International Sales Manager – Footwear

A World Renowned Premium Footwear Brand

International Sales Manager – Footwear

Job Purpose

To manage and drive the sales of a portfolio of brands through a network of distributors and or Licensees on behalf of the business. Developing excellence in all aspects of direct sales, marketing, and execution of brand and distribution strategies, customer service, forecasting and business planning. Decide on the strategies required to grow the business.

Main Accountabilities

• Be the primary contact for distributors in the EMEA region.
• Establish and build personal relationships with distributors.
• Be the primary senior manager for a distributor network, managing all daily sales and marketing activities.
• Responsibility for annual sales budgets. Preparation and management to achieve seasonal order targets as well as monthly shipment targets.  
• Manage and control the implementation of consistent brand strategies throughout the distributor networks in line with strategic plans by product category
• Monthly forecasting and reporting to assist budgeting and product planning process.
• Attending sales and product meetings throughout year representing the distributor markets.
• Coordination of marketing effort throughout distributor network.

Sales Strategy

• Contribute towards the development of European sales strategy and the implementation thereof with the distributors.

Product:

• Have input into the range building process to ensure that suitable product is developed for distributor market.

Marketing:

• Coordination with Marketing on behalf of the distributors to develop strategies and plans to communicate brand personality and values that will deliver growth and margins at a local level in the distributor markets.

People Management:

• There are no direct reports to this position but a great deal of leadership is required to direct dedicated internal resources in support of the distributor markets especially in customer service and merchandising.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Languages would be an advantage. Fluent in both written and spoken English is a must
• Excellent relationship building skills and “can do” approach
• A proven track record with international/European distributors, or international key account experience
• Footwear experience is very much preferred. In sports, outdoor, brown shoe or lifestyle. Experience of apparel would be an advantage as well as the footwear experience
• Successful sales track record in Europe as a minimum and ideally EMEA

Essential Criteria

• Successful sales career in branded footwear preferred
• To be based out of the London office with considerable travel requirements throughout Europe and to the USA.
• Confident communicator both written and spoken with first class relationship building skills
• Computer literate (Word / Excel / Power point)
• Strong people management experience
• Sound financial understanding and experience of managing and delivering to budgets
• Strategic key account management background
• Product and consumer understanding, empathy and enthusiasm
• Fluent in English and additional languages a bonus