Regional Sales Director - Mid-Atlantic

WHO WE ARELindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.
Lindblad Expeditions is seeking a Regional Sales Director for the Mid-Atlantic region. This role will be responsible for sales and marketing initiatives to develop, maintain, and service travel advisor relationships to drive revenue within an assigned territory (DC, MD, VA, WV, GA, NC, SC, KY, TN, MS, and AL).
Candidates must understand small ship expedition travel, be able to communicate the sales benefits effectively, and live within the assigned region. This position requires a self-motivated individual with excellent written and oral communication skills. This home-based position reports to the Vice President of Field Sales and will work with a collaborative sales team to reach and exceed overall company goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Create a strategic plan for the region to reach and exceed sales and revenue goals, and to contribute to North America and overall company goals. 
• Grow profitable sales through new and existing accounts.  
• Develop engagement with existing accounts through product training, communication, sales incentives, and marketing. 
• Leverage Salesforce for client relationship management and reporting. 
• Identify new accounts and opportunities. 
• Build collaborative sales and marketing plans for key accounts with specific sales targets.  
• Conduct regular in-person sales calls on a pre-planned weekly and monthly basis within the given territory.  
• Provide clients with regular and informative updates on productivity and progress; inspire and influence them to reach sales goals. 
• Analyze, track and report sales in region to management, and identify successes and opportunities.  
• Conduct influential and engaging product training and sales presentations. 
• Provide relevant content, assets, and offers to accounts for timely promotion to drive sales. 
• Represent company at regional and national industry trade shows, seminars, and events to promote Lindblad Expeditions.  
• Assist in coordination of ship inspections and onboard educational opportunities.  
• Manage an established regional budget for partner marketing, events, and travel. 
• Work in collaboration with the sales team to develop sales, training, and marketing tools for the retail travel trade.  
• Contribute innovative solutions, client feedback, competitive intelligence, and support to sales and marketing. 
• Perform other duties as required. 

Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of Expedition travel.
• Minimum 5 years of sales experience in the expedition cruise, adventure, or luxury travel industry, including a demonstrable track record of revenue growth.  
• Strong relationships with US Retail Agencies, Wholesaler and Tour Operator markets.
• Bachelor’s degree or comparable industry experience.
• Creative, resourceful, and solution-oriented.
• Extremely sound organizational, management and communication skills, including public speaking. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and handle multiple tasks.
• Must be able to travel 50-75%, and work remotely (home-based position).
• Must be based in the assigned territory (DC, MD, VA, WV, GA, NC, SC, KY, TN, MS, or AL).

Other Skills / Abilities:

• Proficient computer skills in the Windows operating system, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Webinar software; CRM, and social media.
• A working knowledge of Seaware and Salesforce desirable.
• Strong skills in time management, handling multiple tasks, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines. 
• The ability to work independently as well as with others in a team environment. 

OUR BENEFITS• Travel benefits for employees and their family • Voyage of Discovery trips for employees to travel as guests  • Health insurance including Medical, Dental, Vision  • 401(k) plan with employer match  • Long-Term Disability, Life & AD&D Insurance• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to be used for out-of-pocket medical and dependent care  • Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit  • 7-8 Paid Holidays• 2-3 Floating Holiday Options (pro-rated per start date)• Up to 15 days of vacation (pro-rated per anniversary year)• Parental Leave• Sick/personal days per city & state ordinance• Pet Insurance discou