Field Sales Manager

I often speak with [Senior] National Account Managers who are struggling to make the leap into a Controller/Business Unit Head role, as these roles are so much bigger than used to be, and the jump is greater than it was even 5 years ago. This can partially be down to the strategy development and P & L exposure the NAC role will have, but often it is the depth of people management that is the blocker. Controllers manage far bigger teams than they used to and as a result there is a lot to navigate and a lot of pressure to be a good leader and coach. As a SNAM [or even NAM] a good way to get round this challenge is to look at a lateral step into a Field Sales Manager role where you are managing larger teams and will be exposed to a notable number of direct reports. I am currently working on a Field Sales Manager role, managing a team of 10 people for a consumer business where we would consider a NAM/SNAM stepping across.

The role

If you have had enough of being beaten by retailers and fighting hard to manage a declining or flat category then this could be the Field Sales Manager role for you. 
This is a high profile and strategically important FSM role in the UK region of this growing business. The branded product range my client has is a big footfall driver for retailers, so often retailers approach this brand to stock the products. . You will have high levels of autonomy and input into the wider strategic direction of this account and will need to work closely with all the other departments in the company in order to build and drive this strategy.
There is good progression with this business and as sales are strong and the company is in growth.
Home based but ideally South East.

About you

We are looking for a Field Sales Manager who has come from a bluechip background, can demonstrate good progression & results to date but is looking to get a wider breadth of skills and wants to do something slightly different to a ‘standard’ NAM role. This role can quickly develop into a much larger position so we are looking for someone that has the capability to learn & move up as quickly as the company needs them to.
You will need to be able to influence internally as well as externally as there are lots of different departments involved in this account base. There are not lots of processes or structures so if you enjoy autonomy and fast decision making – this could be the role for you.
Degree educated, ideally with food experience however, calibre is more important than category.

South East based.

The client

Renowned for attracting top tier talent, my client are a global organisation that don’t over engineering processes. They are fast paced, have a biased for action and look after their people really well. They promote from within [which is why this role has come about] and offer fast track careers. Most of their senior leadership team have grown up through the business and this company are not afraid to take risks, challenge the status quo and do things differently.

Salary

c.£65 000 basic, car/allowance, bonus and benefits