Head of Sales - Italy

ZURU; Lombardia; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ZURU is seeking a Head of Sales for its EDGE division in Italy. This role involves leading the commercial strategy, managing P&L, and building strong partnerships with retailers. The ideal candidate has over 6 years of experience in senior sales roles within the consumer goods sector, especially in confectionery. Strong communication skills are essential, along with fluency in English and Italian. This full-time position is based in Milan.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of at least 6+ years in senior sales or commercial leadership roles within the consumer goods industry.
• Strong commercial and business acumen, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capability.
• Leadership capability to influence and motivate cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the Italy commercial strategy to disrupt category incumbents.
• Drive top-line growth and optimize trade investment.
• Build strategic partnerships with retailers and distributors.

Skills

Senior sales leadership

Commercial acumen

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Fluency in English and Italian

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

ZURU

ZURU is one of the world’s fastest‑growing consumer goods companies, recognised for agility, creativity, and next‑generation manufacturing.

ZURU EDGE Italy Head of Sales

We are looking for an exceptional Head of Sales to lead ZURU EDGE’s consumer goods business in Italy.

Your Role

• Set the commercial agenda: Define and execute the Italy commercial strategy to disrupt category incumbents, win share, and deliver against ZURU’s growth ambitions.
• Own the P&L: Drive top‑line growth, optimise trade investment, and expand margin.
• Build strategic customer partnerships: negotiate and deliver Joint Business Plans that create mutual value with retail partners and unlock long‑term growth.
• Champion the customer internally: translate market and shopper insights into commercial direction, ensuring the customer and consumer sit at the heart of every account decision.
• Win the trade strategy: identify and secure distribution across priority accounts, then drive best‑in‑class 4P execution.
• Execute with excellence: maximise availability, visibility, and awareness of ZURU brands in‑store and online through best‑in‑class distribution, feature, display, and activation across our biggest bets. Partner closely with China sales support on customer administration.
• Partner with Marketing: co‑develop campaigns, launches, and promotional activity that drive brand awareness, demand, and sell‑through.
• Lead the culture: protect the entrepreneurial, challenger spirit that makes us win — putting people first and bringing the team with you.

Impact

Develop the commercial strategy for all markets, then leverage it to build strategic relationships with retailers/distributors ensuring delivery of market share and profitability growth across all EDGE verticals. Lead the EDGE team to ensure ZURU is capturing or over‑indexing its share of shelf versus competitors, working closely with commercial, marketing, and supply teams to achieve distribution goals and maximise shelf performance. Work as part of a cross‑functional team across different time zones.

Responsibilities

• Full ownership of the Italy P&L — driving net revenue, optimising trade investment, and managing product mix to deliver financial commitments.
• Define the Italy commercial strategy and secure cross‑functional alignment on the tools, products, investment, and support required to win in market.
• Own and develop top‑to‑top relationships with key retail and distributor partners, building long‑term strategic alignment that delivers against shared commercial and financial goals.
• Drive and leverage cross‑functional teams (Marketing, Supply, Finance, China sales support) to over‑deliver against sales, P&L, and supply KPIs.
• Continuously raise the bar on commercial processes, ways of working, driving performance, discipline, and efficiency.
• Build a high‑performance, entrepreneurial team culture — one that thrives on disruption and growth, resolves issues at pace, builds strong internal and external relationships, and develops capability across the business.

Skills & Experience

• Proven track record of at least 6+ years in senior sales or commercial leadership roles within the consumer goods industry, preferably confectionery, and experience operating in a fast‑moving, entrepreneurial environment.
• Major retailer and distributor experience within the respective regions required.
• Strong commercial and business acumen, strategic thinking and problem‑solving capability.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate messages across a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Leadership capability, including the ability to influence and motivate cross‑functional teams while holding stakeholders accountable to deliver on business objectives.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Fluency in English and Italian is a must.
• Full‑time position based in Milan.