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When a growing business approached Priority Recruitment to support its sales recruitment, the initial requirement was to strengthen the existing sales team.

Through consultation, however, it became clear that the business had reached a point where a dedicated Sales Manager could provide the structure, accountability, and leadership needed to support its next stage of growth.

Rather than simply filling an existing vacancy, Priority Recruitment worked with the client to define a new management position and identify the sales leader best placed to make it successful.

The Challenge

The client was experiencing continued growth and wanted to strengthen its commercial structure and sales performance.

Initially, the business was looking to recruit into its sales team. As we explored the wider requirements and future objectives, it became clear that the sales function would benefit from dedicated management and greater ownership of performance.

The business had not previously had a Sales Manager in place, meaning the recruitment challenge extended beyond finding the right candidate. The role itself needed to be defined around the needs of the organisation, with clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and leadership requirements established before the search began.

The successful candidate needed to bring strong sales experience alongside proven leadership capability. They would be responsible for taking ownership of the sales function, supporting and developing the existing team, driving performance, and contributing to the wider commercial strategy.

Our Approach

We began with an in-depth consultation to understand the client's current sales operation, future objectives, and the challenges they wanted their new structure to address.

From this, we helped shape the Sales Manager position around the specific requirements of the business. Together, we established the key responsibilities, required experience, performance expectations, and leadership qualities needed for the role to succeed.

This gave us a clear candidate profile and allowed us to take a targeted approach to the search. We focused on experienced sales professionals and sales leaders with a proven ability to generate revenue, manage teams, improve performance, and introduce greater structure into growing sales environments.

Our screening process went beyond CVs. We assessed leadership style, commercial awareness, communication skills, management experience, and the candidate's ability to build and lead a successful sales function.

By combining job boards, LinkedIn outreach, direct candidate engagement, and our existing network, we identified and engaged a focused pool of relevant sales leadership candidates.

The Recruitment Process

To ensure the newly established role aligned with both the candidate and the business, we managed the recruitment process from initial consultation through to appointment.

Understanding the Business

We worked closely with the client to understand its existing sales structure, commercial objectives, growth plans, and areas where additional leadership could make the greatest impact.

Defining the Role

Based on these discussions, we helped establish the Sales Manager position, including its responsibilities, expectations, leadership requirements, and contribution to the wider business.

Identifying the Right Talent

We conducted a targeted search across experienced sales professionals and sales leaders, using multiple sourcing channels to reach both active and passive candidates.

Assessing Leadership Capability

Candidates were assessed against more than their sales track record. We considered their ability to lead teams, develop people, drive accountability, improve performance, and introduce effective sales processes.

Shortlisting and Interviews

Following a thorough screening process, we presented the client with a shortlist of candidates who aligned with both the requirements of the new role and the wider direction of the business.

We then supported the client and candidates throughout a multi-stage interview process, maintaining communication and managing the recruitment journey through to the final decision.

The Outcome

The client successfully appointed a Sales Manager through Priority Recruitment's recruitment process.

The appointment gave the business dedicated sales leadership for the first time, creating greater structure, accountability, and support across the sales function. The new role also established clear ownership of sales performance and provided the team with dedicated leadership to support development, commercial growth, and future expansion.

Value Delivered

This project demonstrates the value of recruitment consultancy when a business is evolving its structure.

Priority Recruitment didn't simply respond to an existing vacancy. By taking the time to understand the client's wider commercial objectives, we helped identify an opportunity to strengthen the sales function, shape a new management role, and recruit the right person to deliver it. The result was more than a successful Sales Manager placement. It was the introduction of a new layer of sales leadership designed to bring greater structure, accountability, and direction to a growing business.

For businesses considering their next sales hire, expanding their commercial team, or introducing sales management, Priority Recruitment can provide recruitment expertise alongside practical insight into building the right team structure.

Get in touch with Priority Recruitment to discuss your sales recruitment requirements.