Head of Sales

Climbing Business Journal; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Retirement Plan

ICHRA Plan

Paid holidays

PTO with accrual

Hybrid WFH/office

Private training center access

Annual staff climbing trips

Product discounts

Industry discounts

Job summary

Tension Climbing seeks a Head of Sales in Denver to build a high-impact, single-person department that later scales. You will bridge retailers, distributors, and leadership, shaping sales strategy and inventory alignment for growth.

Ideal candidates bring 4+ years in B2B sales in technical/wholesale contexts, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for international markets. Hybrid work model and climbing-focused culture offered.

Qualifications

• Strong executive communication and negotiation skills.
• Experience with full-cycle sales, including basic billing, invoicing, and accounts receivable tracking.
• Passion for and understanding of international markets, trade, and the industry.

Responsibilities

• Account Management: Maintain high-touch relationships with retail and distributor partners with structured follow-ups.
• Strategic Leadership: Liaise between partners and executive leadership to guide sales initiatives.
• Forecasting: Develop sales projections and identify market opportunities.
• Budgeting: Oversee discount budget and track it through the year.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate with Marketing on distributor insights and promotions.
• Product Expertise: Maintain technical knowledge of all products sold to speak with partners.
• Wholesale & Distributor Margins: Advise on pricing, discounts, and terms for partners.
• Commercial Strategy: Align pricing with sales targets and market positioning.

Skills

Executive communication

Negotiation skills

Sales leadership

Full-cycle sales

International markets knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree (BA/BS)

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Proposed Start Date: October, 2026

Location: Denver, CO

Job Type: Full-Time

Reports to: Managing Director

Compensation: Starting compensation offers between $70,000-$100,000 salary based on qualifications.

About Tension

Founded in 2015 in the back corner of an auto shop in Denver, CO, Tension Climbing was built not only on the idea that good design can improve the climbing experience, but that the way we do business can drive improvement in our community and industry. For this role we are looking for a similarly driven individual passionate about making a difference–not only in the climbing industry–but on our team. Being a small and tight-knit business, it is more important than ever for us to find both the right person for the job as well as the right fit for our team. For this reason we encourage you to reach out, even if a qualification or the suggested compensation on the listing above doesn’t perfectly align with your personal direction.

About The Role

As the Head of Sales, you will initially operate as a high-impact, single-person department with the goal of laying the groundwork for the department’s future. You will serve as the strategic bridge between our key retail/distributor partners and executive leadership. Your focus will be on nurturing critical B2B relationships, aligning inventory with market forecasts, and building the foundational systems/relationships needed to scale the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Account Management: Maintain high-touch relationships with retail and distributor partners through structured follow-ups, account reviews, ongoing support, and occasional international travel.
• Strategic Leadership: Act as the liaison between commercial partners and executive leadership, translating high-level company direction into sales initiatives.
• Forecasting: Develop accurate sales projections, analyze competitor positioning, and identify emerging market opportunities.
• Budgeting: Oversee discount budget and track throughout the year.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate with Marketing to relay key distributor insights, product feedback, and promotional requirements.
• Product Expertise: Maintain comprehensive technical knowledge of all products sold through Tension to speak fluently with specialized partners.
• Wholesale & Distributor Margins: Advising on matrix tiers, pricing, volume discounts, and payment terms for retail partners.
• Commercial Strategy: Aligning partner pricing with sales volume targets and market competitor positioning.

Minimum Qualifications

• Comfortable operating as a sole contributor initially, with the leadership capability to build and manage a team.
• Strong executive communication and negotiation skills.
• The tenacity and personality necessary for scale/growth.
• Experience with full-cycle sales, including basic billing, invoicing, and accounts receivable tracking.
• A passion for and understanding of international markets, trade, and the industry.

Preferred Qualifications

• 4+ years of account management or B2B sales experience, preferably in technical products, manufacturing, or wholesale distribution within the outdoor industry.
• Track record of managing distributor networks and generating accurate sales projections.
• Industry-specific experience/knowledge.
• Experience scaling revenue through specific growth stages.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance/Economics, Marketing, or a related field.
• Cross-functional alignment experience.
• Experience implementing CRM platforms.

Perks & Benefits

• 401(k) Retirement Plan: 3% automatic company contribution (no match required).
• ICHRA Plan: $350 ICHRA reimbursement for healthcare premium expense.
• Paid holidays including Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Winter Holiday (Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day).
• PTO with accrual beginning after 6 months.
• Hybrid WFH/office self-scheduling.
• Balance-Forward Culture: We operate on trust and output. When project schedules/workloads permit and team goals are achieved, employees are encouraged to take advantage of flexible Fridays or afternoon climbing sessions.
• TTC Access: Tension has its own private, members-only training center located conveniently across from our offices. Enjoy active lunch breaks and daily gym access.
• Annual staff climbing trips.
• Discounts on Tension Climbing and BENT products.
• Eligibility for industry discounts.

We look forward to hearing from you,

– The Tension Team