Channel Strategy & Planning Manager

Matthew Clark; Wales; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A premium drinks company is seeking a Channel Strategy & Planning Manager to drive channel activation across its portfolio. This role requires a strong understanding of the on-trade channel, consumer insights, and excellent project management skills. Key responsibilities include executing channel plans, managing commercial performance, and engaging with customers. Candidates should have relevant FMCG experience and a passion for the drinks industry.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience within an FMCG background.
• On trade experience essential with a passion for the on trade and drinks categories.
• Comfortable with managing a diverse workload of projects.

Responsibilities

• Unlock customer and consumer insights to generate breakthrough performance.
• Drive creation and execution of powerful commercial channel plans.
• Manage and evaluate channel activation plans that impact profitability.

Skills

Consumer insight

Project management

Relationship building

Commercial strategy

Microsoft Office proficiency

Job description

Channel Strategy & Planning Manager (England & Wales IFT)

The exciting and dynamic role of the Channel Strategy & Planning Manager for England & Wales IFT is to execute channel activation across our exciting portfolio of brands, working collaboratively with the commercial, procurement and brand marketing teams. Ensures C&C engages with customers and consumers in a way which continues to build positive brand equity and value for both our own brands and wider distribution portfolio through our RTM brands Matthew Clark and Bibendum. This role utilises category data to drive strategic thinking, unlocking insight to develop activation plans allowing us to win in the marketplace.

Responsibilities

• As Channel Strategy & Planning Manager you will be responsible for unlocking customers and consumer insights to generate breakthrough performance.
• You will have a strong understanding of the On Trade Channel, to drive the creation and execution of clear and powerful commercial channel plans.
• Cross functional working with the finance and sales teams to understand the commercial performance of all categories, suppliers, producers and our brands, highlighting and recommending action as required, and identifying opportunities for further revenue and profit growth.
• Your thorough understanding of the market, customer and consumer will inform your decisions when defining the strategy across channel.
• Driving visibility at every consumer touch point.
• Ongoing competitor analysis sharing information at monthly team meetings.
• Working with sales, B2B marketing and procurement curate the optimal range to go to market based on consumer insight and category sell.
• Alongside the senior managers execute Distribution Gold Standard through sales teams, suppliers, producers and our brands. Working closely to manage the annual calendar of activity and prioritised channel calendar of activity.
• Set clear KPI's and measures across all campaign performance making recommendations based on thorough performance review of activity.
• Customer engagement – work with B2B marketing and/or consumer brand teams to deliver customised tender and/or sell-in documents.
• Support senior managers to deliver end to end management of RTM collateral from brief, creation implementation and evaluation of activation at the point of purchase that directly impacts profitability, retention and new business.
• Presenting & influencing at monthly sales team meetings: sharing success of other Channel Strategy activity, providing channel insights and initiatives that directly impact profitability, penetration and retention.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience within an FMCG background.
• Full UK Driving License.
• On trade experience essential with a passion for the on trade and drinks categories.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel).
• Comfortable with managing a diverse workload of projects.
• Consumer insight driven, business planning, commercial strategy and creative skills a must with proven ability to translate into compelling narrative for action.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Strong ability to build and leverage relationships with internal teams and senior management.
• Travel is required across GB for sales meetings and customer facing meetings and events.

About C&C Group plc

C&C Group plc is a premium drinks company which owns, manufactures, markets and distributes a unique portfolio of beer and cider brands in its home markets and across the globe. You probably know us best from brands like Bulmers, Magners and Tennent's. Operating through the Matthew Clark, Bibendum, Tennent's and Bulmers Ireland brands, the Group has a market leading range, scale and reach including an intimate understanding of the markets it serves.

From grass to glass, and everything in between, we grow, brew, manufacture, market, and deliver some of the world's favourite drinks. C&C Group's portfolio of owned/exclusive brands include: Bulmers, the leading Irish cider brand; Tennent's, the leading Scottish beer brand; Magners the premium international cider brand; as well as a range of fast-growing, premium and craft ciders and beers, such as Heverlee, Menabrea, Five Lamps and Orchard Pig. We seek to champion and embed sustainability in everything that we do at C&C. While delivering joy to customers, we always shine a light on people and the planet. We have a clear ESG vision delivering to a better world. We respect, support, and develop all our people to be their best, with a focus on results by creating a culture of winning together.