Job Description

The Outdoor Kitchen Collective is the UK's largest and most comprehensive high-end outdoor kitchen and lifestyle destination businesses, located in a beautiful 3,200sq ft listed barn in St Albans, Hertfordshire complete with showrooms, demonstration areas and offices.

https://theoutdoorkitchencollective.co.uk/

THE ROLE

We are looking for a competent, self-motivated, and well-organized experienced Sales Manager and Designer (SM/D) who will be responsible for the day-to-day sales and the development of the existing design and sales team.

Working alongside the Managing Director, Marketing team and Sales Designer(s) to ensure the sustainable sales growth of high-end projects and products to our customers you will be designing and selling your own projects and overseeing the designs and sales of the Sales Designer(s).

The SM/D will need to manage the planned growth of the business from a Sales perspective over the next 1 - 3 years and will be an integral part of developing and implementing the companies' sales strategies. You should have energy, drive, initiative and confidence, with enough tenacity to implement your ideas and strategies and be able to communicate these effectively throughout the company.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will have a successful track record of design or sales, ideally from the garden design/retail kitchen industries, or from another high-end luxury living sector. You will either already be operating successfully as a Sales Manager/Designer or be actively looking to make that first step into Sales Management. You should be computer literate and possess a good record of sales achievement and networking to initiate and develop long term relationships.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Meet with clients to gain an understanding of the scope of work. Give passionate showroom tours to excite clients about their project. Be able to understand and advise on the client's needs in a consultative way to achieve a sale. Proficient and competent in liaising directly with customers to present designs and convert sales. Design, cost, and create amazing outdoor kitchen environments. Be able to collate, formulate and present detailed customer quotations and proposals accurately and quickly. Meet your own agreed sales targets. Managing other Sales Designer(s) to ensure their targets and the overall companies targets are met, whilst ensuring the sales team is always representing the company's values and image. Actively network within the industry and host CPD talks either here at the showroom or at external events. Ensure the Sales team is up to date with current and emerging market trends and product developments. Source and negotiate key supplier costs. Build and maintain excellent B2B and B2C client relationships. Champion The Outdoor Kitchen Collective and the TOKC brand. Generate reports on design and sales forecasts and circulate to the rest of the business and report back to the MD. Reduce current quotation lead times and maintain a minimum 24hr turnaround policy for enquiries, designs, revisions and quotations. Request For Tender (RFT) Designs and Quotations for tender packages. Reviewing the work of junior designers to identify errors and ensure quality and accuracy. Training Junior Designers on new projects and setting deadlines.

Sales Management

Help develop, maintain and implement the CRM system. Build and maintain a healthy, sustainable and profitable sales pipeline. Analyse and improve Sales processes. Promote the use of good effective communication as a critical sales tool and develop this in the Sales team. Host CPD events at the barn presenting to small groups of Garden Designers/Architects and other professionals to explain the design process and the USPs' of the kitchens and canopies. See this as an essential and critical step in the success of this position and show initiative in setting up these events. Working with the Marketing department develop and implement new sales initiatives, strategies and programmes to capture key demographics and nurture trade contacts. Internal CPD and Training standards - ensuring all staff members have detailed and up to date knowledge on all products and managing the Sale's team's CPD. Mentor and encourage more junior members of the team. Be a go-to for advice and guidance. Nurture a dynamic, hungry, positive sales team that has a healthy sense of friendly competition. This includes continuing a 6 monthly appraisal program for members of your team. Providing regular updates of sales success to the rest of the team. To assist senior management in maintaining and developing showroom policy, procedures, to ensure the success of our business. To ensure that all individual and sales team targets and objectives are met.

Qualifications & Experience

A minimum of one to two years' experience in a comparable role is required and experience of rapid growth is essential. Comprehensive experience working with design packages, Sketchup, Vector works, CAD, etc. MS Office/Outlook or similar and CRM systems (Capsule) Commercial awareness. Proven record of meeting sales targets and revenue growth. Working within contractual requirements. Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure. Proven record of creative delivery and people management and development. Experience of managing and developing client accounts.

Preferred Skills

Extensive experience of designing and delivering garden designs, luxury lifestyle projects or construction projects. A passion for and knowledge of high-end design and luxury products. A knowledge of and interest in food, cooking and in particular outdoor living products such as BBQs, Outdoor kitchens, Pergolas would be an advantage. Good working understanding of construction/design processes.

Personal Attributes

Energy, talent, drive, enthusiasm, and a sense of fun are important, and you should be passionate about bringing your ideas to life. Be comfortable working in a small close team. To be successful a flexible approach to working patterns, rather than a rigid '9-5' approach to work is a distinct advantage. Being available around client's schedules and adapting to and taking advantage of seasonal peaks and troughs to ensure targets are met is required. Self-motivated, well-presented - appropriate to a professional high-end showroom, and have a good eye and passion for high end luxury products and design. Professional in approach - Attentive to detail, accurate and thorough in all aspects of your work.

Benefits

A competitive basic salary and performance linked bonus package will be awarded to the successful candidate which will fully reflect the importance of this role within our organisation.

Job Type: Permanent - Full-time office-based role with some European travel.

Salary:

35 - 40k basic salary plus bonus Pension 20 days holidays plus bank holidays

Additional pay:

Quarterly commission on own and department sales. Yearly commission on meeting overall company targets.

Please note:

The showroom is open Monday -Saturday.

The Sales Manager/Designer will need to work a minimum 2 Saturdays per calendar month in lieu of a weekday.

Ability to commute/relocate:

St Albans, AL4 9HJ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Barn has limited access by public transport - there is a large free car park on site.

Written and verbal references will be required, from previous employers and/or previous customers.

The successful applicant will be subject to an initial 3 month probation period, prior to confirmation of the role being made permanent.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by TOKC.

Direct applications only please: no agencies or recruitment consultants.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From 35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company events Company pension On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:

St Albans: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 30/09/2025
Reference ID: Sales Manager/Designer (Luxury outdoor living) ref. 25/2