Role Overview

Our client is a fast-growing, customised food packaging company that has established itself as a market leader in the UK with approximately 4,000 restaurant and hospitality clients.

Having recently launched their US division based in New York, we are looking for a commercially driven Head of Sales to lead their go-to-market strategy, build a client base from a near-standing start, and lay the foundations for rapid growth across the East Coast.

This is a ground-floor leadership opportunity. You will be the first senior commercial hire in the US, reporting directly to the US General Manager (and company co-founder).

The role carries significant upside, including equity participation in the US business.

Location New York / Tri-State (hybrid; primarily field-based)Compensation Base salary + commission + equity in US entity. 
Experience 3–5 years in a B2B commercial / sales role within packaging, food distribution, or adjacent industries

 

Key Responsibilities

• Own the full US sales cycle: prospecting, pitching, closing, and account management for restaurant and hospitality clients across the New York and Tri-State area, expanding to the broader East Coast over time.
• Develop and execute a go-to-market sales plan for the US, working closely with the founding team to localise the company’s proven UK playbook.
• Build and manage a pipeline of new business opportunities through door-to-door outreach, networking, personal branding, and leveraging inbound leads as marketing scales.
• Act as the commercial lead in the US, setting the tone for how the brand is represented, how deals are structured, and how client relationships are maintained.
• Provide strategic input on product-market fit, pricing, and competitive positioning in the US market.
• Collaborate with the UK leadership team to share learnings, coordinate supply chain, and align global commercial strategy.
• As the team grows, mentor and guide junior sales hires, helping to establish a high-performance sales culture from the outset

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 3–5 years of B2B sales experience, ideally in food packaging, food distribution
• Demonstrable track record of winning new business and growing accounts – with verifiable numbers.
• Experience in a builder environment: you have joined a company early or scaled a territory/division from a small base. You know what it means to hunt without a large inbound pipeline.
• A strong existing network (“black book”) of restaurant, café, and hospitality contacts in the New York / East Coast market is highly desirable.
• Commercially savvy, self-starting, and comfortable operating with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting.
• Strong cultural fit: collaborative, transparent, low-ego, and excited by the upside of building something meaningful.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Excellent commission structure - strong performers will be rewarded generously.
• Equity participation in the US business, vesting over time.
• Opportunity to grow into a senior leadership role (e.g. VP Sales, US Commercial Director) as the business scales.

Interview Process

1. Initial screen with Kelaca (recruitment partner).
2. First interview with US General Manager.
3. Short commercial task (non-onerous; designed to assess strategic thinking).
4. Final interview with co-founder and potentially UK Head of Sales