Introduction to the role

This role is responsible for delivering the annual sales targets for a broad account portfolio, through creative account management and development/implementation of the Sales team strategies across all HarperCollins Divisions. The team are outwardly focussed, driven and widely acknowledged within HarperCollins for the key contributions they make to the business overall success. 

 The account portfolio has a dedicated list of customers across Independent bookshops, wholesale and museums and galleries across the South West of England. Managing both new and established relationships is essential to our success, as well as juggling multiple priorities internally and externally. 

You will collaborate with colleagues across the HarperCollins business, gaining knowledge and harnessing the potential for sales from the exceptional depth of publishing, via our backlist, heritage brands and new releases.

Key tasks and accountabilities

• Delivery of sales targets across a diverse account base, from HarperCollins divisions

• Increase sales via new customers and revenue driving sales promotion opportunities - and bringing knowledge of this area to the role.

• Managing relationships and sales for a wide and diverse range of independent bookshops, wholesalers and museums and galleries.

• Liaise with customer service, and our Distribution centre to efficiently process and supply accounts.

• Maintain positive and constructive relationships with internal contacts across publishing teams and business managers.

• Travel to customers to present, collect orders and develop relationships.

 Your first six months

• Maintain and continue to grow our account portfolio’s performance, building strong relationships with Customer contacts.

• Develop close working partnership with HC business functions, such as Production and Distribution, learning how they operate and aligning with customer requirements to offer excellent service.

• Becoming an expert of our extensive HarperCollins publishing list and how it aligns with the wide range of customers

• Meet all customers and develop strong relationships.

Experience required

• Experience of account management

• Knowledge or understanding of the independent book market

• Experience of producing sales presentations and adapting them to each customer so they reflect the customers’ needs

• Strong knowledge & understanding of sales functions such as customer relationship management, margin calculation, profitability management + knowledge of production & supply and distribution processes.

• Experience of working in a high performing sales environment, balancing priorities whilst displaying self-motivated approach and responsibility for high volume workload 

• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and passion for books, trends and a drive for creating partnerships.

• Demonstrate ability to juggle multiple priorities and diverse account base. Balancing workload with required level of travel.

Skills required

• Be an excellent communicator and presenter with strong customer service ethic

• Entrepreneurial skills with ability to use own initiative, motivated to deliver both targets and growth 

• Established sales and negotiation skills

• Proven relationship management & organisational skills

• Have excellent attention to detail 

• Proven ability to work under pressure and to challenging deadlines

• Be able to work both independently to deliver set goals & collaboratively as part of a team to deliver group strategies

• Benefits

  • 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days) 

  • Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave 

  • Private healthcare cover and life assurance 

  • Summer Hours  

  • Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal 

  • Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme 

  • Relocation Rent Support Loan  

  • Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work, Pride at HC, Social Mobility Network and Neurodiversity at Work

  • Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes 

  • Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers 

  • Gym membership discount 

  • Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days 

  • We're a certified Carbon Neutral company

  • Green Electric/Hybrid Car Benefit Scheme (salary sacrifice)

  • With Trees for Life we plant a tree in the Highlands of Scotland for every permanent hire

  • Free e-books and audiobooks, digital newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books 

  • Retail discounts 

  The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking internships or entry level positions. For more information visit  https://www.btbs.org/

  If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to stephanie.jemmett@harpercollins.co.uk with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.

  Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.