US Sales & International Business Development Director

Job title: US Sales & International Business Development Director

Reports to: Managing Director, Children’s UK Trade

Location: London

Imprints: Templar, Big Picture Press, Hot Key, Piccadilly, Hatch and Studio Press

Salary range: Depending on experience

General Summary

Bonnier Books UK is a leading UK-based publishing company with a rich history and a diverse portfolio of high-quality Children’s books across various genres. We are committed to fostering creativity, sharing powerful stories, and connecting with readers worldwide.

Purpose

• Forging strategic partnerships : Establishing impactful international publishing collaborations.
• Content powerhouse: Leading the creation of diverse, globally appealing content across formats and genres.
• Visionary strategist: Crafting and presenting compelling business plans with ambitious revenue projections.
• Exploring uncharted territories : Identifying and unlocking new revenue streams in print, audio, and digital formats across the globe.
• Growth champion: Embracing a growth mindset to uncover and cultivate innovative global business opportunities.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced US sales & international business development director to join our team and lead our sales efforts and custom publishing programme in this crucial market. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and results-oriented leader to play a pivotal role in expanding our reach and impact globally.

The chosen candidate will manage and expand BBUK Children’s Trade Books sales in North America (USA and Canada), primarily in English language, selling to new and existing customers as well as managing a large key account. The role requires sales targets to be set and met, and to be supported with a strategy to maximise sales across the year and develop the target market.

They will build strong relationships with a variety of different customers (from publishers to special sales customers, libraries to retail outlets) in order to develop a profitable custom publishing programme. As such, the right candidate will need to be confident fostering a cohesive approach within the Rights and Export businesses, securing buy-in from internal and external stakeholders for group-wide international sales success.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

• Manage and maximise sales in North America, including the management of key account partner as well as increasing sales with other existing and new customers

• Meeting sales targets across the Bonnier Books UK children’s trade co-edition imprints (Templar, Big Picture Press and Studio Press)

• Management of a key account partner, with a value approximately 70% of the roles annual target. Management includes bi-monthly WIP meetings with key contacts, attending and presenting at publication launches, and management of sales, editorial, production, and marketing across new books.

• Liaising with internal colleagues and departments to further promote new books, reformats of existing books and special sales development for the key account and US customers

• Budget forecasting and agreeing strategy for the designated markets with the department directors and monitoring progress against budget to ensure targets are met

• Negotiation of prices and schedules with customers in accordance with business target margins and parameters

• Grow and develop new accounts and publishing avenues in North America

• Contribute to publishing acquisition meetings

• Communicate clearly with the relevant publishing teams on customer feedback and provide market knowledge and experience

• Identify business and publishing trends in North American markets

• Ensure internal systems and processes are followed and maintained

• The role will require a substantial amount of foreign travel during business-as-usual. The successful candidate will need to be available to travel to bookfairs in Europe where appropriate (usually twice per year – Frankfurt and Bologna) as well as visiting clients within the territory (typically eight to ten times per year during business-as-usual).

Skills and Experience

• Some previous sales and business knowledge of North American book markets is essential

• At least eight years of experience in Rights and Co-edition Sales, within publishing

• An in-depth knowledge of competitors in the marketplace

• Excellent presentation skills and interpersonal skills

• Developed problem solving and trouble-shooting skills

• A positive can-do attitude

• Strong commercial awareness, with excellent sales and negotiation skills

• Budget management and organisational skills

• Excellent problem solving and trouble-shooting skills

• Ability and willingness to travel independently.

• Some knowledge of Biblio, plus Microsoft Office, Word/Excel/PowerPoint (intermediate to advanced)

Competitive Salary

Working with a team of passionate, talented people

Internal learning and development programmes

Career Development opportunities

Fun social events