Senior Sales Manager - LIONS Riyadh

About the Role
The Senior Sales Manager is responsible for revenue generation from new customers, existing customers and engaging external agents. This role will drive commercial growth for LIONS Riyadh by building and converting a strong pipeline of brands, agencies, media companies, technology platforms, and creative businesses. You will be expected to source and close leads, and develop strategies to attract new customers through strong account management.

The position requires a consultative and creative sales approach, understanding client objectives and translating them into relevant opportunities across Festival presence, brand experiences, showcases, and wider commercial participation. The successful candidate will combine strong sales discipline with a good understanding of the creative, advertising, marketing, and media industries, allowing them to engage credibly with senior decision-makers and develop long-term client relationships. This role will work closely with the Head of Sales and wider Commercial, Marketing, Content, and Creative teams to ensure commercial opportunities add value to both clients and the overall Festival experience.

Areas of Responsibility and Accountability:

• Build and execute sales and account-development plans for LIONS Riyadh.
• Achieve personal and event revenue targets.
• Identify and engage new prospects across brands, agencies, media, technology, production, and the wider creative economy.
• Build strong relationships with existing clients, identify growth opportunities, and develop long-term account plans.
• Develop a strong understanding of client objectives, challenges, and audiences, and position relevant LIONS Riyadh opportunities against them.
• Work closely with customers to ensure ROI.
• Meet with customers face to face, over the phone, virtually, or in writing.
• Identify and map potential customer pain points/needs/challenges and accurately position products, services, and solutions as a solution to them.
• Write business proposals and draft/review customer contracts.
• Negotiate with multiple stakeholders for a win/win outcome.
• Develop bespoke commercial solutions in collaboration with internal teams rather than relying solely on standard inventory.
• Maintain strong knowledge of the LIONS proposition, audience, content, Festival experience, and commercial opportunities.
• Prepare sales forecasts and analysis and present findings to management through weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly reporting, including risks, opportunities, wins, and losses.
• Build and manage a high-quality sales pipeline across Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and priority international markets.
• Work collaboratively across teams to promote wider capabilities and solutions.
• Build a social media presence through social selling to drive referrals and nurture potential customers.
• Stay abreast of trends across advertising, media, marketing, technology, creativity, and culture locally and internationally.
• Keep customer information/records up to date, including interactions, transactions, pipelines, and new business account plans, and record on the CRM system.
• Attend/participate in relevant seminars, associations, events, conferences, and competitor events as appropriate.
• Contribute market intelligence and client feedback to help shape future commercial products and Festival opportunities.

Measures of Success:

• Personal revenue targets.
• Conference portfolio revenue targets.
• New business revenue against target/KPIs.
• Number of net new logos and new subsidiaries of existing logos.
• Forecasting accuracy.
• Ability to follow process (Salesforce, forecasting, internal operations).
• Pipeline conversion rate.
• Achieve total revenue and profit targets monthly, quarterly, and annually in line with New business Sales Strategy.
• Individual development plan in place embracing Sales Excellence.
• Work with the team to deliver solutions and share best practices.
• New business/customer development plan objectives vs achievements.
• Value and quality of strategic accounts secured.
• Revenue generated across new commercial products and bespoke opportunities.
• Strength of relationships with priority brands, agencies, media, and creative-industry clients.
• Client retention and rebooking performance.
• Contribution to the overall quality and commercial mix of LIONS Riyadh.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a Sales Manager.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience. Relevant commercial experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Industry experience within a New Business hunting role.
• Demonstrable experience/track record performing in a new business hunter role in a solutions-based B2B environment.
• Experience within media, advertising, marketing, creative industries, technology, major events, or premium B2B platforms is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of the advertising, media, and creative-industry landscape.
• Experience selling to brands, agencies, media companies, technology platforms, or other senior B2B clients.
• Established network of clients in at least one market/sector and a proven track record in new business development.
• Experience managing stakeholders within different customers.
• Established network of clients/customers/contacts at all levels within the industry and associated markets.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the competitive landscape.
• Experience of complex sales situations and demonstrable history of Sales KPI delivery.
• Experience using CRM to manage customer data and forecast sales opportunities.
• Experience developing bespoke commercial solutions and consultative propositions is advantageous.
• Saudi Arabia or GCC market experience is desirable.
• International sales experience would be an advantage.

Core Benefits:

• Medical Insurance for individual and family.
• Annual leave – 28 days.
• Remote working on Sundays.
• Working anywhere – 2 months every year.
• School fees contribution, 40,000 SAR per child per year (up to a max of three children).
• Wellbeing Benefits.
• Residency visa including yearly dependent fees.
• Individual annual flight allowance for expats.

Local Relocation Package:*

• Paid flight to Riyadh – individual and family.
• 30 days accommodation or suitable serviced apartment from arrival date or a one-off payment of SAR 5,000.
• Up to SAR 2,500 reimbursement of shipping goods/excess baggage costs.

International Relocation Package:*

• Paid flight to Riyadh – individual and family.
• 60 days accommodation or a suitable serviced apartment from your arrival date, or a one-off payment of SAR 5,000.
• Up to SAR 2,500 reimbursement of shipping goods/excess baggage costs.
• Paid flight home for individual and end-of-service gratuity payment when leaving the company (if applicable).

*If eligible

We work hard to make sure life at the company is rewarding, supportive, and enjoyable for everyone. We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in, and help make things happen. We don't just accept difference, we celebrate it. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and circumstances and base hiring decisions on relevant qualifications and merit. We are proud to provide a disability-friendly environment. If you require any support or adjustments to participate in our interview or selection processes, please let us know.