Country Manager DACH

Hello. We’re Polaroid. An iconic brand, built by passionate people Polaroid was founded in 1937 by one of the 20th century’s most influential innovators, Edwin Land, whose philosophy was: “Don’t undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.” In 2008, Polaroid produced its last pack of instant film. But a group of passionate fans refused to let instant photography disappear. What started as The Impossible Project grew into a mission to preserve and reinvent analogue photography for a new generation. More than a decade later, that same startup acquired the Polaroid brand and continues to shape its future today. At Polaroid, we create products and experiences that spark emotion, fuel creativity, and bring people closer together. At the intersection of art and technology, we believe in the power of analogue moments and genuine human connection in an increasingly digital world. Key Responsibilities Commercial Strategy & Business Growth - Develop and execute the commercial strategy for the DACH region, aligned with company objectives and growth targets. - Create annual business plans, sales forecasts, and account growth strategies. - Drive market share growth across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland through existing and new channels. - Identify and develop new business opportunities, customers, and routes to market. - Monitor market trends, competitor activity, customer insights, and industry developments to inform strategic decisions. - Deliver revenue, profit, and inventory objectives while ensuring sustainable long-term growth. Account & Distributor Management - Build and maintain strong relationships with distributors, key retailers, and strategic partners across the region. - Lead commercial negotiations and annual business planning with key accounts. - Manage retailer expectations around pricing, margins, promotional activity, inventory planning, and commercial investments. - Drive account performance through structured business reviews and growth initiatives. - Ensure best-in-class execution across consumer electronics, photography, department store, lifestyle, and specialty retail channels. Brand Development & Trade Marketing - Partner closely with Marketing and PR teams to develop local strategies that support commercial goals. - Drive trade marketing initiatives that increase brand visibility, consumer engagement, and sales performance. - Ensure excellent execution of point-of-sale materials, merchandising standards, and retail activations. - Champion the Polaroid brand within the market, strengthening awareness and engagement across key audiences. Market Presence & Customer Engagement - Maintain a strong presence in the market through customer visits, retail audits, industry events, and trade shows. - Deliver product education, training, and commercial presentations to customers and partners. - Build trusted relationships with stakeholders that position Polaroid as a strategic and valuable business partner. - Gather and communicate customer feedback, market intelligence, and opportunities back to internal teams. Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration - Support and develop local team members while fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. - Work cross-functionally with Sales Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, and Product teams to deliver commercial objectives. - Act as the primary representative of the DACH market within the broader European organisation. - Drive alignment between local market needs and global business priorities. What You Bring - 5+ years of experience in a Country Manager, Sales Manager, Key Account Manager, or similar commercial leadership role. - Proven success managing sales within the consumer electronics, photography, imaging, premium consumer goods, or related industries. - Strong knowledge of the DACH retail landscape and experience working with distributors and retail partners. - Demonstrated ability to grow market share and deliver commercial results in competitive markets. - Strong commercial acumen with excellent forecasting, planning, and analytical skills. - Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing strategic customer relationships. - Solid understanding of retail economics, margin structures, promotion planning, and category management. - Experience developing and executing trade marketing and retail activation strategies. - Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. - An entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify opportunities and convert them into results. - Highly organised, self-motivated, and comfortable working autonomously. - Experience using ERP and business planning systems; familiarity with Business Central is advantageous. - Fluent German and English language skills are required, French is a Plus. AI in our hiring process Our recruitment team reviews every application, including your CV. We may use AI-assisted technology to support the initial review process and help our recruiters work more efficiently. Your application is always reviewed by a recruiter and all our hiring decisions are made by people. Learn more in our Privacy Policy: https://www.polaroid.com/en_nl/legal/careers-job-applicant-privacy-policy   Our Approach to AI At Polaroid we believe two things can be true at once: technology can help us move forward, while human creativity, craft, judgement and real-world connection matter more than ever. Since our beginning, we've embraced technology to create meaningful human experiences. Today that means exploring new tools, including AI, with curiosity and care, using them where they help us work better and build a stronger business, while staying true to what defines our brand.