ABOUT US
Ancient + Brave is a mission driven wellness brand, founded in 2018 by Kate Prince who saw a gap in the market for sustainable products which support women’s health and wellness. From the start Kate wanted the company to be unique, creating innovative formulas with targeted health benefits. The elements of daily ritual and ancestral health are integral to the brand.

As a B-Corp, Ancient + Brave meets the highest standards of social and environmental Impact. In June 2024 we have been named 5th in The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies - our brand has developed an incredible following and following investment from Piper, is ready to scale in the UK and internationally.

Want to be a part of a team that’s shaping the future of health and wellbeing?
We'd love to have you!

THE ROLE

As the International Retail Director, you will be at the helm of accelerating Ancient + Brave’s retail and wholesale expansion both in the UK and internationally. You will drive our ambitious growth plans through strategic business development, while optimising account management practices for existing partners. You’ll be the driving force behind scaling our presence in new territories and positioning Ancient + Brave as the leading brand in the marketplace.

With a passion for market expansion and a keen eye for emerging opportunities, you will define and execute the retail strategy, focused on building lasting, high-value supplier partnerships. Your ability to spot untapped potential will be key as you drive business growth, fostering long-term relationships that align with our vision.

As a natural advocate for our brand and products, you will be the face of Ancient + Brave in retail. You’ll be deeply analytical, using data to define strategic forecasts, track performance against budgets, and ensure the delivery of targets. Your decisions will directly impact the bottom line, so a relentless focus on results is essential.

Reporting to our CEO and Founder, you will be an integral part in the team, working collaboratively and cross-functionally at all levels and with all departments (Brand, Design, ECommerce, Partnerships, Nutrition and Innovation etc) as well as external agencies and partners.

YOU WILL

+ Lead and drive global growth strategy for Ancient + Brave across retail and wholesale sales channels, covering the UK, EU, and Rest of World (ROW). Formulate long-term sales and expansion strategies, identifying and pursuing new business opportunities while scaling operations in new and existing markets.

+ Cultivate and manage high-level strategic retail partnerships, ensuring the successful development of sales through innovative initiatives to drive sell-through, sell-in, and the longevity of partnerships. Serve as the senior point of contact for key retail partners, fostering strong, collaborative relationships.

+ Champion the creation and execution of comprehensive retail partner support programs, ensuring alignment with sales objectives. Oversee the development of cutting-edge sales materials, training modules, and product launch education to empower retail partners and maximise sales impact.

+ Spearhead the design and execution of an advanced CRM strategy to manage and nurture existing retailer relationships. Utilise data-driven insights to continuously refine approaches, ensuring customer retention and sustainable growth.

+ Analyse market trends and provide actionable insights to identify emerging markets and territory expansion opportunities. Oversee and direct the development of market-specific reports, leveraging data to guide decisions regarding new market entries and product launches.

+ Develop and optimise global distribution and go-to-market strategies by evaluating and selecting optimal routes to market (distributors, agents, direct), ensuring alignment with growth targets. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define retail forecasts and budgets by territory and customer profile.

+ Negotiate complex commercial agreements with retail and wholesale partners, ensuring favourable terms, strategic positioning, and long-term alignment with business objectives. Champion our commercial interests while maintaining productive relationships.

+ Provide strategic leadership on international market expansion, proactively identifying and resolving challenges related to cross-border operations, ingredients compliance, and regulatory hurdles. Ensure smooth and efficient market entry with full compliance and operational readiness.

+ Monitor and report on financial performance, overseeing the preparation of regular updates on sales performance, financial tracking, and budgeting. Ensure that sales targets are met and forecast accuracy is maintained, with a focus on optimising profitability.

+ Lead, mentor, and expand a high-performing team, setting a clear vision for team growth and development. Collaborate with senior leadership to design an organisational structure that supports scalability and operational efficiency as the business grows.

