Overview
Head of SalesLir Chocolates, Navan, County Meath, Ireland (Hybrid) Lir Chocolates is a premium confectionery brand, renowned for crafting high-quality chocolate products. As part of Zertus UK&I, we are seeking an experienced and results-driven Head of Sales to lead our commercial strategy, drive growth, and expand our presence in Ireland and export markets. The Head of Sales will be responsible for delivering budgeted sales and margin targets by strategically managing all commercial aspects of key customer accounts. This includes leading a small team of Account Managers to ensure sales and gross margin targets are met within the agreed spend budget. As a key member of the Lir site leadership team, this role involves close collaboration with commercial, finance, planning, NPD, and operational teams to drive success.
Responsibilities
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing sales team, setting clear goals and driving accountability.Formulate and execute growth strategies for Ireland and all export territories.Support the Commercial Director in shaping and delivering the overall commercial strategy.Champion customer needs within the business to ensure exceptional service and account satisfaction.Manage relationships with key retail and distributor contacts, negotiating commercial terms and JBPs.Work closely with Demand Planning and Supply Chain teams to maintain a 98.5% Customer Service Level (CSL).Identify new routes to market and drive strategic expansion opportunities.Drive brand growth in international markets, managing multiple distributors.Work with the Diageo partnership to expand Baileys and Guinness-branded products in key territories.Work with NPD and Innovation teams to shape product development strategies.Engage with UK teams, including Marketing, to align brand strategies and commercial initiatives.
Qualifications
Extensive experience in FMCG sales, ideally within confectionery or snacking.Proven track record of brand growth in both domestic and export markets.Strong people management and leadership experience, with the ability to develop high-performing teams.Expertise in managing distributors and implementing successful export strategies.Highly commercially astute and numerate, with experience in CPI negotiations, JBP implementation, and sales/margin growth.Strong relationship management skills, with experience developing strategic partnerships with retailers and distributors.Well-organised, proactive, and capable of managing multiple projects effectively.Understanding of factory processes and experience working with NPD/Innovation teams.Experience working with Diageo or similar partnerships is a plus.
Rewards Benefits
Car allowance.Annual bonus plan up to 15% of salary per year.Begin with 24 days of annual leave, progressively increasing by an extra day each year until you reach 25 days, in addition to public holidays. Employee Assistance Programme.Holiday Purchase Salary Sacrifice Scheme – buy up to one extra week per year (subject to meeting minimum criteria). Death In Service Benefit.Company Pension Plan at 1.5%.Family friendly policies such as hybrid working opportunities and 12 weeks of paid maternity leave after one year of service. Cycle to Work Salary Sacrifice Scheme (subject to meeting minimum criteria). Hybrid working opportunities.Annual engagement calendar covering an array of activities and educational events promoting diversity and inclusion. Participate in supporting your local community with opportunities to spend one day per year volunteering or fundraising and gain company-matched sponsorship.Company Wellbeing agenda including annual Wellbeing Week, Menopause Support Group and Mental Health First Aid programme.Access to staff shops with exclusive discounts.Monthly employee recognition scheme via the ‘Zertus Values Awards’.Recruitment Refer a Friend rewards.Training and Development Opportunities (Leadership courses, External qualifications, Professional memberships).
About Us
At Lir, we stand as a forefront provider of premium chocolates to prominent retailers globally. Our ethos revolves around creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and a relentless pursuit of innovation. Operating from two cutting-edge manufacturing plants in Navan, County Meath, we are dedicated to the art and enchantment of crafting hand-finished and hand-decorated chocolates based on both traditional recipes and gloriously unfamiliar new combinations.
Application & Interview Process
Lir Chocolates are an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Your application will be reviewed as part of our selection process. If you’re shortlisted, a member of our Recruitment or HR team will contact you by phone or email (please check your junk mail). From there, if you advance, your application will be shared with the hiring manager for further review. If selected, you will be invited to a two stage interview process. Please let us know if you require any special arrangements or adjustments to be made for your interview by speaking with the Talent Acquisition team at application stage. The provision of this information is likely to include special category data and is therefore covered by data protection laws. We ask for this information so that we are fully aware of any adjustments needed and we will use the information provided to inform our decisions about making those changes.