Job Description

Europe is one of our largest and most exciting international markets, with significant opportunities to grow our business and reach new readers. We're looking for an ambitious and commercially minded Head of European Sales to help us realise that potential. 

This is a senior role within our International Sales team, with responsibility for setting the commercial direction for Europe, working with our European Sales Directors and their teams to identify and deliver the biggest opportunities for sustainable growth. 

You’ll also play an important role in how we work with our publishing divisions. As Product Lead for one of our publishing divisions, you’ll lead their International strategy; representing global market opportunities within the division and its publishing priorities within International Sales – using market and customer insight to influence plans and maximise the potential of our books. 

About the team 

Our International Sales team is responsible for selling Penguin Random House UK books across markets around the world, working with retailers, wholesalers and distribution partners to connect our authors and books with international readers.

Europe is a significant and diverse part of our business, with established markets, strong customer relationships and exciting opportunities for further growth. 

The role 

Reporting to the International Sales Director, you’ll take a leading role in setting the strategic direction for our European business, working collaboratively with our European Sales Directors to shape priorities and bringing together market knowledge and commercial insight to deliver sustainable growth. 

You’ll work across our European territories, collaborating with colleagues across international sales and publishing divisions to identify opportunities and grow our market share. 

Key responsibilities: 

• Taking responsibility for delivering our European sales budget, working with territory Sales Directors to develop ambitious plans, monitor performance and respond to opportunities and challenges. 

• Driving PRH market share and retail presence across Europe, working with International Communications to amplify activity with priority retailers, wholesalers and other partners that increase the visibility, availability and sales of our books. 

• Identifying the markets, customers, categories, authors and titles with the greatest potential for sustainable growth. 

• Using sales data, market intelligence and customer insight to identify new growth opportunities and inform commercial decisions. 

• Partnering with Product Managers and our publishing divisions to ensure European opportunities are understood early and reflected in publishing, marketing, publicity and sales plans, particularly around priority authors, brands, genres and titles. 

• Acting as a senior European market voice within International Sales and across PRH UK, communicating opportunities, challenges and changing market dynamics clearly and persuasively. 

• Maintaining a deep, first-hand understanding of European markets through regular customer engagement and market travel, supporting territory teams and identifying opportunities that may not be visible through sales data alone.  

Product Lead 

Alongside your European responsibilities, you’ll take on the role of Product Lead for one of our publishing divisions. 

You’ll be the bridge between the division and International Sales: developing a strong understanding of its publishing priorities and ensuring international opportunities are realised, represented and delivered within the division. 

You’ll build strong relationships across editorial, marketing, publicity and sales, bringing together publishing knowledge with insight from our international markets and customers. You’ll use that insight to influence plans, focus attention on the books and opportunities with the greatest potential, and ultimately maximise international sales for the division.  

What you’ll bring 

We’re looking for someone who combines strong commercial judgement with strategic thinking, excellent influencing skills and the ability to turn opportunities into results. 

You’ll be comfortable setting direction and creating momentum, while recognising that success in this role will come through collaboration. You’ll need to build credibility with a wide range of colleagues, seek out different perspectives and bring people with you – including where you don’t have direct authority. 

Essential Criteria:

• Significant commercial sales experience, with a strong track record of delivering growth against ambitious revenue targets. 

• Strong knowledge of international sales and European markets, including an understanding of different retail structures, customer models and market dynamics. 

• Excellent commercial judgement, with the ability to assess opportunities through both revenue and profitability and make sound commercial decisions. 

• Strong strategic skills, with the ability to translate broad commercial objectives into focused market, customer and product plans and drive them through to delivery. 

• Strong analytical skills and confidence interpreting sales and market data, identifying trends and opportunities and using insight to influence commercial decisions. 

• Excellent influencing and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence decisions across senior internal and external stakeholders. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear recommendations and represent International Sales confidently at a senior level.  

Just as importantly, we’re looking for someone who sets clear direction and makes things happen. You’ll be proactive and opportunity-focused, highly collaborative and curious – actively seeking input and different perspectives, listening well and being prepared to adapt your thinking while remaining confident in your own judgement. 

You’ll enjoy working across teams and publishing divisions, understanding different priorities and bringing people together around shared commercial goals.  

Salary 

£65,000 - £75,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits. 

Hybrid working 

While our offices are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is important. For this role we expect that you will work from our office in London three days per week. This position will also involve regular travel to European markets. 

How to apply 

Please apply with your CV and cover letter (both in pdf format) outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Thursday 29th October. The cover letter should be uploaded as an additional document.   

Use of AI tools 

Here at Penguin, we believe in the power of authenticity and human creativity. When you apply for a position, we want to encourage you to showcase your unique voice. Throughout our recruitment process, please share your own thoughts, experiences and skills. This helps us get a true sense of who you are and what you might bring to our team. 

We celebrate creativity and diverse perspectives, so please be yourself! While we recognise AI tools can be helpful, we recommend using them thoughtfully to ensure your responses reflect you. 

Disability Confident 

As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt-in on their application form. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview.  

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable with, for us to support your request. 

Additional Information

Disclosure requirements pertaining to the collection of your personal data:

Responsible for processing the information provided in your application is the company specified in the job advertisement, with its registered office as indicated. The company processes your data for the purpose of establishing an employment relationship on the basis of Art. 6 (1) b GDPR / Section 26 (1) sentence 1 BDSG.

The retention period for your data is determined by the statutory time limits applicable in the respective country, beginning upon completion of the recruitment process. You can find these here.

You can contact the company’s Data Protection Officer at the above-mentioned postal address. 

Further information on data protection and your rights can be found here.
 

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