Website:
so-creative.co.uk
Job details:
So-Creative Group is a fast-growing UK digital agency with offices in the UK, Dubai and India. We design and develop high-end websites, e-commerce platforms, custom software, AI solutions and deliver SEO, GEO/AEO, PPC and digital marketing campaigns for businesses across the UK and internationally.
We're looking for an exceptional Head of Sales & Business Development to build and lead our sales function.
This is a senior leadership role for someone who has already worked within a web design, software development or digital marketing agency and understands how to build scalable outbound sales systems that consistently generate qualified opportunities.
This is not a traditional sales role focused on closing deals. The Managing Director will remain the primary closer for UK and international opportunities. Your role is to build the engine that consistently delivers high-quality opportunities into the pipeline, whilst also being capable of selling directly into the UAE market where appropriate.
The Role
You will work directly with the Managing Director to build and scale the agency's business development function.
Your primary objective is to generate qualified, high-value sales opportunities for the Managing Director through a combination of outbound prospecting, inbound lead generation support and sales systems.
You will also be responsible for handling and closing suitable opportunities within the UAE market, where there is no language barrier and where appropriate.
You will work closely with our Head of Growth & Digital Marketing to build an automated outbound lead generation engine using AI, CRM automation and modern sales technology.
You will also support our Upwork strategy, helping optimise our profile, identify opportunities and increase qualified project enquiries through the platform.
As the business grows, you will build, document and continually improve our sales processes and support the wider sales team.
Team Structure
The following team members will report directly to you:
- UAE Sales Executive
- Office-based Business Development Executive (India)
- Sales Support Executive
You will also work closely with our South African Business Development team, who will be responsible for outbound calling, appointment setting and conducting initial discovery calls before opportunities are passed to the Managing Director.
Key Responsibilities
Outbound Lead Generation
This is the most important part of the role.
You will be responsible for designing, implementing and continually improving our outbound lead generation engine.
Working alongside our Head of Growth & Digital Marketing, you will help build scalable systems that generate a consistent flow of qualified opportunities.
Ideally, you'll have experience with some of the following:
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator
- Clay
- Apollo
- GoHighLevel (or similar CRM)
- Instantly
- Smartlead
- AI SDRs
- AI Agents
- CRM automation
- Email sequencing
- Lead enrichment
- Workflow automation
You are not expected to be an expert in every platform, but you must have experience helping build or manage an outbound lead generation system and understand how modern outbound sales organisations operate.
Experience building AI-powered workflows or automations would be a significant advantage.
Sales & Business Development
- Build from scratch the agency's outbound sales processes.
- Generate qualified opportunities for the Managing Director.
- Sell directly into the UAE market where appropriate.
- Develop qualification frameworks and lead routing processes.
- Build repeatable sales systems and documentation.
- Create outbound messaging and prospecting sequences.
- Improve CRM workflows and reporting.
- Identify new target markets and prospecting opportunities.
- Work closely with marketing to improve lead quality.
- Report on pipeline performance and business development activity.
- Continually improve conversion rates between lead generation and qualified opportunities.
Inbound Lead Generation Support
You will work closely with the Head of Growth & Digital Marketing to improve inbound lead generation.
Whilst paid advertising will primarily sit within the marketing department, experience understanding how agencies generate inbound enquiries through channels such as Google Ads, LinkedIn, Meta Ads and content marketing would be highly advantageous.
Understanding what drives high-quality agency enquiries is more important than being a hands-on paid advertising specialist.
Upwork Growth
A smaller part of your role will include:
- Managing and improving our Upwork presence.
- Identifying suitable project opportunities.
- Improving proposal quality.
- Helping increase qualified leads generated through Upwork.
- Monitoring performance and recommending improvements.
Leadership
As the business grows you will:
- Manage the UAE Sales Executive.
- Manage the India-based Business Development Executive.
- Manage the Sales Support Executive.
- Develop KPIs and reporting across the business development team.
- Review performance and continually improve processes.
- Build a high-performing business development function.
Requirements
- Minimum 5 years' B2B sales or business development experience.
- Minimum 3 years' experience within a web design, software development or digital marketing agency.
- Proven experience building or managing outbound lead generation systems.
- Strong understanding of outbound sales strategy and prospecting.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Strong commercial awareness.
- Excellent organisational and project management skills.
- Experience using CRM systems and sales automation platforms.
- Comfortable working independently.
- Exceptional attention to detail.
Highly Desirable
- Experience selling websites, software development or digital agency services.
- Experience selling into the UAE market.
- Experience building automated outbound lead generation systems.
- Experience using LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Clay, Apollo, GoHighLevel or similar platforms.
- Experience using AI tools and AI agents within sales.
- Experience building AI workflows or business automations.
- Experience managing business development teams.
- Experience supporting or understanding inbound lead generation for digital agencies.
- Understanding of websites, software development, AI solutions and digital marketing.
What Success Looks Like
Within your first 12 months you will have:
- Built a predictable and scalable outbound lead generation engine.
- Implemented systems that consistently generate qualified opportunities for the Managing Director.
- Successfully closed opportunities within the UAE market.
- Improved the efficiency and performance of the business development team.
- Increased qualified opportunities through outbound prospecting and Upwork.
- Helped integrate AI and automation into the sales process.
- Built documented systems that allow the sales function to scale efficiently.
What We Offer
- Industry-leading salary for the region.
- Performance-based bonus structure.
- Clear progression into a Director-level position.
- Work with UK, UAE and international clients.
- Exposure to AI, automation and cutting-edge sales technology.
- Relaxed, ambitious and supportive culture.
- Modern office in Mohali / Chandigarh.
- The opportunity to build and lead the business development function of a rapidly growing international agency.
This is a rare opportunity for someone who enjoys building systems whilst also having the opportunity to sell directly into the UAE market. If you've helped build outbound lead generation engines, understand modern sales automation, enjoy improving processes and want to create a scalable business development function for an ambitious international agency, we'd love to hear from you.
Click on Apply to know more.