Director of Sales (all genders) at Zalando

Ansbach, Bavaria, Germany

Zalando Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
E-commerce, Technology, RetailIndustries

Requirements

  • Strategic acumen and ability to define and evolve a strategic sales vision and strategy aligned with long-term growth objectives
  • Deep market understanding, including staying ahead of industry trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities
  • Experience conducting robust market research and analysis to identify and prioritise high-potential brand partners
  • Proven leadership in driving strategic acquisition of high-value brand partners, focusing on quality and long-term revenue impact
  • Ability to provide data-driven insights, reliable forecasting, and accurate sales pipeline/revenue projections
  • Expertise in building and scaling a high-performing sales organisation through recruitment, coaching, and fostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous development
  • Dual leadership experience: directly managing sales experts and leading team leads with their direct reports
  • Skills in implementing modern sales methodologies, scalable processes, KPIs, and performance tracking
  • Ability to represent the sales function in strategic forums and engage with internal/external stakeholders (e.g., Giant Marketplaces, Marketplace Partnerships, Marketing teams)
  • Highly visible leadership presence internally and externally, championing the company's vision and value proposition

Responsibilities

  • Define and continuously evolve the strategic sales vision and strategy, identifying where to play and how to win in the market
  • Drive the strategic acquisition of high-value brand partners, prioritising quality and long-term revenue impact
  • Actively influence business decisions through data-driven insights and deep market intelligence
  • Provide reliable forecasting for sales pipeline and revenue projections to support business planning and resource allocation
  • Stay ahead of industry trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging market opportunities to inform sales strategy
  • Conduct market research and analysis to surface and prioritise promising brand partners
  • Represent the sales function in key strategic forums and position the company as a trusted market leader
  • Collaborate with Marketplace Partnerships and Marketing to build a robust, qualified lead pipeline
  • Recruit, coach, and empower a high-performing sales team, including sales experts and team leads
  • Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, continuous development, knowledge exchange, and learning
  • Implement modern sales methodologies, scalable processes, clear KPIs, and performance tracking mechanisms to ensure operational excellence and measurable results

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Sales StrategyStrategic LeadershipMarket AnalysisPartnership DevelopmentTeam LeadershipOperational ExcellenceRevenue GrowthLead GenerationMarket TrendsSales ExecutionBrand AcquisitionGlobal Market Strategies

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the employment type for this Director of Sales role?

This is a full-time position.

Is this Director of Sales role remote or office-based?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What key skills are needed for the Director of Sales position?

The role requires strategic acumen, deep market understanding, ability to foster operational rigor, and leadership in building a high-performing sales organization.

What is the team structure for this sales leadership role?

The role involves a dual leadership mandate, directly managing a team of functional sales experts while also leading a team lead with their own direct reports.

What makes a strong candidate for the Director of Sales role at Tradebyte?

Strong candidates demonstrate highly strategic leadership, expertise in targeted market penetration, data-driven insights, accurate forecasting, and the ability to build a culturally aligned high-performing sales team.

Zalando

European online fashion retail marketplace

About Zalando

Zalando operates as a major e-commerce platform in Europe, focusing on fashion and lifestyle products. It allows customers to shop for a wide variety of clothing, shoes, and accessories from both established and emerging brands through its website and mobile app. The platform generates revenue by selling products directly to consumers and earning commissions from third-party sellers who list their items on Zalando. A key feature of Zalando is its commitment to providing a smooth shopping experience, which includes free delivery and returns, a large selection of products, and personalized recommendations. Zalando Plus, a premium membership program, offers additional benefits like faster shipping and exclusive deals. The company distinguishes itself from competitors by investing in technology and logistics to enhance customer satisfaction and streamline operations.

Berlin, GermanyHeadquarters
2008Year Founded
$149.8MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Consumer Software, Consumer GoodsIndustries
10,001+Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Flexible Work Hours
Remote Work Options
Paid Vacation
Hybrid Work Options
Company Equity
Professional Development Budget
Visa Support
Wellness Program

Risks

Acquisition of About You may strain financial resources and affect profitability.
Virtual Fitting Room may face technological challenges and user adoption issues.
Competition from Vestiaire Collective's AI advancements could threaten Zalando's market position.

Differentiation

Zalando offers a seamless shopping experience with free delivery and returns.
The company invests heavily in technology for efficient operations and customer satisfaction.
Zalando's wide selection includes both well-known and emerging fashion brands.

Upsides

Acquisition of About You could expand market share in European fashion e-commerce.
Virtual Fitting Room may reduce return rates and improve customer satisfaction.
Zalando Partner platform could enhance third-party seller experience and increase commission revenue.

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