Sales Executive, Open Markets (12mths FTC)

The Role

This Sales Executive position will provide admin support to the Open Market sales team and act as a point of contact for our customers including providing regular flow of information and sales materials. This role will cover the HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperFiction, HarperNonFiction, William Collins & 4th Estate, Harlequin and Farshore divisions.

The role covers the Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Caribbean and Latin American markets. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking to secure their first role in publishing, working in the British Book Awards 2023 winner of Exporter of the Year team.  This role will provide the opportunity to build commercial sales knowledge and gain exposure to multiple publishing divisions. This role may involve attending book fairs and supporting across wider sales-based projects from time to time.  

Key responsibilities

• General sales administration including answering customer queries, raising proformas and liaising with Customer Services to support both the UK and overseas based sales managers

• Produce and maintain sales material including order forms, sales presentations and the Schools and Libraries catalogue.  This will include building strong relationships with the publishing divisions to ensure information and images are correct and up to date.

• Running reports to share with the team (and/or customers where appropriate) including subscription and sales, supressed titles, regular schedule change notifications so they are aware of the latest pub dates, prices, formats and additions etc

• Work with European Sales Manager on provision of material for customer trade catalogues.

• Assisting with preparations and planning for London Book Fair and Frankfurt Book fair

• Assist Sales Managers with trip preparation and follow-up as required.

• Create and send email blasts and newsletters to customer base on a regular basis.

• Work with each divisional contact to request, allocate and send marketing materials to customers including proofs, point of sale material, giveaways etc.  Then alerting customers to what is available and tracking their requests.  This will also involve maintaining customer mailing lists and either providing details to external mailing house or carrying out mailings from the office. 

• Work with Marketing & Communications Manager and Sales Exec to put together sales catalogues for Bookfairs

• Collate and share book assets with Sales Managers and customers

Experience required

• Experience of working within an office environment

• Administration experience

• Knowledge or experience of customer service practices, preferred but not essential

• Interest and passion for books and keen to develop knowledge of the industry

Skills required

• Organisation and time management including being able to multi-task and prioritise

• Communication and inter-personal skills both written and verbal

• Good eye for detail

• Creative thinking and suggest new ideas with ability to use initiative

• Problem solving skills

• Literate in Microsoft Office

Benefits 

Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office) 

28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days) 

Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave 

Private healthcare cover and life assurance 

Summer Hours  

Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal 

Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme 

Relocation Rent Support Loan  

Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work and Pride at HC 

Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes 

Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers 

Gym membership discount 

Onsite physiotherapy (London only) 

Charitable donation matching and  2 volunteering days 

We're a certified Carbon Neutral company 

Free e-books and audiobooks, newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books 

Subsidised canteen and retail discounts 

Onsite prayer room

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to our Talent Acquisition Manager at [email removed - click apply for more details] with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.