Special Sales Executive (FTC Maternity Cover)
London, GB, Wc1X 8Hb
Sales
London
Fixed term contract
Simon & Schuster UK is one of the leading general book publishing companies in the UK and is named Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards 2023. The group is based in London with sister companies in the United States, Canada, Australia and India. Within the UK division, there are four imprints: Gallery, Scribner, Simon & Schuster; and Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, which publish a wide and eclectic mix of authors ranging across commercial fiction, literary fiction, general non-fiction and children’s publications. Home to bestselling authors and award winners, Simon & Schuster UK is a publishing house of quality writing and a proud home to its authors and their exceptional work. It also runs a sales and distribution service for a number of independent and international publishers including Andrews McMeel, Black Library, Boom! Studios, Elliott & Thompson, Gallup Press, Inner Traditions, Rebellion and VIZ Media.
Simon & Schuster International is dedicated to publishing a broad and diverse range of books for everyone, representative of the world around us. They are committed to working with and supporting writers, illustrators, and other creative partners from all walks of life, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, nationality, religion or belief, age, social or economic circumstance.
About the Adult Sales Division
The Adult Sales Division publishes best-selling authors such as Santa Montefiore, Philippa Gregory, Colleen Hoover, Taylor Jenkins-Reid and Kathy Reichs in fiction and Dave Grohl, John Nicol, Richard E. Grant and Bob Mortimer in non-fiction.
About the role
We are currently looking to recruit a Special Sales Executive to join our Special Sales team on a Fixed-Term, 9-12 months contract for a maternity cover.
The Special Sales Executive will:
• Manage and grow sales of our adult fiction, non-fiction, client and distributed books into UK’s special sales retailers and wholesalers, including major gift, subscription boxes, high street, religious, manga, museum/gallery, and MBS specialists.
• Manage sales of our adult fiction, non-fiction, client and distributed books for authors, book events managed outside of bookshops, book campaigns and other special sales opportunities within the UK.
• Use their market knowledge and understanding of individual accounts to formulate customer specific strategies, i.e. create exclusive product outside of normal publishing plans.
Responsibilities
1. To visit customers at store/head office locations/zoom on a regular basis and manage allocated special sales accounts.
2. To report to, liaise with and provide support for the Head of Special Sales.
3. To be responsible for additional sales-related activity within territory. This would include:
- Identifying and targeting new customers.
- Managing one-off orders and queries.
- Developing and maintaining understanding of territory.
- Preparing and presenting front and backlist presentations and associated sales material.
- Organising and managing the creation of additional required material for customers (e.g. signed copies, bookplates, author letters/videos etc.).
- Circulating sales information and stock reports to customers through active, consistent mailing lists.
4. To be responsible for providing information to support decision-making process in acquisitions.
5. To be a focal member for the special sales market in the sales team, liaising clearly and constructively across all departments and aspects of the business.
6. To be responsible for maintaining own awareness of product range in order to sell effectively.
7. To be responsible for liaising with HarperCollins to ensure orders processed are delivered and invoiced accurately, as well as being responsible for processing customer invoices, and using Navision (S&S invoicing system) to process order costs.
8. To liaise with other departments (e.g., editorial, production and design) to create and sell special editions to specialist subscription box customers, with a view to growing sales potential in this area of the market.
Experience (essential)
• Working within a team but ability to work on projects alone.
• Customer facing experience.
• Working with Excel and Power Point.
Experience (nice to have)
• Some background in publishing would be preferred but not essential.
Working at S&S
Some of our benefits include:
● 25 days holiday + bank holidays
● Office closure between Christmas and New Year
● 8% Employer pension contribution
● Life Assurance
● 1 charity volunteer day for causes that you are passionate about
● If eligible, work from home Stipend
● Group Income Protection (Risk Benefit)
● Health Cash Plan
● Eyecare vouchers
● Employee Assistance Programme
● Free Pilates and Yoga sessions
● Fresh fruit delivered to the office every Wednesday
● Free Massage session each month
● Discounts and rewards with participating retailers via The Benefit Store
● Free eBooks and audiobook
Starting salary from £30,000 per annum.
Apply
Closing date: 19 June 2023
Please apply by attaching your CV and cover letter. Successful applicants will be shortlisted for an initial screening. If your application is progressed, you will then be asked to attend formal competency-based interview.
If you require any adjustments at interview, such as extra time or breaks etc, please let a member of the recruitment team know once they’ve been in touch.
Simon & Schuster UK is an equal opportunities employer committed to the goal of building a culturally diverse workforce. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.