National Field Sales Lead

JOB PURPOSE:The National Field Sales Director leads and develops the nationwide field-sales organisation supporting the Home Care and Beauty businesses in France. This is a significant commercial leadership and transformation role. The successful candidate will ensure continuity and strong business performance while shaping the future of the field-sales organisation. The role is responsible for translating commercial strategy into excellent in-store execution, strengthening organisational capability and accelerating the adoption of data, digital tools and new ways of working. The National Field Sales Director will lead a large, geographically dispersed organisation and balance commercial ambition with responsible people leadership, sustainable workload and employee safety.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership and organisational development* Lead, coach and develop a nationwide field-sales organisation of approximately 180 employees, including Regional Sales Managers and Account Managers.
* Create an inclusive, collaborative and performance-focused environment in which people can develop and contribute at their best.
* Strengthen leadership capability through coaching, training, succession planning and talent development.
* Lead organisational change responsibly, balancing performance expectations with employee engagement, sustainable workload and safety.
* Navigate complex stakeholder and employee-relations environments with sound judgement and sensitivity. Commercial strategy and execution* Define and execute the national field-sales strategy for the Home Care and Beauty businesses, aligned with commercial priorities and business objectives.
* Ensure effective in-store execution across retail channels, improving the availability, visibility, distribution, shelving and promotional performance of Unilever brands.
* Translate national commercial priorities into clear and actionable plans for the field-sales organisation.
* Monitor commercial performance and use relevant indicators, data and insights to identify opportunities and implement corrective actions.
* Optimise the deployment of field-sales resources and trade investments to improve effectiveness and return on investment. Transformation and operational excellence* Lead operational excellence and transformation across the field-sales organisation.
* Shape and implement new ways of working that strengthen organisational effectiveness and commercial performance.
* Lead the adoption of digital sales tools and technologies across the field-sales organisation.
* Promote data-informed decision-making and build the organisation’s ability to translate insights into practical commercial actions.
* Ensure that transformation initiatives are implemented effectively across a large and geographically dispersed workforce. Collaboration and stakeholder management* Build effective partnerships with Marketing, Category Management, Key Account Management and other relevant functions.
* Align stakeholders across functions and organisational levels around common commercial priorities.
* Act as a senior sponsor and key stakeholder for strategic initiatives affecting the Home Care and Beauty businesses.
* Represent the field-sales perspective in business decisions and ensure that commercial strategies can be executed effectively in the French market.REQUIRED

QUALIFICATIONS:

* Significant leadership experience in FMCG sales, customer development or field-sales environments.
* Experience leading large, geographically dispersed field organisations through multiple management layers.
* Demonstrated experience driving commercial performance, operational excellence and organisational transformation.
* Deep understanding of the French retail and trade landscape.
* Fluent French and English.
* Ability and willingness to travel extensively throughout France.PREFERRED

QUALIFICATIONS:

* Experience in National Account Management or other customer-facing commercial leadership roles.
* Experience working in international or matrix organisations.
* Experience leading digitalisation initiatives.
* Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
* Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to challenge established ways of working constructively.