Sales Lead

Sword is a leading provider of business technology solutions within the Energy, Public and Finance Sectors, driving transformational change within our clients.  We use proven technology, specialist teams and domain expertise to build solid technical foundations across platforms, data, and business applications.  We have a passion for using technology to solve business problems, working in partnership with our clients to help in achieving their goals. 

This is a pivotal leadership role at a time of significant evolution for Sword. As the organisation continues its journey to evolve and strengthen its Data, Analytics, AI & automation offerings, this role will play a critical part in shaping how we position, sell, and scale our AI & Data transformation services within a key business unit.

The Sales Lead will be instrumental in translating strategic ambition into tangible revenue, working closely existing and new customers to unlock new opportunities and deepen relationships. This role goes beyond traditional sales execution, it is about actively shaping how Sword takes its transformation capabilities to market, aligning customer needs with innovative, outcomes‑driven solutions.

We are seeking a highly motivated, growth‑oriented individual who wants to be part of an exciting and forward‑looking journey. The successful candidate will thrive in an environment of change, be energised by building and expanding customer relationships, and be passionate about helping organisations realise value through data‑led and AI‑enabled transformation.

By combining hands‑on sales leadership with strategic influence, this role will be central to positioning Sword for sustained growth across its core sectors, while helping customers move confidently from ambition to measurable impact.

The Sales Lead is responsible for driving revenue growth, owning business development targets, and leading a high‑performing sales team focused on complex transformation engagements.

The role combines hands‑on selling, team leadership, and strategic account development, with an initial focus on Energy, Financial Services, and Public Sector clients. The successful candidate will understand how to sell outcomes‑led transformation across data, cloud, AI, and digital platforms.

Key Objectives / Outcomes

• Develop & deliver (in collaboration with the management team) a successful sales strategy to grow and diversify our customer base within our strategic target sectors.
• Achieve and exceed personal and team revenue targets
• Grow and diversify pipeline across Energy, FS, and Public Sector
• Position the organisation as a trusted transformation partner
• Build, lead, and develop a scalable, high‑performing sales team
• Drive predictable forecasting, strong deal qualification, and value‑based selling

Core Responsibilities

1. Business Development & Direct Selling

• Own a personal sales quota focused on new business and strategic expansion
• Lead complex, multi‑stakeholder transformation deals end‑to‑end
• Build strategic relationships with senior stakeholders to achieve “trusted partner” status
• Shape and influence client demand using outcome‑led, value‑based propositions
• Develop and execute account‑based sales plans for key clients

2. Sales Strategy & Growth

• Develop and execute a sector‑aligned sales strategy in collaboration with leadership
• Identify whitespace opportunities and new routes to market
• Contribute to the evolution of digital, data, and AI service propositions
• Translate organisational strategy into actionable sales plans

3. Sales Leadership & Team Development

• Build, lead, coach, and performance‑manage a sales and business development team
• Set clear targets, expectations, and success measures
• Establish a strong sales culture grounded in accountability and collaboration
• Provide mentoring on complex deal management and enterprise selling

4. Pre‑Sales & Bid Leadership

• Lead commercial and technical pre‑sales activities alongside delivery teams
• Influence and contribute to RFP, RFI, and tender responses
• Ensure proposals are compelling, accurately costed, and value‑driven
• Support complex bid strategies, pricing models, and risk management

5. Stakeholder & Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with delivery, technical, and practice leads to shape solutions
• Act as a bridge between customers, sales, and delivery teams
• Build trusted relationships internally and externally
• Represent the sales function at leadership level

Required Experience & Capabilities

• Proven track record in enterprise B2B sales or business development
• Experience selling transformation, technology consultancy or managed services
• Demonstrable success against individual and team sales targets
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in complex deal structures

• Experience selling into one or more of:
• Energy
• Financial Services
• Public Sector

• Experience leading, coaching, or managing sales or pre‑sales teams
• Confident communicator who can engage credibly at all organisational levels

• Outcome‑led and customer‑centric
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute tactically
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and complex transformation environments
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills

Desirable Experience

• Background in technical delivery, pre‑sales, or consulting
• Experience managing complex bids and framework agreements
• Familiarity with Microsoft‑centric ecosystems (Azure, Data, AI, Fabric, Cloud)
• Experience implementing structured sales methodologies (e.g. MEDDPICC)

At Sword, our core values and culture are based on caring about our people, investing in training and career development, and building inclusive teams where we are all encouraged to contribute to achieve success.  

We offer comprehensive benefits designed to support your professional development and enhance your overall quality of life.  In addition to a Highly Competitive Salary & Incentive Plan, here's what you can expect as part of our benefits package: 

Personalised Career Development: We create a development plan customised to your goals and aspirations, with a range of learning and development opportunities within a culture that encourages growth. 

Flexible working: Flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance.  We can’t promise to always be able to meet every request, however, are keen to discuss your individual preferences to make it work where we can. 

A Fantastic Benefits Package: This includes generous annual leave allowance, enhanced family friendly benefits, pension scheme, access to private health, well-being, and insurance schemes, an employee assistance programme, discounted cash plan and more…. 

At Sword we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, ensuring that all applicants receive fair and equal consideration for employment, regardless of whether they meet every requirement. If you don’t tick all the boxes but feel you have some of the relevant skills and experience we’re looking for, please do consider applying and highlight your transferable skills and experience. We embrace diversity in all its forms, valuing individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Your perspective and potential are important to us. 

If we can do anything to help make the hiring process more accessible, please let our talent acquisition team know when you apply so we can support any adjustments.