Head of Sales

About Zeal

Zeal is addressing the critical challenge of untapped transactional data. At the moment, whenever a transaction is processed on a payment card machine, physical retailers have no idea who the paying customer is, unless they use a loyalty program. Think of when you go to a supermarket and you pay by card, unless you go to a supermarket that has a loyalty program and you get your loyalty card out, the card machine doesn't tell the retailer if you're a new or returning customer, demographics, gender, etc. Unlike e-ecommerce, in physical retail customer identification always had to be a separate step because the payment terminal is not built to self-identify the paying customer. Hence, a plethora of valuable data is lost or underutilized. With Zeal’s advanced Smart plugin, the company integrates with card machines globally to provide payment acquirers and ISVs with a unique differentiator for their card machines. The merchants of our partners benefit from world-class data, analytics & tools to predict consumer behavior using Artificial Intelligence, enabling merchants to unlock the full potential of transactional data.

Position Overview

As the Head of Sales at Zeal, will lead the company's efforts to scale its merchant network across multiple regions, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UK. This role requires a strategic thinker with global experience to drive both the telesales and field merchant acquisition teams. You will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to achieve aggressive merchant acquisition targets, building strong partnerships, and scaling the team to support the company’s growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Merchant Acquisition Strategy:
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive merchant acquisition strategy across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UK, leveraging both telesales and on-the-ground operations.
  • Identify and establish partnerships that unlock large-scale merchant acquisition opportunities, such as alliances with payment service providers, ISVs, and retail associations.
  • Stay informed about market trends, competitor activity, and potential business opportunities to refine and improve acquisition strategies.

• Team Leadership & Expansion:
  • Lead and manage a high-performing telesales team and field operations team responsible for merchant acquisition.
  • Hire, train, and develop team members across regions to ensure the team has the skills and capacity to meet acquisition targets.
  • Ensure proper staffing levels are maintained to support business goals in each region, with a strong focus on team development and performance management.
  • Regularly assess team performance, providing coaching and guidance to ensure achievement of key sales metrics.

• Sales Targets & Performance Management:
  • Set and achieve ambitious merchant acquisition targets, ensuring all regions meet their specific goals and objectives.
  • Monitor and analyze sales performance across regions, adjusting tactics as necessary to optimize efficiency and results.
  • Collaborate with other departments to ensure that sales efforts align with broader company objectives and product developments.
• Partnership Development:
  • Cultivate strategic partnerships with key players in the payment and retail sectors to unlock large merchant acquisition channels.
  • Manage and nurture relationships with external partners, driving new business development opportunities through these collaborations.
• Operational Management:
  • Oversee the day-to-day operations of both the telesales and field teams, ensuring they are equipped with the tools and resources needed to succeed.
  • Implement efficient sales processes, technology, and tools to streamline operations and enhance productivity across the merchant acquisition teams.
  • Coordinate and communicate closely with cross-functional teams, such as marketing and product, to align acquisition efforts with product offerings and promotions.
• Global Experience & Travel:
  • Leverage previous global experience to manage merchant acquisition efforts across multiple countries, understanding cultural nuances and sales dynamics in each market.
  • Travel internationally as required to support merchant acquisition efforts, conduct market research, and manage regional teams.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a senior sales leadership role, specifically in merchant acquisition and team management, within the payments, fintech, or retail sectors.
  
• Strong track record of managing and scaling both telesales and field sales teams across multiple regions.
  
• Experience in developing and managing partnerships that have significantly contributed to merchant acquisition growth.
  
• Previous international sales experience, with the ability to manage teams across diverse cultures and geographies, particularly in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UK.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to meet aggressive sales targets.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to build relationships and influence key stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills, able to interpret data and adjust sales strategies as needed.
• Proficient in sales CRM and reporting tools, with an ability to streamline processes and improve team performance.
• Ability to travel internationally and manage a global team, with flexibility to adapt to different time zones and markets.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field. MBA is a plus.
• Deep understanding of the payments industry and experience working with merchants, payment gateways, and acquirers.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in Arabic or other relevant languages is a plus.

What You’ll Love About Us

• Work from Anywhere: Enjoy the flexibility of remote work or join us in a hybrid setup. Your choice, your comfort.
• Flexibility & Trust: We believe in autonomy. Set your own schedule and work in the way that best suits you.
• Competitive Compensation: We value your talent and offer packages that reflect it.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team where trust, transparency, and continuous learning are at the heart of everything we do.
• Make an Impact: Have ideas to make things better? Awesome. We’re all ears and ready to innovate.