Sales and Retention Executive

National Association of Head Teachers

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

NAHT represents more than 38,000 school leaders in early years, primary, secondary/post-primary, and special schools, making us the largest association for school leaders in the UK. Our members consist of all categories of school leaders. We provide representation, advice, and training for school leaders in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We use our voice at the highest levels of government to influence policy for the benefit of leaders and learners everywhere.

About the role

Are you an experienced and passionate Sales Executive looking for a new challenge? Do you have the tenacity and drive to achieve goals and outcomes?  Would you be interested in supporting NAHT to improve the recruitment and retention of our members who are senior leaders in education?

The focus of the role will be on building relationships and selling NAHT products, services, and memberships to new and existing Members. In addition, you will retain existing Members through reactive and proactive conversations and attend third-party events to support our recruitment and retention strategy.

You will engage proactively with school leaders at different stages of their careers and build lasting working relationships with key stakeholders to ensure success in meeting retention and acquisition targets. Your feedback to the Sales & Retention Manager will inform improvements to our products and processes. This is very much a hands-on role where you’ll be an ambassador for membership services, promoting our brand and various offerings.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

• Support the department with the planning, organising, management and marketing of NAHT’s presence at suitable national and local educational conferences, events, and exhibitions in line with annual recruitment plans and within the allocated budget, working in conjunction with the Sales and Retention Manager and across the Membership & Strategic Delivery directorate. 
• Support the implementation of the annual growth plans for the full range of NAHT services, including membership recruitment, partner products and retention to agreed objectives, budgets and specified deadlines.
• Take a lead role in contacting and processing potential new leads by telephone, working from compliantly obtained data, and influence them to join one of our membership categories or services. Directly closing opportunities over the phone and online, processing the transaction through the relevant process. 
• Lead the process of recording and measuring the sales journey of all leads.
• Deliver prepared sales scripts to persuade potential members to join or provide quotes for services whilst using individual flair to ensure an engaging and natural conversation, identifying and overcoming objections.
• Respond in a timely fashion to potential New Member, Partner Products and Retention enquiries.
• Maintain customer databases in an accurate and compliant manner, including records of telephone interactions and face-to-face discussions to inform future learning.
• Follow up on initial contacts where potential members/leads may not be available immediately.
• Conduct calls to existing members to promote NAHT and partner products and ensure that each member is gaining the best value from their membership.
• Attend events as part of a team to interact with existing and potential members in line with the sales and retention plans.
• Provide statistical support to the Sales and Retention Manager/Marketing Manager on a daily and monthly basis to aid decision-making and recording of sales and marketing data to progress the commercial aims of NAHT.
• Provide competitor analysis and support new promotional ideas based on market feedback from members.
• Identify opportunities for growth and communicate with the Sales and Retention Manager.
• Own KPI’s as defined by the Sales and Retention Manager.
• Comply with best practice and legislation in direct marketing and data protection including GDPR.
• Support the Membership & Operations Directorate as required. 

Success Criteria:

• New Members budgets (volume/value), as agreed with the Sales and Retention Manager and Head of Sales and Marketing 
• Delivery of outbound calling KPI’s as agreed with the Sales and retention manager.
• Feedback from Sales Channel colleagues 
• Feedback from other colleagues
• New Member feedback

Key Relationships:

• Members support
• CPD
• Marketing

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience:

• Experience working in a sales or business development role.
• Experience of working within a member association, trade union or not-for-profit role.
• Experience of face-to-face marketing, particularly in relation to selling a product.
• Experience working in a telephone sales environment.
• Experience in networking to increase business opportunities.
• Experience of working within a target-driven business.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge and understanding of sales approaches.
• Understanding of the role of sales within a membership association/organisation.
• Understanding of how to use market research to inform campaigns.
• Understanding of data selection and customer segmentation to create effective and targeted marketing campaigns.
• Extensive knowledge of telephone sales techniques.

Skills & Ability:

• Ability to sell both face-to-face and by telephone and build a strong rapport.
• Ability to be persuasive and influential.
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel), experience in using CRM databases (Integra, Dynamics, and bespoke systems).
• Excellent analytical skills and good attention to detail. 
• Able to identify opportunities and develop solutions. 
• Strong planning and organising skills.
• Ability to prioritise, manage multiple projects in parallel and work to deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain good relationships with colleagues and share knowledge.
• Ability to work outside normal working hours if necessary, with the ability to travel, including overnight stays.

Personal, Skills & Behaviours:

• Strong interpersonal skills and able to build and maintain collaborative relationships.
• Self-driven and able to work independently and as part of a team.
• A flexible, adaptable, and proactive approach to work.
• Focused on output and delivery.
• Customer-focused.
• Committed to self-development and ongoing learning.
• Commitment to equality and diversity principles and the ability to work with them in practice.

Required Qualifications

• Well-developed literacy and numeracy skills.
• CIM qualified (or equivalent).

Compensation & Benefits

• 39 days holiday allowance, including bank holidays, in addition to 4 days Christmas closure, 
• 21 hours of well-being leave
• Wellbeing contribution
• Plus agile working allowance
• Generous pension scheme and commitment to personal growth through funded learning.

Working locations

• Home-based

How to apply

• Apply for our Sales & Retention Executive vacancy via our website, where we'll ask you to complete an applicant cover form (we will use this for administration purposes only), attach your CV, and include a cover letter.
• Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us at [email protected]
• Applications from agencies will not be accepted.

Interviews

• First interview 13th May 2026 (via Microsoft Teams)
• Second interview 19th May 2026 (in person, at our London office)

Policies

NAHT is an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace where we can embrace and value individuality. We are committed to employment practices that promote diversity and inclusion and encourage all applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.

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