Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Lifeway Christian Resources is a faith-based organization serving churches and readers through Christian resources. The Director, Trade Sales will lead and grow external trade retail partnerships, develop strategic account and revenue growth plans, manage the sales team, and collaborate cross-functionally to expand market share and achieve profitable growth.
Responsibilities
- Lives out Lifeway’s mission and values, showing deep commitment to Kingdom work
- Lead and grow Lifeway's trade retail channel partnerships across Christian retail, general market (Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million), mass market distribution (Readerlink), and ministry and specialty accounts
- Hire, coach, mentor, and develop the Trade Retail and Distribution Sales team, setting clear performance expectations and supporting career growth and succession planning
- Build and execute innovative strategic account growth plans including the sell-in of new releases, backlist catalog, and custom publishing solutions to expand market share
- Partner cross-functionally with Publishing, Marketing, Finance, Creative, and IT to align priorities and develop go-to-market strategies that grow sales and market share across all Lifeway brands
- Develop and manage annual revenue budgets, forecast channel performance, and oversee expense management to ensure profitable year-over-year growth
- Oversee account negotiations including discount structures and co-op agreements, and build strong relationships with account buying, marketing, and merchandising teams
- Drive a consistent annual growth target of across all domestic trade channels with full top- and bottom-line accountability
- Moderate travel, typically overnight, sometimes seasonally heavy
Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Communication, or a related field, required
- 10+ years of progressive sales experience across multiple retail and distribution channels including Christian retail, general market, mass market, and specialty/ministry partners
- 7+ years of sales management experience leading and developing sales teams
- 5+ years of experience in the publishing industry with strong knowledge of the market
- Demonstrated expertise in trade sales strategy and the ability to drive revenue and market share growth across diverse channel partners
- Strong financial and P&L acumen including budget management and profitable revenue accountability
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present confidently to executive and external audiences
- Moderate domestic travel, typically overnight
- Actively involved in an evangelical Christian church
- Master's degree, *preferred*
- * 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
Benefits
- Work from Anywhere (WFA) culture with autonomy and flexibility with work hours
- Remote-eligible positions
- Equipment and resources to ensure team members have access to a productive and ergonomic workspace
- All-team meetings several times per year
- Travel provided for key team gatherings for remote-based team members
- For full-time employees: enrollment in comprehensive healthcare benefits plans
- Vacation and sick time
- Holiday pay
- Care days
- 401(k) plan
- Maternity and parental leave
- Adoption assistance
- Mission trip time
Company Overview