National Sales Director, Racquet Sports (North America)

Amer Sports Company•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The National Sales Director – Racquet Sports leads sales strategy and execution for Wilson Racquet Sports across the United States and Canada, serving retail, specialty, club, pro shop, and key account customers. The role is accountable for the full portfolio of hardgoods—including racquets, balls, and accessories—and softgoods, including footwear and apparel. In partnership with the Softgoods team, the Director helps deliver a complete head-to-toe offering and grow softgoods alongside hardgoods, establishing Wilson as a leader in tennis and emerging sports such as pickleball and padel. The position manages, coordinates, and directs the regional sales organization to achieve and exceed revenue targets. It works with global commercial, product, marketing, and merchandising teams to shape sales strategies, assortments, programs, and merchandising solutions, while building strong customer relationships and developing the sales team. The role also monitors business performance, provides forecasts and account information to senior commercial leadership, and manages operating, expense, and promotional budgets. The position is based in Chicago, Illinois, with a hybrid workplace arrangement and requires 30% travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.
At least 10 years of sales experience in packaged goods or a related industry.
At least 5 years of experience leading large sales organizations.
Experience selling both softgoods (footwear and/or apparel) and hardgoods, with the ability to coach a team to grow both.
Strong ability to sell, influence, and negotiate.
Strong business acumen, detailed account knowledge, and ability to identify programs that create mutually beneficial proposals.
Excellent organizational skills, analytical ability, and strategic planning skills.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to build relationships within the organization and across customer stakeholders.
Strong computer proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Prior experience managing others.
Demonstrated leadership, team-building, and coaching skills, including confidence leading cross-functional teams and managing highly visible projects.
Ability to motivate people and assess and develop employee skills.
Ability to travel 30%.

Nice To Haves

Racquet sports industry selling experience.
Passion for racquet sports and preferably work experience in the industry.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a national Racquet Sports sales strategy for the United States and Canada, focused on growing brand awareness, market share, and revenue.
Achieve segment sales plans and category growth objectives across hardgoods and softgoods, driving balanced growth.
Share accountability with Softgoods leadership for footwear and apparel performance, ensuring collections are represented, correctly sized, and supported at key retailers, clubs, and pro shops.
Develop sales strategy, assortments, and sales programs for the racquet sports business, including pickleball and padel, in collaboration with the global commercial team.
Work with product, marketing, and merchandising teams to develop programs, merchandising solutions, and product ranges for key accounts and support sales presentations of footwear and sportswear performance benefits.
Help key team members develop Joint Business Plans with key customers, use those plans for ongoing performance reviews, and ensure plan goals are achieved.
Build and maintain relationships with key retailers, clubs, academies, and facilities; strengthen Wilson’s presence in the racquet sports community and resolve customer issues promptly.
Monitor sales performance, market trends, and competitor activity; provide monthly forecasts and information on key accounts and product categories to senior commercial leadership.
Interview, hire, train, and manage employees; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; reward and discipline employees; and address complaints and problems.
Manage operating, expense, and promotional budgets to maximize efficiency and profitability, and challenge historical investment to use funds effectively.