demonstration of Sales KPI & Sales funnel application and management

The successful candidate will be required to complete and satisfy full back ground checks which will include a DBS check.

Candidates must understand that we are based in Basingstoke, North Hampshire and this is where they will be based.