Versus Socks (Pty) Ltd

Techno Park, Stellenbosch (Head Office) | Full-time, in-office

Reports to: Co-owners (Jurgens & Hanno)

About Versus Socks

Versus Socks is a fast-growing, leading performance sock company dedicated to providing active individuals with high-quality, innovative, and stylish socks. We believe in pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo to deliver products that are exciting and performance driven. We're on a mission to become the performance socks world champs, and we're building a world championship team.

The Role

This is a strategic leadership role, accountable for the Sales Department's revenue growth and overall commercial performance. As Head of Sales, you'll spearhead the Sales Department and drive the next phase of growth for Versus: owning revenue targets and key relationships across our key accounts, retail channel, custom business and international distribution. You'll set the commercial strategy, retailer growth plans and cross-department alignment that take the department to its next level, shaping where Versus plays and how it wins across each channel. You'll combine strategic leadership with hands-on execution, building the strategy, relationships and team that let Versus scale.

Key Responsibilities

Revenue & Commercial Growth

• Own the Sales Department's revenue, gross margin and overall commercial performance across all channels.
• Drive revenue growth across our existing key accounts, retail, custom and international channels.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities that complement and extend our current channels.
• Build the systems, processes and team structure needed to scale Versus's sales engine for its next phase of growth.

Key Accounts & Retail Growth

• Own and grow our current key retailer and buyer relationships end to end, understanding each retailer's category strategy and where Versus fits within it.
• Develop growth plans for each key account, mapping out how to grow volume, listings and shelf presence.
• Build and present data-driven annual growth plans, proactively bringing new ideas and opportunities to each existing retailer.
• Drive alignment with key retailers and buyers through regular strategic and progress reviews.
• Own revenue forecasting and demand planning for key accounts.
• Translate data into clear, actionable recommendations for management, positioning Versus as a proactive growth partner rather than a reactive supplier.

International Distribution

• Work closely with current distributors to drive further growth.
• Own international distributor relationships end to end, from onboarding through to agreements and ongoing growth.
• Identify and pinpoint new international distribution opportunities in target markets.
• Present Versus to prospective distributors, showcasing the brand and building the case for partnership.
• Lead distributor communication and coordinate new product launches abroad.

Sales Leadership & Internal Coordination

• Spearhead the Sales Department, setting priorities and delegating effectively.
• Oversee and work closely with the Sales Representative, driving growth across independent stores, own retail stores and expos.
• Oversee and work closely with the Custom Socks Manager, driving growth across our Custom Socks Business.
• Own department KPIs and revenue targets.
• Continuously improve sales systems and processes.
• Keep cross-functional teams aligned and informed, coordinating seamlessly across Sales, Marketing, Warehouse, Logistics and Operations.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in a sales leadership role.
• Proven record of managing teams.
• Background in retail, apparel or footwear preferred.
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to analyse and interpret sales data.
• Ability to clearly present opportunities and recommendations to management and retail partners.
• Proven ability to drive retailer growth and manage key account relationships.
• Proven track record of new business development and closing new accounts.
• Commercially minded, with experience owning revenue targets.
• Experience working directly with retail buyers and category managers.
• Strong communication skills, both with retail partners and across internal departments.
• Demonstrated leadership and delegation ability.
• A proactive, hunter mindset, forward-planning rather than reactive.
• An active, healthy lifestyle is highly preferential.

What We Offer

• A genuine growth path within a fast-growing South African brand, with the opportunity to build and shape the commercial engine as Versus scales.