Head of Sales - North America

blackcrows

$120K — $150K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum 7 years of B2B sales experience, with at least 3 years in a senior sales management role within the ski or outdoor industry.
  • Deep knowledge of the North American ski and outdoor retail landscape, including key accounts and buyers.
  • Proven experience building and managing independent sales rep networks over large geographic areas.
  • Experience with both hard and soft goods is a significant advantage.
  • Strong track record in developing growing or challenger brands, focusing on market share growth.
  • Familiarity with European or French brand culture is a plus; ability to collaborate across time zones.
  • Proficiency in sell-through analytics and sales reporting tools.

Responsibilities

  • Own and execute the North American wholesale commercial plan aligned with global strategy.
  • Define and track seasonal sales targets; adjust strategies based on performance metrics.
  • Identify new market opportunities and advocate for investment.
  • Monitor competition and provide market insights to relevant teams.
  • Manage a network of independent sales reps, fostering a culture of accountability.
  • Equip sales teams with necessary tools and training for retail success.
  • Build and maintain commercial relationships with strategic wholesale accounts.

Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
  • 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Up to 20 vacation days per year.
  • Opportunity to impact a globally respected ski brand and its culture.
Full Job Description
Role overview

As Head of Sales - North America, you will be the senior commercial leader for the wholesale channel across the US and Canada. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will own the full commercial wholesale channel spectrum, from commercial strategy setting, to managing the field sales team and agency network, driving key account relationships, and translating blackcrows' brand vision into sustained sell-through and market share growth.

This is a builder's role. You will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, act as the voice of the North American market internally, and bring the discipline, relationships, and energy to unlock the brand's next phase of growth across the region.

Key responsibilities

1. Commercial Strategy & Market Development
  • Own and execute the North American wholesale commercial plan, in alignment with the global strategy
  • Define seasonal sales targets by channel, account, and region; track performance against plan and adjust course as needed
  • Identify white-space opportunities - new accounts, under-served regions, and channel formats - and build the case for investment
  • Monitor the competitive landscape and feed market intelligence back to the product, marketing, and leadership teams


2. Field Team & Agency Network Management
  • Manage, and develop a network of independent sales representatives and agencies across the US and Canada
  • Set clear performance expectations, run regular business reviews, and build a culture of accountability and brand pride within the field team
  • Equip reps with the tools, product knowledge, and sales arguments they need to win at retail - including seasonal training, sell-sheets, and on-snow demos
  • Manage field team budgets, forecasts, and commission structures in collaboration with Finance.
  • Ensure the Black Crows experience - from line presentation to after-sales - is consistently excellent across all touchpoints


3. Key Account Management
  • Own the commercial relationship with North America's most strategic wholesale accounts (EVO, REI, Backcountry, Evo, and others)
  • Lead seasonal sell-in negotiations; present the line with conviction and secure optimal placement, margin, and assortment depth
  • Drive sell-through performance in partnership with retail buyers - leveraging co-op tools, in-store training, and digital support
  • Monitor inventory levels and stock-to-sales ratios at key accounts; anticipate risk and act proactively to protect the brand and business
  • Deploy and oversee the marketing plan at account level, in close coordination with the North American marketing team.


4. Brand & Events
  • Act as a brand ambassador: live and breathe the Black Crows ethos and represent it with credibility in the ski and outdoor community
  • Support the planning and execution of on-snow demos, trade shows and consumer events to drive brand visibility and partner engagement
  • Work closely with the marketing team on influencer, athlete, and retail seeding initiatives relevant to the North American market.


5. Internal Collaboration & Reporting
  • Serve as the primary interface between the North American market and HQ - translating market realities into actionable insights for product, marketing, and operations teams
  • Collaborate with Finance on commission tracking, cash collection, and P&L reporting; with Legal on customer and agent contracts; with Operations on order execution and delivery
  • Provide timely, accurate sales forecasts and sell-through reporting; flag risks and opportunities early
  • Contribute actively to the continuous improvement of internal processes and tools.


Profile & qualifications

  • Minimum 7 years of B2B sales experience, with at least 3 years in a senior sales management or leadership role within the ski and/or outdoor industry
  • Deep, hands-on knowledge of the North American ski and outdoor specialty retail landscape - you know the key accounts, the key buyers, and how sell-through actually works at store level
  • Proven track record of building and managing independent sales rep networks across a wide geography
  • Experience with both hard goods and softgoods is a significant advantage
  • Demonstrated ability to develop a growing or challenger brand - you are drawn to the craft and complexity of building market share, not just defending it
  • Familiarity with European or French brand culture is a genuine plus; comfort working across time zones and with international HQ teams is essential
  • Proficiency with sell-through analytics, and sales reporting platforms.


Who You Are
  • Entrepreneurial: you take initiative, solve problems without waiting to be asked, and treat the business as your own
  • Autonomous and proactive: you manage up effectively - regular updates, clear alerts, no surprises
  • Analytically minded: comfortable with data, able to draw insights from sell-through reports, stock levels, and market trends
  • Hands-on: willing to travel extensively (>50% in season), carry samples, and be present in the field where it matters
  • Collaborative: you work effectively across teams and time zones, and you build trust quickly - with retail partners and with internal stakeholders alike
  • An authentic skier and outdoor enthusiast: you live the culture you are selling.


Start date: as soon as possible

Contract: permanent, full-time

Location: Los Angeles, CA or Remote (US)

Travel: Min 50% of the time, including regular visits to LA if not based there

Health/dental/vision insurance, STD/LTD Insurance, Life Insurance, 401K, up to 20 days of vacation per year

What we offer
  • The rare opportunity to be part of a small, passionate team shaping how a globally respected ski brand expresses itself - on snow, in culture, and through the people who embody our spirit.
  • Strong core values that make up our DNA as a company: fairness and caring, team spirit, positive attitude, open-mindedness, ski/outdoor culture


Department Commercial Locations Los Angeles Remote status Hybrid

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