INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER
John Smedley – The World’s Finest Knitwear
Full Time | Permanent
Location: UK-based (Hybrid) with extensive international travel
Salary: £50,000–£60,000 base salary + up to £30,000 OTE + benefits
Start Date: April /May 2026
For over 240 years, John Smedley has been synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and understated British luxury. From our Derbyshire factory, one of the oldest continuously operating manufacturing sites in the world, we create the world’s finest knitwear, trusted by discerning customers and partners around the world.
As we continue to accelerate our international growth, we are now seeking an International Sales Manager to play a pivotal role in expanding our wholesale footprint across key global markets.
This is an opportunity for a commercially driven, outward-facing sales professional, someone who thrives on opening new doors, building markets from the ground up, and then growing those relationships into long-term, profitable partnerships.
The Opportunity
- This role is focused on both protecting and growing established international wholesale partnerships, alongside identifying and securing new opportunities in key global markets.
- You will take ownership of a portfolio of significant, high-value international accounts, ensuring strong commercial performance, brand representation, and long-term relationship development. Alongside this, you will play a leading role in identifying, winning, and developing new wholesale partners, expanding John Smedley’s presence in priority international territories.
- You will act as John Smedley’s lead commercial ambassador in your markets, owning the full sales cycle — from prospecting and first contact through to seasonal sell-in, account development, and sustained long-term growth.
- This is a high-autonomy role for someone who enjoys being on the front line: travelling internationally, attending trade shows, presenting collections, and personally driving both market expansion and the continued success of key strategic accounts.
What You'll Do
- Proactively identify, target, and secure new wholesale partners in international markets
- Build and execute territory growth plans with a strong emphasis on client acquisition
- Lead all new business activity, from initial outreach and presentations through to onboarding and growth
- Deliver seasonal sell-in, line sheets, and style presentations to prospective and existing partners
- Represent the brand at international trade shows, showrooms, and customer meetings, actively generating new opportunities
- Grow newly won accounts into long-term, high-performing partnerships
- Manage and develop a portfolio of existing international accounts, maximising commercial performance
- Own sales targets, forecasting, pipeline management, and account planning for your territories
- Work closely with Design, Merchandising, Marketing, and Production to ensure brand and commercial alignment
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and performance data to inform strategy and decision-making
Who You Are
- A driven, self-starting sales professional with a strong new business mindset
- Equally comfortable winning new accounts and nurturing relationships once established
- Proven experience building territories or markets through international wholesale sales
- Confident opening doors, leading conversations, and converting prospects into long-term partners
- Experienced in fashion, luxury goods, or premium textiles
- Commercially astute, highly organised, and confident using data to drive results
- Able and willing to travel extensively, including long-haul international travel
- Eligible to obtain and hold the necessary visas and permissions to travel and conduct business internationally, including within North America
- You should expect to spend up to 50% of your time outside the UK.
Why Join John Smedley?
- Represent one of Britain’s most iconic and globally respected luxury brands
- Play a key role in shaping our international wholesale growth strategy
- Enjoy a high-autonomy role with real influence and visibility
- Work closely with senior leadership in a collaborative, values-led business
- Travel internationally and represent a product with genuine heritage, integrity, and craftsmanship
If you’re an internationally minded sales professional who enjoys winning new business, building markets, and growing premium brands, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and help shape the next chapter of John Smedley’s global story.
Closing Date: 8th February 2026