National Sales Manager - Ireland
Location: Dublin, Ireland – Hybrid
Reporting to: Managing Director / Commercial Director
Direct Reports: Area Sales Representatives, Key Account Managers, Merchandisers and other commercial personnel as the business develops

The Opportunity

Optimize Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with a long-established and highly respected Irish healthcare business as they continue to build on their success and pursue an ambitious growth strategy.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven National Sales Manager to lead the company's sales function across Ireland.

This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for developing and executing the national sales strategy, leading and developing the field sales team, managing key customer relationships and delivering ambitious commercial targets.

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the future commercial direction of the business, working closely with senior management and cross-functional teams to identify new opportunities, strengthen customer partnerships and drive sustainable growth.

About the Role

You will take overall responsibility for the performance and development of the Irish sales organisation, overseeing a field-based team covering pharmacy and healthcare channels.

The business has a strong portfolio spanning vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements and specialist healthcare products, with products distributed through pharmacies, health stores and selected retail channels nationwide.

This role requires a commercially astute leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on sales leadership and who understands how to build high-performing teams while developing strong relationships with customers at a national level.

Key Responsibilities

National Sales Strategy

• Develop and implement the national sales strategy in line with overall company objectives.
• Establish annual sales plans, budgets, forecasts and growth targets.
• Identify opportunities for market expansion, distribution growth and new business development.
• Analyse market trends, competitor activity and emerging category opportunities.
• Contribute to wider commercial strategy and business planning.
• Translate company strategy into clear and achievable objectives for the sales team.

Sales Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing national sales team.
• Recruit and onboard new sales personnel as the business grows.
• Set clear individual and team objectives and monitor performance against agreed KPIs.
• Conduct regular field visits, coaching sessions and performance reviews.
• Develop the capability, product knowledge and commercial effectiveness of the sales team.
• Establish a culture of accountability, customer focus and continuous improvement.
• Lead national sales meetings, training programmes and team development initiatives.

Key Account Management

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with major pharmacy groups, wholesalers and key customers.
• Lead high-level commercial negotiations and annual trading agreements.
• Identify opportunities to increase product listings, distribution, visibility and market share.
• Build strong relationships with senior customer stakeholders.
• Ensure consistently high standards of customer service and account management.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen and expand strategic customer partnerships.

Commercial Performance

• Deliver agreed annual sales, profit and market share objectives.
• Monitor sales performance through effective reporting, forecasting and analysis.
• Manage the national sales budget and expenditure.
• Develop robust forecasting and pipeline management processes.
• Identify underperforming areas and implement appropriate corrective action.
• Ensure effective execution of promotional and marketing programmes.
• Use commercial data and market insight to support informed decision-making.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Work closely with Marketing, Regulatory, Supply Chain and Finance.
• Support new product launches and wider commercial initiatives.
• Provide customer and market insight to support business planning.
• Contribute to pricing, promotional and channel strategies.
• Ensure strong communication and alignment between the sales function and wider business.

Market Development

• Identify emerging opportunities within the Irish pharmacy, healthcare and nutritional supplement markets.
• Monitor category trends, competitor activity and changes in customer behaviour.
• Strengthen relationships with pharmacists, healthcare professionals and industry stakeholders.
• Represent the business at relevant industry events, exhibitions and conferences.
• Identify opportunities to expand distribution and develop new channels and customers.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for an experienced sales leader who combines strong commercial acumen with genuine people leadership.

Essential Experience

• 7–10+ years' sales experience within healthcare, consumer healthcare, OTC, pharmacy, nutritional supplements or a related sector.
• 3–5+ years' experience managing a field-based sales team.
• Proven track record of delivering significant and sustainable sales growth.
• Experience managing national or strategic customer accounts.
• Strong commercial negotiation experience.
• Demonstrable financial and commercial acumen.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and people-development skills.
• Outstanding communication, presentation and influencing abilities.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
• Full, clean driving licence.

Highly Desirable

• Established relationships with Irish pharmacy groups and wholesalers.
• Experience within vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements.
• Experience working with independent pharmacies and pharmacy chains.
• Strong understanding of the Irish pharmacy and healthcare landscape.
• Experience managing multiple sales channels.
• Third-level qualification in business, marketing, science or a related discipline.

The Person

The successful candidate will be:

• Commercially ambitious and results-driven.
• A confident and inspirational people leader.
• Strategic in their thinking while remaining hands-on and commercially engaged.
• Highly analytical and comfortable working with sales data and performance metrics.
• An excellent negotiator and relationship builder.
• Organised, structured and capable of managing multiple priorities.
• Resilient, energetic and adaptable.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial and solutions-focused.
• Passionate about developing people and building high-performing sales teams.

Package

• Competitive base salary.
• Performance bonus of up to 25% of salary.
• Company vehicle or executive car allowance.
• Pension contribution.
• Private health insurance.
• Mobile phone, laptop and home office support.
• Business travel expenses.
• Professional development and leadership training.

Why This Role?

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced National Sales Manager to take a leading role within an established Irish healthcare business with ambitious growth plans.

The successful candidate will have genuine influence over the company's commercial strategy and will play a key role in developing the next stage of the sales organisation.

You will have the opportunity to lead and develop a national sales team, strengthen major customer relationships, identify new commercial opportunities and directly influence the future growth of the business.

If you are an accomplished sales leader with strong experience in the Irish pharmacy, healthcare or nutritional supplements market, this could be an excellent next step in your career.

For additional information and a confidential discussion on this National Sales Manager - Ireland position and similar opportunities contact: Aoife 056-7786631 / 086 0444833 or Aoife@optimizerecruitment.ie

Aoife is available for a call between 9am and 5.30pm daily (outside of work hours calls / meetings can be arranged upon request). 

Please submit your CV via the link provided, in confidence.

All applications will be dealt with in the strictest confidence and your CV will never be released without your prior approval.

Job Ref Number: OR-14897

www.optimizerecruitment.ie

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