Sales Director, Retail Planning

Our purpose is design for the good of humankind. It’s the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. And our success allows MillerKnoll to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone. Who we are MillerKnoll is a global design company with a strong heritage in modern furniture and workplace design. Our collective of brands includes Herman Miller and Knoll, two names that many may know through iconic products such as the Aeron Chair, the Ottoman and the Barcelona Chair. Today, we continue this design legacy by creating products and spaces that support how people live and work. The role will be based in our Milan showroom in Brera, at the heart of the city’s design district. This location offers daily contact with the Italian and international design community, close to the people, brands, and ideas shaping the future of interiors and workplace design. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated sales professional with around three years of experience. You will work closely with the Regional Manager, internal teams, and our dealer network. You will support new business opportunities in Italy, help manage the project pipeline, and gradually take more responsibility for customer and dealer relationships. You will also provide clear forecasts, market updates, and opportunity information to support business decisions. Work towards sales and activity targets by building strong and positive relationships with assigned dealers and key contacts in the market. Build and maintain relationships with architects, designers, specifiers, end clients, dealers, and other decision makers in the Italian contract furniture market. Find, qualify, and develop new sales opportunities for MillerKnoll and its dealer partners, with a focus on project-led and specification-based business. Act as a key commercial contact for assigned opportunities, with support from the wider MillerKnoll team. Support larger commercial projects in collaboration with internal teams, dealers, and relevant MillerKnoll resources. Support the coordination of product use, special requests, mock-ups, contract schemes, quotations, and order-processing needs for projects. Work with National Account Managers, Global Account Managers, Major Project Groups, A&D, Channel Development, Portfolio Leads, and dealer teams to make the most of opportunities in the territory. Provide technical and specification support to dealers, together with Portfolio Leads when needed. Represent and promote MillerKnoll products, services, and brand values in a professional and credible way at all times. Contribute to high-quality verbal and written presentations, including RFIs, RFPs, ten-ders, proposals, and dealer-led submissions. Support high-quality verbal and written presentations, including RFIs, tenders, proposals, and dealer submissions. Keep accurate and timely reports for the Regional Manager, and update Salesforce with opportunity, pipeline, and forecast information. Health & Safety: follow safe working practices, attend safety briefings when asked, and take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of colleagues, in line with health and safety rules. Compliance: work in line with MillerKnoll business systems, processes, certification schemes, regulations, and laws relevant to the role. Support internal quality checks and audits when needed. An existing network, or the confidence and motivation to build one, in the Italian contract furniture and design market. This may include dealers, architecture and design practices, specifiers, and end clients. A relationship-focused approach, with the ability to become a trusted long-term partner to dealers, specifiers, and end customers. A commercial mindset, with some proven experience in finding new business, developing opportunities, or supporting customer growth in a sales role. A service
- and solution-focused mindset, with an interest in learning how to add value during the full project lifecycle. Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to build confidence in negotiation and stakeholder management. A structured and organised way of working, with the ability to manage several projects, partners, and priorities at the same time. High levels of drive, energy, curiosity, and teamwork, with the ambition to grow into a more independent commercial role over time. Some experience with quotations, sales forecasts, pipeline management, or CRM systems such as Salesforce would be useful. Flexibility to travel up to 50% of the time across the territory. Able to work well with teams, while also being comfortable working independently. Honest, professional, and able to act with integrity. Education and experience Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Design, Business Administration, or a related field. Around 3 years of experience in sales, business developme