Now Hiring - Channel Sales & Partnerships Manager in Roseville, MN

PURPOSE

To drive and deliver growth in sales of our tie-in books, by developing strong relationships with internal and external B2B partners, to unite around marketing and selling the books alongside the games on which they’re based. This will require strategic understanding, the setting and delivery of ambitious goals, strong interpersonal skills, clever marketing and selling ideas, and an unstoppable will to succeed. Through exceptional relationship management and the delivery of a clear roadmap for growth in both existing and new channels, this role is key to our mission to grow sales globally.

THE PERSON

• Ambitious and confident, a business development expert who can identify opportunities to grow sales and widen our reach, in both existing channels and pushing into new ones.
• Energetic and unstoppable, not settling for the status quo but always looking to exceed targets by getting in front of partners and collaborating for everyone’s benefit.
• A strategic thinker, who can set clear objectives, then build an appropriate, prioritized plan of action to deliver them.
• Proactive, hands-on owner of sales relationships, delivering what is best for Aconyte and Asmodee. Able to become someone who is known and trusted by all levels and across all functions of the wider company. A trusted advisor to our sales partners but never a pushover.
• Perceived expert, experienced in how book sales work, and also someone who has taken the time to read and understand our book ranges.
• Financially and commercially literate, understanding the various sales channels and the factors that affect them, and delivering clear, regular reports.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Collaborate & integrate sales plans with Asmodee distributors & their marketing teams

• Positively represent the books division to the internal board games distribution and B2C units, to build with them a shared strategy to grow sales and deliver on commitments.
• Be the enthusiastic, knowledgeable face of Aconyte within those units’ sales and marketing teams, and deliver the integration with internal routes to market.
• Explore a more diverse and varied range of sales options and comprehensive product offering for boardgames retail, according to product lines.
• Pursue synergies in the promotion of complementary game and licensed products, and deliver shared/bundled promotions, with associated shared marketing and promotional activity.
• Collaborate on showing at selected trade and consumer events to capitalize on the existing relationship with game fans.

Grow new sales channels

• Assess new, complementary areas of opportunity, working cross-functionally to build business cases including risk and opportunities (direct to consumer sales, pre-order/subscription models, new third party sales outlets, etc).
• Be accountable for creating marketplace optimization, to balance the optimal sales mix for volume growth.

Grow book trade sales via Amazon & existing book distributors

• Oversee the creation of marketing plans to grow sales, with support from the Marketing & Promotions Manager.
• Present new titles and associated marketing plans, set and agree sales targets, review and report back on successes, and create action plans where more needs to be done.
• Assemble print estimates monthly, and manage the monitoring of delivery & shipping of product, publication dates and delivery of promotions, backed up by accurate book data.

Oversee promotions and publicity activities

• Agree and oversee Aconyte’s promotions & publicity plan with the Marketing & Promotions Manager.
• Work with them to identify best routes to target fans of the IPs to grow awareness and sales.
• With them, work closely with IP creators/studios to co-promote direct to fans, collaborate on activity and events.
• Oversee the building of a strong contacts list of super-fans, bloggers, reviewers, bookstore buyers and section experts to assist with promotions.
• Help organize a presence at and attend a variety of trade and consumer events

Accountability for results

• Plan & budget sales to be made by distributors.
• Push distributors to deliver on agreed commitments, both sales targets and marketing plans.
• Report back on sales against budget, with clear visibility on any shortfalls, and an action plan to bring the numbers in line with budget.
• Give regular feedback on product performance from partners and own findings.

FORMAL & TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Demonstrable experience in high growth business development, sales and sales relationship management.
• Knowledge of the games and book trades, particularly Asmodee’s games, and appreciation of how complimentary tie-in products enhance the customer experience.
• Standard software: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, social media
• Book trade systems: especially partner Simon & Schuster’s reporting, information & data systems, and Edelweiss.

REPORTING & HOURS

• Reports to: Publishing Director of Aconyte Books (based in UK)

• Direct report: Marketing & Promotions Manager (based in TX).
• Hours: Full time, running Mon-Fri, 9.00-5.30 or more flexibly if agreed. As such it will attract the usual package of benefits offered to full-time employees.
• We welcome applicants who could work from our US HQ in Minneapolis, MN, but we are open to a remote worker (US/Canada only).
• Some US travel expected; potential for small amount of European travel

Aconyte Books makes amazing novels and background books based on some of Asmodee’s best tabletop games, as well as those of selected partners. We require a tireless business development expert to partner with Asmodee’s distribution units and our book trade distributors to drive and deliver sales growth.
The challenges in this role are to understand our book lines, get them in front of our sales partners, notably in game distribution, the book trade, and Amazon, and agree strategies to grow sales. This will require strategic understanding of these sales channels, the setting and delivery of ambitious goals, strong interpersonal skills, clever marketing and selling ideas, and an unstoppable will to succeed. Through exceptional relationship management and the delivery of a clear roadmap for growth in both existing and new channels, this role is key to our mission to grow sales globally.
For the right talented person this is an amazing opportunity to join a thriving book imprint as it expands, and contribute directly to its success. We’re a small team backed by a large multinational company, so there’s plenty of room to make your mark while being well supported in your efforts.
To apply for this position, please take the time to craft a cover letter which explains what makes you who you are, what skills and experience you bring, and why this is the job for you. By all means attach a current CV as well.
We look forward to hearing from you – apply today!

Asmodee is an equal opportunity employer. We strive for and celebrate a diverse team in our effort to carry out our company values of honesty, integrity, and fairness.