Job Title: Head of Sales

(Basic + Commission)

• Company: Latitudes Online – The Curated Market For Art From Africa
• Location: Johannesburg
• Reports To: Roberta Coci, Director and Co-founder, Latitudes
• Salary: Basic R25,000/month plus commission
• Employment Type: Full-time

About Latitudes

Latitudes Online is the leading global platform for contemporary art from Africa. Representing over 1,700 artists from the continent, we are dedicated to showcasing and selling art that reflects the vibrant creativity of Africa. Our platform connects artists, galleries, curators, and art lovers across the world, offering a constantly changing, curated selection of artworks. As the first platform of its kind dedicated to African art, Latitudes is committed to creating sustainable change in Africa’s creative economy.

Position Overview

The Head of Sales at Latitudes plays a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth by leading sales initiatives, developing business strategies, and managing relationships with both clients and artists. This dynamic position requires a strong leader with a passion for e-commerce and art from Africa, a deep understanding of the global art market, and the ability to foster relationships that benefit both the galleries and artists we work with, and the clients we serve.

Key Responsibilities

Sales and Business Development:

• Conceptualise and implement innovative strategies to drive sales and expand Latitudes’ market presence.
• Identify and establish new business opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations that align with Latitudes’ mission.
• Manage all aspects of art sales for both Latitudes Online and Latitudes Centre for the Arts, including overseeing artwork enquiries, production of price lists and labels, and VIP communications.
• Develop and maintain a robust client database, ensuring consistent engagement and growth.

Client Engagement:

• Engage with clients globally to understand their needs, provide personalized art advisory services, and build long-term relationships.
• Represent Latitudes at industry events, exhibitions, and networking opportunities to increase brand visibility and attract new clients.

Strategic Leadership:

• Collaborate with the executive team to align sales strategies with overall business objectives.
• Analyse market trends and client feedback to continuously refine and improve Latitudes’ offerings.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to sales, artist engagement, and client satisfaction, and implement corrective actions as needed.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assist in other duties and projects as required to support the overall success of Latitudes.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

To measure the effectiveness of the Head of Sales & Independent Artist Agency and ensure delivery to company expectations, the following KPIs will be used:

Sales Growth:

• Monthly/Quarterly Sales Targets: Achievement of sales targets set for Latitudes Online and Latitudes Centre for the Arts.
• Revenue Growth: Percentage increase in revenue generated from art sales year-over-year.

Client Acquisition and Retention:

• New Client Acquisition: Number of new clients acquired through sales and business development efforts.
• Client Retention Rate: Percentage of repeat clients and overall client satisfaction ratings.

Exhibitor Engagement and Representation:

• New Exhibitor Recruitment: Number of new exhibitors signing up for the platform.
• Exhibitor Retention Rate: Percentage of exhibitors that continue to list their works on Latitudes year-over-year.

Market Expansion:

• New Market Penetration: Success in entering new geographic or demographic markets.
• Partnership Development: Number and quality of partnerships established with galleries, curators, and other stakeholders.

Operational Efficiency:

• Response Time: Average time taken to respond to client and artist inquiries.
• Sales Process Efficiency: Improvement in the efficiency of the sales process, measured by the time from enquiry to sale.

Event and Exhibition Impact:

• Event Participation: Number of industry events, exhibitions, and networking opportunities attended.
• Sales Conversion Rate: Percentage of leads generated from events and exhibitions that convert into sales.

Financial Performance:

• Budget Management: Adherence to the sales and marketing budget.
• Cost Reduction: Identification and implementation of cost-saving measures without compromising quality.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Team Productivity: Measurement of the productivity of the sales team, including achievement of individual and team targets.
• Employee Satisfaction: Regular assessments of team morale and engagement levels.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in sales and business development, preferably within an e-commerce environment
• Understanding of the global art market, with a particular focus on contemporary African art.
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with artists, clients and partners.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Passion for art and a commitment to supporting creative talent from Africa.