Ketebe Publishing Ltd
Sales Business Development Executive
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Sales & Business Development Executive
London (Hybrid) | £36,000 | Full-time | 12-month fixed-term contract
Ketebe Publishing is looking for a commercially driven Sales & Business Development Executive to help grow our English-language publishing programme across the UK and international markets. This is primarily a new business role. Around 75% of your time will be focused on business development: finding new accounts, opening doors, developing partnerships and identifying new routes to market for our books.
The remaining 25% will focus on developing existing accounts and working with our distribution, wholesale and bookselling partners to maximise sales, availability and visibility. If you know the publishing or bookselling landscape, enjoy building relationships and are motivated by turning conversations into commercial opportunities, we would like to hear from you.
About Ketebe Publishing
Ketebe Publishing is an independent publishing house based in London and Istanbul, with a growing English-language list for readers in the UK, US and international markets. Our publishing programme spans literature, history, Islamic thought, philosophy and ideas, culture, current affairs and children’s publishing, including translated and original English-language titles.
As our catalogue grows, our next priority is clear: getting more of our books into more of the right places.
That means developing relationships with booksellers, distributors, wholesalers, online retailers, universities, libraries, cultural institutions and other organisations that can help our books reach new audiences.
What You’ll Do
Business Development – approximately 75%
Your primary focus will be generating new commercial opportunities.
You will:
- Identify, approach and develop new bookselling, distribution and institutional accounts.
- Build and maintain an active pipeline of prospective partners and commercial opportunities.
- Develop relationships with independent and specialist bookshops, online retailers, wholesalers, distributors, universities, libraries, museums and cultural institutions.
- Identify opportunities for institutional sales, bulk orders, special sales and strategic partnerships.
- Arrange meetings, pitch Ketebe and its titles, and convert opportunities into long-term commercial relationships.
- Identify new routes to market across the UK, US and other international territories.
- Develop different commercial strategies for our trade, academic, children’s and specialist titles.
- Secure opportunities for titles to feature in bookseller promotions, distributor catalogues, seasonal campaigns and other trade initiatives.
- Represent Ketebe at book fairs, conferences, trade events and industry meetings.
- Monitor the market and identify new trends, channels and commercial opportunities.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Sales, Accounts & Distribution – approximately 25%
Alongside new business development, you will help maximise the performance of our existing sales channels.
You will:
- Manage and develop relationships with distributors, wholesalers, booksellers and other existing sales partners.
- Work with key trade partners, including Ingram, Gardners and relevant specialist channels.
- Present new titles, seasonal highlights and priority books to sales and distribution partners.
- Work with partners to improve availability, ranging, placement and discoverability.
- Monitor sales and stock performance and identify opportunities for growth.
- Analyse performance by title, account, channel and territory.
- Support institutional, bulk and direct sales opportunities.
- Work closely with editorial, communications and publishing colleagues on metadata, sales materials, title positioning and market opportunities.
- Report regularly to the Publishing Director on sales, pipeline development, new accounts and commercial opportunities.
What We’re Looking For
You will typically have 3+ years of relevant professional experience in publishing sales, business development, account management, distribution, bookselling or a closely related commercial role. More importantly, you will be able to demonstrate that you can create new business rather than simply manage existing accounts.
You should have:
- A strong commercial mindset and a track record of identifying new opportunities.
- Excellent communication, networking and presentation skills.
- Confidence approaching new accounts and developing relationships from the ground up.
- Strong negotiation and relationship-management skills.
- The ability to pitch titles and commercial propositions effectively.
- Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a pipeline alongside existing accounts.
- Confidence working with sales data and using it to inform commercial decisions.
- The ability to work independently and proactively within a small, collaborative team.
- The right to work in the UK.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Experience within book publishing, bookselling or publishing distribution would be particularly valuable, as would knowledge of the UK book trade and existing relationships with booksellers, distributors, wholesalers or institutional buyers. Experience in international sales, book fairs or trade events would also be an advantage.
The Details
- Salary: £36,000 per annum
- Location: London
- Working pattern: Hybrid – 3 days office-based / up to 2 days remote
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:30pm (37.5 hours per week)
- Contract: Full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract, with the intention of renewal
- Probation: 3 months
- Reports to: Publishing Director
The role will involve external meetings and occasional UK and international travel, including book fairs, publishing events and meetings with commercial partners. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for events, with time off in lieu provided where appropriate.
What We Offer
Alongside a salary of £36,000, we offer:
- Hybrid working with up to two remote days per week.
- Annual leave in accordance with company policy and UK statutory requirements.
- Workplace pension in accordance with UK auto-enrolment requirements.
- Opportunities to attend book fairs, literary festivals and publishing events.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Staff discount on Ketebe Publishing titles.
- The opportunity to help build the commercial strategy of a growing independent international publisher.
How to Apply
Please send us your CV and a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the role and, importantly, telling us about your experience of developing new business, opening new accounts or creating new routes to market.
Ketebe Publishing is committed to equal opportunities in employment and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds. Contact: books@ketebe.co.uk
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location