The Role
Lead and develop an advertising sales team while driving revenue growth across print, digital, and event-based opportunities. Responsibilities include coaching, performance management, recruitment, client relationship building, new business development, KPI oversight, and representing Cotswold Life at regional events. The role also involves supporting client visits, collaborating with editorial and commercial teams, and ensuring commercial targets and team wellbeing are achieved.
Summary Generated by Built In
Cotswold Life is one of the region's most recognised and respected lifestyle magazines, part of the Newsquest Media Group. The magazine celebrates everything that makes the Cotswolds such a special place to live, work and visit.
We're looking for a commercially driven Sales Manager to lead the growth of the brand, develop our advertising revenue strategy and inspire a small team of sales professionals. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about the Cotswolds, understands the local business community and enjoys building relationships with both clients and colleagues.
As Sales Manager, you'll lead from the front, supporting your team's success while also identifying and securing new commercial opportunities across the region. You'll be responsible for coaching and developing team members through regular one-to-ones, performance management and ongoing mentoring, while ensuring commercial targets and business objectives are achieved.
You'll be a visible ambassador for the brand, representing Cotswold Life at local events, networking opportunities and within the wider business community. This is a varied leadership role combining people management, commercial growth, recruitment and brand representation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach and develop a team of advertising sales professionals.
- Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews and development discussions.
- Drive revenue growth across print, digital and event-based advertising opportunities.
- Support team members in the field through client visits, presentations and sales activity.
- Recruit, onboard and develop new team members as required.
- Monitor sales performance, KPIs and commercial activity, taking action where necessary to improve results.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with advertisers, partners and key stakeholders across the region.
- Identify new business opportunities that support the continued growth of the Cotswold Life brand.
- Represent Cotswold Life at networking events, community functions and industry gatherings.
- Work closely with editorial and wider commercial teams to maximise brand opportunities and audience engagement.
- Ensure a high-performance culture that balances accountability, development and team wellbeing.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Previous experience leading and developing a sales team.
- Strong background in advertising, media, publishing or commercial sales.
- A genuine passion for the Cotswolds and an understanding of the local business landscape.
- Proven ability to drive revenue growth and exceed commercial targets.
- Experience conducting performance management, coaching and development conversations.
- Strong communication, presentation and relationship-building skills.
- Confidence managing both existing business and new business opportunities.
- Comfortable working independently while also supporting a team to achieve shared goals.
- Highly organised with strong planning and prioritisation skills.
- Professional and personable, with the ability to represent the brand at events and networking opportunities.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Willingness to travel across the region to support clients, prospects and team members.
Benefits and D&I Statement
- Competitive salary + Bonus Scheme
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
- Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
- Structured career progression & ongoing training
- Pension plan
- Employee Helpline counselling and advice
- Perks & discounts including:
- Gym membership
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Eye care
- Retail discounts
- Team building days & annual volunteer charity day
Newsquest Media Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all community sections regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Our recruitment process will consist of various stages and activities. As part of our commitment to fairness to all applicants, we will take into account any adjustments that could help you.
About
A name you can trust - we’ve been a part of your community for generations.LOCALiQ is the name for all that Newsquest Media Group does today, from trusted local newspapers and websites to digital marketing services that can help you reach new customers as you’ve never been able to before.LOCALiQ is the name that combines your trusted local news brand with digital marketing.It hasn’t replaced the name of your local Newsquest newspaper and its website, but it encompasses everything we can offer.Those services include online advertising and best-in-class digital marketing, backed by data gathered from our 1.5 million local campaigns and 45 million monthly users.Put our experts to work for you, and we believe you’re hiring the best marketing partner a business can have.
Skills Required
- Previous experience leading and developing a sales team
- Strong background in advertising, media, publishing, or commercial sales
- Passion for the Cotswolds and understanding of the local business landscape
- Proven ability to drive revenue growth and exceed commercial targets
- Experience conducting performance management, coaching, and development conversations
- Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
- Confidence managing existing and new business opportunities
- Ability to work independently and support team goals
- Strong organisation, planning, and prioritisation skills
- Professional and personable approach suitable for representing the brand at events
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
- Willingness to travel across the region
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The Company
What We Do
We are a media company with a difference. We are committed to bringing a voice to your region by investing in a passionate team of journalists who proudly serve their communities by sharing authoritative news that readers trust. Our sales teams provide local businesses with highly responsive digital advertising and marketing solutions. We are one of the largest regional news publishers in the UK and have a portfolio of more than 250+ local news brands and magazines online and in print. With an online audience of 41 million users a month and 7 million readers a week in print, our content is read by a substantial proportion of the UK population. In addition to our local news brands, we own a number of digital pure play and specialist media businesses such as s1jobs and s1homes, Exchange & Mart, and Newsquest Specialist Media. We also own LOCALiQ, an award-winning digital marketing agency that specialises in driving more leads, increasing online growth and generating return on marketing investment on behalf of thousands of UK SMBs. Our parent company is Gannett Inc, the largest news publisher in the US. Gannett is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
