Sales Manager

Sea Research Foundation • Mystic, CT

2d

About The Position

The Sales Manager drives revenue growth through strategic sales leadership and the development of diverse membership and sales channels. This newly created role offers the opportunity to build and shape the sales function from the ground up, with an immediate focus on achieving membership sales targets while simultaneously establishing scalable systems and cultivating new revenue streams. This position is designed for a results-oriented professional who thrives in both inside and outside sales environments, can translate the Aquarium's mission into compelling value propositions, and excels at building community relationships that generate sustainable growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field with a minimum of 5 years of progressive sales experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership or strategic sales role. An equitable mix of education and experience will be considered.
• Sales Leadership: Proven track record of achieving sales targets and driving revenue growth through strategic planning and execution.
• Business Development: Demonstrated ability to identify, develop, and launch new revenue streams and sales initiatives.
• Relationship Building and Networking: Strong community presence with experience building and leveraging professional networks to generate business opportunities.
• Inside and Outside Sales: Proficiency in both direct sales activities and external relationship development, with comfort in varied sales environments.
• Systems and Process Design: Experience building scalable sales operations, frameworks, and systems from the ground up.
• Data Analysis and Performance Management: Proficiency in CRM platforms, sales analytics tools, and data-driven decision-making to optimize sales performance.
• Marketing Partnership: Strong collaborative skills with experience working cross-functionally to align sales and marketing efforts.
• Communication and Influence: Exceptional presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Mission Alignment: Ability to translate organizational mission into compelling sales narratives that inspire membership and support.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in sales management software, CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot), and Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

• Sector Experience: Experience in membership-based organizations, cultural institutions, nonprofits, or visitor attractions preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and achieve annual new membership sales targets through strategic planning and execution.
• Develop and implement comprehensive sales strategies that align with organizational revenue goals.
• Analyze membership trends, conversion rates, and sales cycles to optimize acquisition strategies.
• Create compelling sales frameworks that communicate the value of membership and support mission-driven engagement.
• Monitor competitive positioning and adjust sales approaches to maintain market relevance.
• Conceptualize, develop, and launch new sales-based revenue streams aligned with organizational capacity and mission.
• Build and scale corporate membership programs, group sales initiatives, and consignment ticket partnerships.
• Expand the encounters program through strategic sales positioning and package development.
• Identify and evaluate emerging revenue opportunities through market research and industry analysis.
• Establish partnerships with corporate, tourism, and community organizations to broaden revenue channels.
• Serve as an active and visible ambassador for the Aquarium within the regional business and tourism community.
• Cultivate relationships with chambers of commerce, visitor bureaus, hotels, and regional attractions to create referral pipelines.
• Represent the Aquarium at community events, networking functions, and industry conferences to expand brand visibility and sales opportunities.
• Design and implement enterprise-level sales systems, processes, and workflows that support scalable growth.
• Establish performance metrics, tracking mechanisms, and reporting frameworks to measure sales effectiveness.
• Audit existing sales functions to identify optimization opportunities and revenue potential.
• Build sales tools, resources, and documentation that enable consistent execution and knowledge transfer.
• Oversee CRM systems and sales technology to enhance pipeline management and customer engagement.
• Partner with the Marketing team to design and deploy integrated sales-generating campaigns.
• Translate campaign objectives into actionable sales strategies and conversion tactics.
• Provide sales insights and customer intelligence to inform marketing messaging and targeting.
• Coordinate promotional calendars, offers, and sales activations that drive membership acquisition.
• Collaborate on content development that supports the sales funnel and customer journey.
• Analyze sales performance data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct regular reviews of sales effectiveness across channels and revenue streams.
• Test and iterate sales approaches based on performance insights and customer feedback.
• Provide regular reporting and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and emerging sales methodologies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager