Head of Sales
While every well organised company has a set strategy for growth and development through increased sales, there needs to be a sales team tasked with identifying openings, initiating plans and monitoring success. The head of sales is at the forefront of that team, and is a vital cog in the success of its operation.
In some organisations, the head of sales will occupy a place on the board alongside directors, while they may alternatively report to a sales director. Either way, they will head up the team and oversee the strategic planning and implementation of sales strategies in line with the board’s demands, and they will be expected to run the department with a degree of autonomy.
Part of the head of sales job description might also include liaising with the rest of the company, especially production and supply chain, to ensure that any sales agreements they make with customers can be delivered. They will also be responsible for negotiating deals with important clients, although that task might also be delegated to subordinates within an agreed framework for smaller clients.
Head of Sales skills required
A good head of sales will be completely on top of the processes, capabilities, products and services of the company. That’s partly because they might often be the only company representative in critical meetings, but also because they will be a conduit between the board, the production arm and the team delivering sales targets.
Head of sales jobs therefore always require someone who is a fast learner, is analytical with KPIs and forecasts, and is a superb communicator to clients, prospects and colleagues at all levels.
Head of Sales Jobs in Carlisle
Carlisle is the north-easternmost city in England, its outskirts lying just 4 miles (6 km) from the Scottish border. It’s roughly equal to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in terms of latitude, although it is much smaller, having a population of only 100,000. The city is served by the M6 which passes along its east side as it makes its way from Preston and Birmingham in the south, and changes into the A74(M) as it goes north towards Glasgow. The road east is the A59 which heads to Newcastle, and westwards, the A595 reaches the coastal towns of Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness. Carlisle is also on the main railway line from Manchester to Glasgow and Edinbugh. It is also the end point of the Settle to Carlisle railway line, which is considered one of the most scenic rail journeys in the UK.
The city can trace its roots back at least to Roman times, where, it is thought, it would have been a settlement connected with Hadrian’s Wall; the Wall would have sliced modern-day Carlisle in two. It must have been considered a strategic hotspot as it continued to be settled after the Romans, and a castle was built there in medieval times, as was the town’s cathedral. The city changed hands many times over the following centuries, most notably in 1745 when it was briefly held by Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Carlisle did play its part in the Industrial Revolution, but its relative isolation meant it was never one of the major players. It did grow a thriving railway engineering industry, however, and textiles were quite an important employer. Carr’s of Carlisle was founded around this time, and it would later become United Biscuits. Metal Box had a factory in the city, and it lives on under the Crown Holdings umbrella. There is still plenty of diversity in Carlisle’s industrial base, and as it’s so well connected it will always be a good place to look for Head of Sales jobs. The logistics industry would be quite different today without one of its Carlisle’s successful companies, Eddie Stobart, which was founded in the 1950s.
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Find head of sales jobs at Cast UK
Are you looking for your next head of sales role and want to help push a business to the next league? Or are you running a business and you need someone to hit the ground running as a new head of sales? Whichever you are, Cast UK can help with your recruitment.
If you’re a potential candidate, register with us so we can contact you when a relevant position becomes available.
If you’re looking for a sales head yourself, call one of our consultants on 0333 121 3345 – we’ve got an extensive list of excellent management and executive level sales professionals who are ready to talk.
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