Head of Brand Sales & Marketing - Next Sourcing Brands

At ‘Next Sourcing’, we are seeking an entrepreneurial and visionary leader to take on the role of ‘Head of Brands Sales & Marketing’, focused on our licensed and direct brands portfolio. This role will be based in the Next Head Office in Leicester, UK with frequent travel required to Market Harborough and London. If you are a professional seeking an opportunity to excel in one of the fastest-growing sectors within the Next Group, this role presents an exciting prospect. In this capacity, you will lead a team of Sales Managers.

Next Sourcing is a fully owned subsidiary of Next PLC, operating as its global sourcing office for apparel and footwear. We are committed to excellence across the end-to-end sourcing process, from product development through to production, partnering with suppliers to deliver high-quality products and exceptional value. We have sourcing offices across 9 countries and work with manufacturers based in 11 countries, enabling us to deliver a global perspective and high-quality products efficiently. We support the Next brand, as well as licensed and direct brands within the wider Next portfolio.

The Role
We are looking for a passionate and experienced leader to head our License & Direct Brands Sales team, driving growth and partnerships exclusively for licensed and direct brands, while excluding the Next-owned brand. Some of our existing licence partner brands include Ted Baker Kids, All Saints Kids, Ted Baker Women’s Non Clothing, Little Bird, Clarks Kids, Laura Ashley Women’s & Women’s Non Clothing and existing direct & partner brands include The Set, Joules, Victoria’s Secret, Gap Kids, Jojo Maman Bebe and Reiss. As the ‘Head of Brands Sales & Marketing’ you will be at the forefront of driving’ Next Sourcing Brands’ sales, by marketing our offers to both existing and potential new brand clients. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact and be an integral part of our growth story.

What You’ll Take On
As Head of Brands Sales & Marketing, you will be responsible for:

• Formulating and executing effective sales and marketing strategies that will drive sales forward for our company.
• Leading a team of Sales Managers, monitoring sales performance and providing guidance, motivation and support to improve results.
• Tracking and analysing sales targets to measure the effectiveness, identifying areas for improvement, and reporting to senior management.
• Leading the promotion of Next Sourcing’s offerings, and providing ongoing updates to existing and potential brand clients, clearly communicating our capabilities, value proposition, and competitive advantages to drive engagement and growth.
• Engage in frequent travel to Market Harborough and London to meet with customers, clearly communicating our product capabilities and strengths.
• Effectively manage and cultivate relationships with our customers & sourcing offices, ensuring their ongoing satisfaction and success.
• Provide leadership and oversight on customer and sourcing office exceptions, ensuring a solutions-focused approach to issue resolution while maintaining overall accountability and influencing stakeholders to deliver successful outcomes.
• Leading the sales teams in collaborating closely with sourcing teams to ensure product feasibility, accurate costing, and timely delivery.
• Keep up-to-date with industry trends, market dynamics, and emerging technologies to stay ahead of the competition and adapt strategies accordingly.
• Inspiring, mentoring, and developing your team to reach their full potential.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in leading brand partnerships and sales teams, with strong negotiation and communication skills.
• A deep understanding of sourcing and manufacturing operations, including product development, production processes, garment costing, production timelines, and factory-level constraints.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills, which are essential for fostering successful collaborations and alliances.
• Outstanding analytical and strategic thinking abilities to identify and capitalise on market opportunities.
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, working collaboratively with diverse teams.
• Exceptional organisational and project management skills to ensure successful execution of initiatives.
• Passion for brands, market trends, and innovation, with a track record of delivering growth.

This is an exciting opportunity to take overall accountability for both driving sales and shaping marketing strategy, while leading a talented team at the forefront of Next Sourcing Brands growth.

We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.

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Benefits