Media Sales Specialist

Job title: Media Sales Specialist

Location: Central Bristol

Salary: £22 – £26,000 depending on experience

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hrs per week.

Contract: 1 year initially with possibility of extension

Start date: August/September 2024

Application deadline: 14th July 2024

Job Description

We are looking for a creative salesperson with enthusiasm and drive. Your role will be to serve our clients, keep them engaged and prospect for new business opportunities.

As a Media Researcher and Salesperson, you will work as part of a team, communicating directly with image buyers and reporting to the Sales & Marketing Manager. You will be a keen and collaborative team player as well as comfortable working on your own initiative.

The ideal experience and qualifications are outlined below. We’d be thrilled if you tick off all our boxes, but will consider anyone with strong communication skills, a passion for nature, and the drive to succeed in sales, regardless of prior experience.  

If you think you have most of what we’re looking for but not every single thing, go ahead and hit apply. We’d still love to hear from you!

About Nature Picture Library

Nature Picture Library is the world’s premier specialist source of nature photography. We meticulously curate stills and video content from all corners of the globe and license it to clients worldwide including Harper Collins, WWF, BBC and National Geographic.

The business has been operating for over 20 years and represents more than 500 nature and wildlife specialist photographers, including many award-winners. We actively promote their work to clients worldwide and have also been successful in creating many magazine feature ideas, calendar and book concepts, which have subsequently been published.

As an independent and employee-owned company, we champion the importance of authentic, high-quality photography while fiercely protecting our photographers’ copyright. We believe in the power of visual storytelling to raise awareness about nature conservation, and we actively support projects that make a positive impact on the natural world.

If you’re a passionate and driven individual who shares our values and wants to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to nature photography, we’d love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities

The role involves researching and delivering appropriate images in response to client requests, as well as following sales enquiries through to licensing, and prospecting for new business.

Customer Service

• Respond promptly and courteously to inquiries from clients regarding photo licensing, usage rights, pricing, and delivery of high-resolution assets.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients through regular communication and personalized follow-ups to drive repeat business and referrals.
• Address and resolve any customer concerns or issues in a timely and professional manner to ensure client satisfaction.

Photo Research

• Assist clients with their specific image needs and guide them through the image selection process.
• Conduct thorough photo research to identify suitable images for clients’ projects.

Proactive Selling

• Proactively reach out to existing and potential clients to promote new image collections, special offers, and upcoming projects.
• Proactively offer creative suggestions and recommendations to clients based on their project requirements and visual preferences.
• Arrange face-to-face visits with key clients.
• Attend trade events to meet with potential clients and build relationships.

Social Media & Marketing

• Assist with leveraging social media platforms and online networking channels to engage with clients, share agency updates, and showcase featured images.
• Assist in creating compelling content, such as blog posts, quizzes, or visual galleries, to attract and engage target audiences and drive traffic to the agency’s website.
• Assist in monitoring social media interactions and responding promptly to inquiries or comments, demonstrating responsiveness and professionalism in online interactions.

Administrative Duties

• Maintain accurate records of client interactions, inquiries, and sales transactions using database software.
• Process photo licence agreements, image orders, and payments accurately and efficiently, ensuring compliance with agency policies and procedures.

Other

• Contribute ideas and expertise to sales team and wider organisational discussions.
• Attend occasional industry events and networking opportunities.
• Stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and new image collections to enhance knowledge and skills related to photo licensing and sales.

Required skills, experience, and qualities 

We are looking for applicants who can demonstrate a strong mix of relevant sales experience, required skills and personal qualities.

Preferred experience

• Proven track record of successful sales performance, with demonstrated ability to consistently meet and exceed sales targets.
• Experience managing a high volume of clients and maintaining a healthy sales pipeline.
• Familiarity with performance data to identify areas for improvement and implement effective solutions.
• Experience in building and nurturing long-term customer relationships to drive repeat business and customer loyalty.
• Experience in picture or footage research.

Required Skills

• Communication: Excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills, ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Time Management: Excellent organisational skills to manage multiple clients and tasks simultaneously.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to adjust strategies in response to market changes and evolving customer needs.
• Team Collaboration: Ability to work effectively within a team to achieve common goals.
• Problem-solving: Ability to identify issues and implement effective solutions quickly and efficiently.
• Visual Acumen: Sharp eye for photography with a strong understanding of selecting relevant and saleable visuals for different clients.
• Knowledge of (or strong interest in) nature and/or photography.
• Creative skills, including writing and graphic design, preferably using Adobe Creative Suite.

Personal qualities

• Proactive, creative and flexible approach with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude, even under pressure.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work, effectively alone, while also working collaboratively as part of a tight-knit team.
• Friendly and confident when speaking on the telephone, on Zoom calls and during face-to-face meetings.
• Highly organised, with effective time management skills to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines. Ability to plan tasks and priorities without constant supervision.
• Keen attention to detail, able to keep accurate records and ensure quality in all aspects of work.
• Goal-oriented, with a strong drive to meet and exceed sales targets. Takes a proactive approach to achieving results.

The job description outlined is not all encompassing and may change to reflect the needs of the business.

Terms and Conditions and staff benefits

This role is a one-year contract, with possibility of extension.

This is a full time 5 day (37.5 hour) a week position.

The salary is £22-26,000 per annum, dependent on skills and experience.

Nature Picture Library employees benefit from 25 days annual leave per year, rising to 30 days over 10 years.

Workplace pension scheme.

The position will initially be office based, in central Bristol. You will ideally be based in or close to Bristol.

Application Instructions

To apply, please email the following to timharris@naturepl.com by the end of Friday 14th July 2024:

• Your CV.
• A one-page covering letter on what you’d bring to the role.

We aim to hold interviews on 22 – 26 July 2024. We are looking to appoint in late August or early September.

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