Sales Manager Spain - Retail

The Company

Our client is a prestigious international retail player with a strong presence across Europe, operating both online and through over 1,800 physical stores. With an annual turnover of 4.1 billion and a team of approximately 18,000 employees, the company stands out for its extensive product range, combining exclusive premium brands with its own proprietary label. The company is a European leader in exclusive brands and maintains a strategic focus on premium positioning with quality offerings at fair prices.

The Role

We are seeking a dynamic Sales Manager to lead retail operations across Spain, managing a network of 80 directly-operated stores (non-franchise). This role offers the opportunity to be a key facilitator in the company's strategic repositioning project focused on the principle of "less, but better" delivering quality with high margins of the Spanish market.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee 80 directly-operated stores across Spain
• Lead and develop a team of 5 Area Managers
• Drive sales performance and optimize the retail network
• Collaborate cross-functionally with procurement, visual merchandising, and other business areas
• Champion the company's premium positioning strategy in a growing Spanish market
• Travel extensively to visit stores regularly across the territory
• Attend head office meetings at least once per week

Reporting & Work Arrangement

• This role offers significant flexibility - office presence required at least once weekly (accommodation provided when in office)
• The position requires extensive travel to stores throughout Spain
• This is a field-based commercial leadership role with high autonomy

Essential Requirements

• Proven commercial/retail leadership experience ideally as Head Of Sales, Commercial Director, or similar roles with retail exposure
• Strong background in monobrand retail or fashion retail
• Ability to manage and lead through Area Managers (experience managing 4-5 people minimum)
• Business English proficiency (B1/B2 level)
• Native Spanish speaker or full professional fluency
• Dynamic personality with strong character and attention to detail
• Leadership skills and high level of commitment

Desirable Background

We are open to candidates from various retail backgrounds:

• Monobrand retail: Commercial leaders (KAMs, Commercial Directors) with retail vision
• Fashion retail: Managers with premium positioning experience
• Selective distribution: Experience in beauty/cosmetics selective retail (though the Spanish market has limited comparable players)

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with operational execution capability
• Strong cross-functional influencer who can advocate effectively for sales needs
• Detail-oriented with focus on quality over volume
• Comfortable working autonomously in a geographically dispersed role
• Adaptable to travel-intensive lifestyle

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package and company car
• Opportunity to lead operations in a high-growth Spanish market
• Flexible work arrangement with no mandatory relocation to Madrid
• Be part of a successful European retail leader with strong growth trajectory
• Involvement in strategic repositioning toward premium quality focus

The Spanish market represents significant growth opportunity, particularly in the premium segment. The company has successfully completed a restructuring phase following acquisitions and is now in a strong positive trajectory. This role offers the chance to build on solid foundations and drive the next phase of strategic development.