+ Foster company-wide collaboration, working closely with Marketing, Innovation, Nutrition, Partnerships, and Events teams to ensure a unified approach to sales and market positioning. Align cross-functional strategies to maximise the impact of sales initiatives across all touchpoints.

WHO YOU ARE

To be successful in this role, you'll need to demonstrate the following skills / knowledge / experience:

+ Proven track record of successfully scaling brands in international markets, with a strong focus on identifying and capitalising on new business opportunities.

+ A background in the beauty and wellness sector, with established contacts and proven routes to market.

+ High level of expertise in account management and sales pipeline management, with a focus on best practices.

+ A strategic mindset, with the ability to craft growth plans, set clear forecasts, and deliver insightful performance analysis against budget.

+ Ability to monitor, analyse, and report on financial performance by overseeing regular updates on sales performance, financial tracking, forecasting and budgeting. Capable of identifying areas for financial optimisation and ensuring that business objectives are met.

+ A natural leader, capable of mentoring and developing the Retail Sales team to consistently deliver results.

+ Highly confident and skilled in negotiations, with a track record of securing the best possible terms.

+ Proven ability to build and nurture strong, long-term relationships with external partners and key stakeholders.

Further, to truly thrive at Ancient + Brave you will need to embody the spirit of our brand and align with our company culture. You are:

+ Highly self-motivated with an ability to take initiative and run with it.

+ Solution focused with a ‘can-do’ attitude and a strong work ethic.

+ Known for having a positive outlook and a growth mindset.
+ A collaborative team player who also excels in independent settings.
+ Exceptional communicator, able to convey information clearly and concisely.
+ Entrepreneurial and commercially minded.
+ Able and willing to work in fast paced scale-up environment - an ability to effectively prioritise will be key.
+ Passionate about doing greater good and the future we’re building - we expect our team to be supporting our B-Corp and ESG goals while being proactive and mindful in suggesting ideas for the business to improve its practices.

WHY JOIN US

Ancient + Brave are a community-built brand and embracing innovation and sustainability with social and environmental responsibility is at the heart of everything we do. We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards when it comes to our commitment to balance profit and purpose - working with us means being part of building a truly sustainable product. We are B Corp certified and members of 1% for the Planet, committed to giving back % of all sales towards helping environmental partners, so we can work together towards a better future for our planet.

At Ancient + Brave you’ll find an engaging, collaborative and inclusive work environment where your talents will be nurtured, and your contributions valued.

We provide all our team members with suitable laptop computers & headphones and our office is equipped with monitors, ergonomic chairs and sitting + standing desks. Our kitchen is fully stocked with the usual supplies as well as limitless supply of A+B products (you also get 50% off on any product you wish to purchase).

We pay a discretionary bonus based on a mix of company performance and individual contributions and review our salaries annually. Our pension contributions are ESG invested (so no pharma, weapons or other ethically questionable investments).

Our Medicash plan offers access to specialist consultations, 24/7 Virtual GP and health screenings as well as dental, optical and complementary therapies and access to confidential support via its EAP programme.

Our Mintago platform gives employees access to financial wellbeing advice and support as well as retail discounts and salary sacrifice schemes, which cover childcare, cycle to work, gym membership, groceries and mobile/tech purchase.

In addition to our regular annual holiday allowance of 25 days plus bank holidays, we also offer one Wellbeing day to use as needed.

We offer continuous training & professional development opportunities and our team members get to enjoy complimentary nutrition and workout sessions in the office. We support a number of charities, coordinating our fund-raising initiatives for maximum impact. We hold two social events a year to come together and connect in a meaningful way.  

An important note on our ways of working…
As a fast-paced scale-up, we’ve found that spending time together in person is hugely beneficial to the way we’re needing to communicate, collaborate and drive the business forward. We’ve worked hard to make our office (a beautiful old mill situated in East Sussex) an inviting and friendly environment for all of our team members and we expect any new joiner to be in the office full time.

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace culture. We embrace varied perspectives and encourage creativity that knows no bounds. While most of our roles are advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time setup where appropriate.