Sales Manager

'Recruiting for your future success’

£60-80k DOE (plus bonuses) | Colchester | Mon-Fri 7:30-4:30 (office based) | 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays | Opportunities for career development and professional growth | Staff events

Our client are a supplier of consumable products to the Education Sector, who strive to provide an outstanding customer experience with an energetically engaged team, dedicated to putting the customer first in everything they do.

The Sales Manager is responsible for leading the sales and customer success teams, ensuring the successful execution of both new business development and account management strategies. This role requires a highly organized, structured, and systems-oriented individual with experience in high-volume, consumable industries selling across multiple product categories. The Sales Manager will oversee team performance, implement efficient sales processes, and ensure exceptional customer success management to drive revenue growth and client satisfaction.

Duties (include but are not limited to)

Sales Strategy & Execution:

• Develop and execute a strategic sales plan to grow revenue across multiple product categories, with a focus on high-volume, consumable products.
• Identify opportunities for new business and ensure the team is effectively prospecting and closing new deals.
• Oversee the account management process to ensure long-term client retention, satisfaction, and growth.
• Implement best practices for managing the sales pipeline, customer relationships, and reporting through a structured and systems-oriented approach.

Team Leadership & Management:

• Lead and manage the sales and customer success teams, ensuring they achieve individual and team sales targets.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance management to develop team members' skills in business development and account management.
• Foster a collaborative team environment, encouraging cross-functional collaboration between the sales and customer success teams.
• Set clear goals, KPIs, and performance metrics to measure success and drive accountability within the teams.

Customer Success Management:

• Ensure the customer success team delivers a high level of service, addressing client needs, resolving issues, and identifying opportunities to upsell or cross-sell products.
• Develop processes and systems that streamline client onboarding, relationship management, and customer support.
• Track and report on customer success metrics, ensuring client satisfaction and identifying areas for improvement.

Process & Systems Development:

• Continuously improve sales and customer success processes to optimize efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Implement and manage CRM systems and other sales tools to monitor sales activity, track client interactions, and drive data-driven decision-making.
• Develop structured workflows and standardized procedures for both teams to follow, ensuring consistent execution of sales and client relations strategies.

Market Insights & Product Knowledge:

• Maintain a deep understanding of the company’s product range, market trends, and industry dynamics, particularly within high-volume, consumable product sectors.
• Provide feedback to internal teams on market conditions, client needs, and potential product improvements based on interactions with customers and the sales team.
• Collaborate with marketing and product teams to develop sales materials, campaigns, and product launches.
• Monitor and report on sales performance, team KPIs, and customer success metrics to senior management (including forecasting)
• Analyse data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement in both sales and client relations.

Person Specification

• At least 10 years proven experience in sales leadership and customer success management, ideally within high-volume, consumable product industries.
• Strong organisational, structured, and systems-oriented approach to managing teams and processes.
• Excellent leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to develop and inspire a team.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to balance short-term sales goals and long-term client success.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and ERP/CRM systems (sales tools, with the ability to leverage data for decision-making.
• Experience in tender/bid writing (preferred)
• Exceptional communication and relationship management skills, with a client-focused mindset.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Experience managing multiple product categories and leading both new business and account management teams.
• Proven track record of driving revenue growth and improving client satisfaction through structured processes.
• Full UK Driving Licence essential due to client visits

DBS / Criminal Records Check carried out by employer: Yes

LIGHTHOUSE PERSONNEL LTD ARE A RECRUITMENT AGENCY WORKING ON BEHALF OF A CLIENT.

PLEASE NOTE WE RECEIVE A LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS PER VACANCY AND UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT RESPOND TO ALL APPLICANTS. THEREFORE, IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM US WITHIN A MONTH FROM APPLICATION DATE, IT IS LIKELY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.

If you have been successful, we will contact you by the phone and begin taking you through our step by step recruitment process, doing our utmost to ensure the role is right for you, ascertaining your suitability in the process. This process will all be explained on initial contact.