Global Agrifood Sales Director

The Organization WATT Global Media is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that has served the agrifood industry since 1917. From its beginnings with Poultry Tribune magazine, the company has grown into a trusted global media and events organization serving the poultry, animal feed and pet food markets. Today, WATT delivers original business intelligence, industry data and specialized insights through digital platforms, magazines, newsletters, podcasts, videos, webinars, custom content, trade shows and conferences. Its portfolio connects marketers with decision-makers around the world and helps industry professionals stay informed, make stronger business decisions and identify emerging opportunities. WATT is headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, and operates as a Results-Only Work Environment. Its culture emphasizes autonomy, accountability, expertise, trust, innovation, teamwork and career development, all in support of its mission to improve the health and well-being of humans and animals throughout the world. The Opportunity WATT Global Media is seeking a Global Agrifood Sales Director to lead worldwide revenue performance across its agrifood media and event portfolio. This leader will shape the global sales strategy, strengthen high-value customer relationships, develop new solutions and equip a team of Sales Managers to deliver sustainable growth. The role offers the opportunity to influence how a century-old, globally respected media organization connects agrifood marketers with highly specialized audiences. Working across print, digital and event sponsorship channels, the Global Agrifood Sales Director will bring focus to the commercial strategy while helping WATT evolve its products and partnerships in a changing media landscape. The Position Reporting to the Vice President of the Agrifood Division, the Global Agrifood Sales Director is responsible for revenue strategy, budgeting, forecasting, pipeline performance and sales execution across WATT’s global agrifood business. The position directly leads five Sales Managers and works closely with Product Growth, Editorial, Media Operations, Accounting and other internal partners. This is both a strategic and hands-on commercial leadership role. The Director will establish clear goals, coach the sales team, deepen relationships with current and prospective clients, identify market-driven product opportunities and ensure WATT delivers consistent, consultative solutions across its channels. The role also represents WATT at industry associations, trade shows and events around the world. The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is an experienced advertising, media or event sponsorship sales leader who understands how to translate customer needs into integrated commercial solutions. This person combines strategic thinking with disciplined sales management and brings a record of building relationships, leading teams and delivering revenue performance across multiple channels. A successful candidate will be comfortable working across countries, cultures, time zones and functions. They will be a clear communicator, an effective coach and a rigorous operator who uses CRM data, forecasting and measurable goals to create accountability. They will also be curious about emerging technology and willing to use new tools, including artificial intelligence, to improve productivity and performance. Key Responsibilities Global revenue strategy: Develop and lead the global agrifood brand and event revenue strategy in alignment with WATT Global Media’s overall business objectives. Sales leadership: Lead five Sales Managers in building and maintaining global customer relationships and generating revenue across magazine, digital and event sponsorship channels. Budgeting and forecasting: Create the annual agrifood revenue budget and provide accurate monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts across all revenue streams. Pipeline management: Drive consistent pipeline discipline and team performance through effective use of the company CRM system. Team development: Manage, coach and develop sales staff through clear performance expectations, formal professional development objectives and thoughtful succession planning. Product growth: Partner with the Director of Product Growth and Sales Managers to uncover customer needs, develop new client solutions and identify opportunities for product and revenue growth. Customer relationships: Build trusted, consultative relationships with current and prospective clients while ensuring assigned accounts and activity remain current in the CRM. Market representation: Represent WATT Global Media on trade association committees and at industry events, trade shows and sponsored functions. Cross-functional collaboration: Work with Editorial to share market feedback and content ideas, with Media Operations to ensure fulfillment of client orders, and with Accounting on credit and collection matters as requested. Sales excellence: Apply WATT WAY selling techniques and current sales materials to deliver consistent, best-practice presentations of WATT products and services. Goal setting: Establish SMART goals and objectives that increase revenue and share across assigned accounts and the broader agrifood portfolio. Continuous improvement: Participate in sales training and maintain current knowledge of market information, promotional lists, presentation resources and emerging commercial tools. Qualifications Associate degree, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in business, marketing, advertising or a related field. Minimum of 10 years of experience in advertising sales; experience leading sales professionals and managing multi-channel revenue is strongly preferred. Demonstrated success developing sales strategy, managing budgets and forecasts, maintaining a healthy pipeline and delivering revenue growth. Strong leadership, coaching, communication, relationship-building and cross-functional collaboration skills. Ability to work effectively in a virtual, global team where culture, distance, time and language influence working relationships. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with CRM, project management, analytics, event registration, email marketing and digital media platforms. WATT currently uses tools such as HubSpot, Trello, Naviga, Microsoft Teams, Google Analytics, Omeda/AIM and CVENT. Willingness and ability to use emerging technologies responsibly, including AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity, to improve productivity and job performance. Ability to travel approximately 50% domestically and internationally.