SWEET PROTECTION Country Sales Manager Germany & Austria

Sweet Protection blends industry-leading innovation with the finest craftsmanship available to create the safest and most advanced helmets, eyewear, protective gear, and apparel for cycling, paddling, skiing, and snowboarding. Sweet Protection strives to inspire every outdoor enthusiast – from World Cup ski racers to the weekend warrior out with their kids and everyone in between – to give them the confidence to go further and faster. If you aren’t able to push your own limits, we aren’t doing our job.

About the Role

The Country Sales Manager will strategically develop the Sweet Protection brand in Germany and Austria while achieving defined sales results. This person will utilize his/her experience and network to drive our key account business while continuing to provide best-in-class support to the best specialty shops in the region. Manage and constantly service the Agents and/or Sales Force to ensure best-in-class performance and representation for the brand. As Sales Manager you will report to Active Brands Sales Director Central Europe.

Location: Southern Bavaria

Start: As soon as possible

As Country Sales Manager Germany & Austria, you will be responsible for:

• Manage key retail partner relationships; directly define and lead the key account process with the top strategic accounts
  
• Manage and coordinate direct reports, agents and cross-functional teams (marketing, sales, customer service, finance, operations)
• Implement commercial strategies according to company/brand vision to realize regional objectives
• Using defined key metrics to analyse sales, marketing, and financial results to gain insights into how to improve performance and maximize growth. Prepare reports for management when required
• Development and ownership of the Go-to-Market plan with a clear strategy and prioritization on online partners, best-in-class specialty partnerships, segmentation and brand-building activities
• Alignment of GTM strategies with Digital and Marketing teams to maximize consumer connection, brand positioning and financial objectives
• Define seasonal pricing, margin, and sales terms; targets for the business by salesperson and account, monitoring execution to realize the target
• Proactively review the weekly order book management with reporting
• Actively participate in local, regional and global meetings on strategy, business reviews, product and marketing as required
• Build and maintain profitable partnerships with key stakeholders internally and externally
• Overall responsible for all sales pre-orders, in-season orders, and clearance
• Participate and contribute during seasonal product planning meetings
• Fluent in professional German both written and oral

To be successful in the role of Country Sales Manager, we expect that you have the following:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business or a related field
• Experience and understanding of the need to work within the G&A market-appropriate environment while maintaining the brand objectives
• Proven experience as a sales manager/director or a similar role in the outdoor/active lifestyle apparel industry
• Exceptional people management experience (at least 3 years) and ability to lead Country Team
• Experience in working across borders and cultures is a plus
• Ability to work at a strategic level within the account but at the same time manage the detail
• Experience with short and long-term planning, execution, and follow-up
• Solid knowledge of performance reporting and financial/budgeting processes
• Experience in the digital arena and understanding of the future importance of channel
• Proven success with key partners such as Sport Schuster, Bergfreunde or Sport Scheck.
• Commercial expertise with a solid understanding of other business functions
• Proven ability to manage strong growth and build/change a team to support it
• Experience in working across borders and cultures

We also believe you have these personal attributes:

• You have a passion for sports, especially biking and/or skiing
• You have a strategic and analytical mindset
• Goal-oriented, persuasive, and able to work well both independently and as part of a team, problem-solving skills are highly valued
• You have strong communication skills and building strong relationships comes easily to you
• Straight forward, transparent communication style and leads by example, willing to roll up sleeves and be part of the execution
• You want to take part in developing Sweet Protection further as a brand
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate across all lev