B2B Multilingual Sales & Partnerships Manager

Location: Boston, MA (Hybrid / Remote Option Possible)
Position Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Owner

Company Overview

I AM Books is a culturally rooted independent bookstore in Boston’s historic North End, specializing in Italian and multilingual literature for adults and children. We serve both retail customers and a growing institutional market, including schools, libraries, universities, and cultural organizations seeking curated non-English language collections.

Role Summary

The B2B Multilingual Sales & Partnerships Manager will lead the development and growth of I AM Books’ institutional (B2B) sales channel, with an initial focus on Italian-language books and expansion into French and other world languages.

This role owns the full B2B sales lifecycle--from prospecting and inbound inquiries through pricing, fulfillment coordination, repeat ordering, and margin management. The Manager will be accountable not only for revenue growth, but also for ensuring sustainable margins and building a self-supporting program over time.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sales & Business Development

• Prospect and engage institutional customers including schools, school districts, libraries, universities, and cultural organizations.
• Respond promptly and professionally to inbound institutional inquiries, converting them into initial and repeat orders.
• Build and maintain a structured B2B sales pipeline using CRM tools.
• Develop and execute a targeted outreach strategy aligned with I AM Books’ multilingual and cultural strengths.

2. Account & Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all institutional accounts.
• Build long-term relationships that result in repeat orders, standing orders, and annual refresh programs.
• Coordinate pricing, quotes, and timelines in alignment with internal margin targets.
• Manage client expectations regarding availability, lead times, and fulfillment.

3. Curriculum & Collection Curation

• Work with clients to understand age ranges, curricular goals, and language requirements.
• Curate appropriate collections in Italian, French, and other languages.
• Coordinate with domestic and international distributors to source titles efficiently and cost-effectively.

4. Operational & Financial Coordination

• Coordinate with internal staff on fulfillment, inventory flow, and invoicing.
• Ensure accurate quotes, purchase orders, and invoicing.
• Support accounts receivable follow-up for institutional clients as needed.
• Track revenue, gross margin, and performance by account and report regularly to ownership.

Required Experience & Qualifications

Professional Experience

• 3+ years of experience in B2B sales, account management, or business development.
• Experience selling to schools, libraries, universities, or educational institutions strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a pipeline, close new accounts, and grow repeat business.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and reliable follow-through.
• Comfortable working with pricing, margins, and basic financial reporting.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and sales tracking tools.

Language Requirements

• Italian fluency strongly preferred.
• French or additional language proficiency a plus.
• English fluency required.

Preferred / Ideal Experience

• Experience with library acquisitions or school curriculum purchasing.
• Background in book publishing, educational resources, or multilingual content.
• Experience working with international distributors or specialty wholesalers.
• Familiarity with institutional procurement or municipal purchasing processes.

Compensation & Incentives

• Base salary and Commission with structure designed to reward sustainable growth.
• Performance discussions tied to revenue, margin, and repeat business development.
• Hybrid / remote flexibility where appropriate.

I AM Books is an independent bookstore located at 124 Salem Street, in the heart of Boston’s historic North End neighborhood, and serving as a cultural hub for everyone interested in diving into the rich world of Italian and Italian American literature, history, research, art and more.