Director of Sales

Description

Dark Horse Comics is seeking an experienced sales leader to drive our Direct Market strategy and shape the future of comic book retail sales. As our new Director of Sales (Direct Market) you will drive initiatives that expand our reach in comic shops worldwide and serve as the vital link between Dark Horse, our distributors, and thousands of comic book retailers. Do you envision yourself as the catalyst who elevates our market presence through innovative sales strategies? If you are driven by results and are eager to shape the future of comic sales, this role offers you the platform to a lasting impact. We need someone who will manage the company’s retailer-exclusive variant comics program, working closely with retailers. Ideal candidates will bring a proven track record in leadership, strategic sales management, and a deep passion for the comic book industry.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic plans to increase sales of new releases in the Direct Market, working with distributor representatives and with the Marketing and Trade (book market) Sales teams at Dark Horse
• Provide sales projections and estimates for weekly review meetings with stakeholders for new project consideration (Costing)
• Provide weekly print run estimates for projected sales in the Direct Market based on pre-order data, in collaboration with the Marketing and Trade Sales teams
• Compile and share comprehensive reports of Direct Market sales data on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis, including postmortems for projections and actual sales
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to conduct ongoing market research 
  • Utilize data to inform sales and marketing initiatives, sales projections, and print run recommendations
• Oversee an effective retailer exclusive comics variant program, collaborating with Custom Projects, Marketing, and other stakeholders
• Assist the Marketing team with uploading metadata to the distributor system and maintaining monthly solicits with updates
• Create and present monthly catalog details of upcoming comic/book solicitations to global distributor representatives
• Represent the company at trade shows and other industry events, as needed
• Stay informed about industry trends, reader preferences, and competitor activities
• Oversee positive customer service for the Direct Market retail community, business partners, licensors, and creators as this pertains to the role

Requirements

• Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and at least 5 years of Direct Market experience demonstrating increasing responsibility and management skills
• High level of familiarity with the Direct (comics) Market, bookstore, and/or collectibles retail market and multi-tiered distribution
• Experience with product management, from inception and costing to sales and inventory control
• Strong analytical, planning, forecasting and budgeting/financial skills
• Strong public speaking and both verbal and written communication skills
• Capable with software and applications including Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite. Mac iOS proficiency preferred.
• Ability to be proactive and work independently as well as part of a team, and consult with and keep stakeholders informed
• Ability to prioritize and multitask to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong project management skills, highly organized, and excellent attention to detail
• Proven ability to maintain a professional demeanor in work-related settings 
• Some overnight travel may be required for trade shows and industry events

Why This Role?

You will have the opportunity to work in close collaboration with Dark Horse’s representatives at Penguin Random House Publisher Services to ensure unparalleled service to Direct Market retailers in the global market. As one of the comic industry’s leading publishers Dark Horse offers a platform where you can directly shape an industry renowned line-up of incredible creator driven works. 

Benefits

• 401k Employer Match up to 4%
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Rx 
• Employer-sponsored life insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Voluntary Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital indemnity voluntary insurance
• Generous PTO package
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available to all members of your household
• Employee Referral Program
• Employee Anniversary Gifting Program
• Free Comics
• Additional Freebies & Discounts