Embody the company's mission and values with a strong commitment to faith-based work
Direct and expand trade retail channel partnerships in Christian retail, general market outlets like Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, mass market distribution via Readerlink, and ministry and specialty accounts
Recruit, guide, mentor, and develop the Trade Retail and Distribution Sales team, establishing clear performance standards and supporting career advancement and succession planning
Create and implement innovative strategic account growth plans, including selling new releases, backlist catalog, and custom publishing solutions to increase market share
Collaborate across departments such as Publishing, Marketing, Finance, Creative, and IT to align priorities and develop go-to-market strategies that boost sales and market share for all company brands
Develop and manage annual revenue budgets, forecast channel performance, and oversee expense management to ensure profitable year-over-year growth
Handle account negotiations including discount structures and co-op agreements, and cultivate strong relationships with account buying, marketing, and merchandising teams
Drive a consistent annual growth target across all domestic trade channels with full responsibility for top-line and bottom-line results
Travel moderately, typically overnight, with occasional seasonal peaks

Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Communication, or a related field
Over 10 years of progressive sales experience across multiple retail and distribution channels, including Christian retail, general market, mass market, and specialty or ministry partners
Over 7 years of sales management experience leading and developing sales teams
Over 5 years of experience in the publishing industry with strong market knowledge
Proven expertise in trade sales strategy and ability to drive revenue and market share growth across diverse channel partners
Strong financial and P&L acumen, including budget management and accountability for profitable revenue
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to present confidently to executive and external audiences
Moderate domestic travel, typically overnight
Active involvement in an evangelical Christian church

Master's degree
Experience with channel forecasting, demand planning, and managing a multi-brand product portfolio
Existing relationships with key trade retail and distribution accounts
Experience using Salesforce CRM
Experience supporting or managing custom publishing programs

Remote position in the U.S. with occasional travel to Nashville for in-person team gatherings

Remote position in the U.S. with occasional travel to Nashville for in-person team gatherings
Moderate domestic travel, typically overnight, sometimes seasonally heavy
Full-time employees are eligible for enrollment in comprehensive benefits plans

hq-lifeway is hiring a Director, Trade Sales

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