Group Head-Sales

Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (The Times Of India); Gurugram District; On-site; INR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (The Times Of India) in Gurugram seeks a field sales professional to oversee newspaper depots, ensure timely distribution, and engage readers through on-ground activities. You will drive subscriptions, manage renewals, handle complaints, and coordinate with vendors and DREs, with a focus on achieving monthly targets and gathering market insights.

The ideal candidate has strong communication, negotiation, and data-tracking skills, plus familiarity with last-mile delivery

Qualifications

• Graduate with relevant experience preferred.
• Strong field sales experience in distribution or FMCG.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee assigned newspaper depots and ensure smooth daily distribution.
• Engage readers through calls and personal visits to improve renewal rates.
• Manage complaints and coordinate with depot, vendors, and internal teams for resolution.
• Identify prospective readers and drive new subscriptions via field activities.
• Achieve monthly targets for fresh bookings and renewals; maintain daily reports.
• Monitor competitor pricing and offerings to inform sales strategies.

Skills

Field sales

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Negotiation

Data tracking

Local market knowledge

Education

Graduate

Job description

Responsibilities:

Depot & Distribution Management-

• Manage and oversee assigned newspaper depots
• Ensure smooth daily distribution and timely delivery to readers
• Coordinate with vendors, beat boys, and depot staff for operational efficiency
• Monitor supply gaps, shortages, and route issues

Reader Engagement & Retention-

• Build strong relationships with existing readers
• Conduct regular engagement through calls and personal visits
• Support renewal drives to improve renewal percentage
• Work closely with DREs to visit non-renewed readers

Complaint Management-

• Receive, track, and resolve reader complaints promptly
• Coordinate with depot, vendors, and internal teams for issue resolution Maintain complaint control measures to improve reader satisfaction
• Ensure minimal repeat complaints and service disruptions

New Reader Acquisition-

• Identify potential areas, societies, and individual prospects
• Promote newspaper subscriptions and ongoing offers
• Drive fresh bookings through field activities and local promotions
• Support dealer and DSA-led acquisition initiatives

Sales & Reporting-

• Achieve monthly targets for fresh bookings and renewals
• Maintain daily reports on renewals, complaints, and acquisitions
• Share market feedback and performance updates with management Competition & Market Intelligence-
• Track competitor newspapers pricing, schemes, and offers
• Monitor competitor circulation activity in assigned areas
• Collect reader feedback on competitor strengths and weaknesses
• Share actionable competition insights to improve sales strategies

Key Skills & Competencies-

• Strong field sales and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple depots and vendors
• Customer-focused mindset with problem-solving ability
• Good communication and negotiation skills
• Basic reporting and data tracking skills
• Knowledge of local market and reader behavior

Preferred candidate profile:

• Graduate with minimum 10 years of relevant experience in newspaper circulation / FMCG / field sales preferred
• Familiarity with depot operations and last-mile delivery is an advantage