Senior Sales Manager

Senior Sales Manager – Field-Based
Salary: Circa £50,000 base salary + Uncapped bonus
Location: Field-Based – East & West Sussex, M23 Corridor & Kent
Benefits: Company Car + Uncapped Earning Potential
We’ve partnered with a fast-growing foodservice distribution business that is continuing to invest heavily in its people, commercial capability and future growth.
Supplying restaurants, pubs, hospitality groups, bakeries and multi-site operators, the business has built a strong reputation around service, relationships and doing what it says it will do.
As part of the next stage of growth, they’re now looking to appoint an experienced Senior Sales Manager to help strengthen their presence across East and West Sussex, the M23 corridor and surrounding areas, with flexibility to consider strong candidates based in Kent too.
The Opportunity
This is a senior, field-led commercial role with a major focus on winning new business, developing larger accounts and building long-term customer relationships.
You’ll be expected to get out into the market, open doors and target opportunities across pub groups, hospitality groups, multi-site operators and larger independent foodservice customers.
This is not a desk-based sales management role.
You will personally own a sales target, spend the majority of your time in front of customers and prospects, and play a key role in increasing market share across a strategically important territory.
You’ll also have leadership responsibility, initially supporting at least one Area Sales Manager, while continuing to remain highly active commercially yourself, with the motivation to grow and develop a larger, highly successful team.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Identifying and winning new foodservice business across your territory
* Targeting larger independents, pub groups, hospitality groups and multi-site operators
* Building and converting a strong pipeline through prospecting, networking and face-to-face engagement
* Developing long-term relationships with key decision-makers
* Negotiating pricing and commercial agreements while protecting margin
* Growing existing accounts where appropriate
* Increasing revenue, product penetration and gross profit
* Supporting and coaching an Area Sales Manager
* Maintaining accurate CRM activity, forecasts and pipeline visibility
* Working closely with Sales, Telesales, Procurement and Operations to ensure customer expectations are delivered
About You
We’re looking for someone who enjoys being out in the market and creating opportunities.
You’ll ideally bring:
* Strong field sales, business development or commercial account management experience
* A proven track record of winning significant new accounts
* Experience within foodservice, food, drink or a closely aligned FMCG environment
* Experience selling into hospitality, pubs, restaurants, leisure or multi-site operators
* Strong commercial understanding around pricing, margin and gross profit
* Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills
* Experience coaching or supporting other salespeople
* Strong CRM and pipeline management discipline
* A full UK driving licence
Most importantly, you’ll be proactive, resilient, commercially focused and comfortable working autonomously in a genuinely field-led role.
Location & Territory
The initial focus is across East and West Sussex, particularly the corridor between Eastbourne and Worthing and upwards towards the M23 & Kent.
Strong locations include:
Crawley, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Uckfield, Lewes, Hailsham, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Brighton & Hove, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing and Worthing.
However, the territory can be adapted around the right individual, so strong candidates based across Kent, including Maidstone and surrounding areas, will also be considered.
What’s On Offer
* Circa £50,000 base salary
* Uncapped bonus / commission
* Company car
* Home and field-based working
* Real autonomy across your territory
* Opportunity to win and develop significant new accounts
* Leadership responsibility with scope to grow
* Genuine progression as the commercial team continues to expand
If you’re an experienced foodservice sales professional who still enjoys getting out into the market, opening doors and winning new business, this could be a brilliant opportunity to make a real impact within a growing organisation
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed