Commercial Controller, Commercial Controller

Pilgrim's Europe; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee discount platforms

Enhanced holiday entitlement

Ongoing learning and development

Career progression

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe is seeking a Commercial Controller to lead a major own-label retail account from its Uxbridge base. You will drive revenue, volume, and profitability while steering Joint Business Plans and senior-level customer relationships.

The role requires cross-functional leadership across Marketing, Category, Innovation, Technical, and Finance. You will build and lead a team of Commercial Managers and Executives, delivering sustainable growth and robust forecasting.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing major grocery retail accounts.
• Food manufacturing background.
• Full P&L management experience.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the commercial strategy for a major strategic retail account.
• Maintain full P&L responsibility across own-label product categories.
• Develop and implement annual and long-term Joint Business Plans.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Commercial Managers and Commercial Executives.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior customer stakeholders, including Category Directors and Heads of Buying.
• Identify and deliver growth opportunities across multiple categories and routes to market.
• Lead cross-functional customer business teams across Commercial, Marketing, Category, Innovation, Technical, Supply Chain and Finance.
• Drive customer-focused innovation and NPD programmes aligned to long-term customer strategies.
• Ensure accurate forecasting and effective management of risks and opportunities.
• Own financial governance processes and collaborate closely with Commercial Finance.
• Champion the voice of the customer internally and ensure business plans align with customer objectives.

Skills

Retail account management

P&L management

Commercial leadership

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Job description

Commercial Controller

Location: Uxbridge (Office-Based, 5 Days Per Week)

Travel: Regular customer and site travel required

Sponsorship: Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Our People Really Make the Difference

At Pilgrim's Europe, we are looking for an exceptional Commercial Controller to lead one of our most significant strategic customer partnerships. This is a high-profile commercial leadership role with full accountability for driving growth, profitability, customer relationships, and team performance across a major own-label retail account.

If you are an experienced FMCG commercial leader with a proven track record of managing major grocery retail accounts, delivering sustainable growth, and leading high-performing teams, we would love to hear from you.

About The Role

Reporting to the Commercial Director, you will be responsible for the commercial and sales strategy of a key strategic customer partnership, driving revenue, volume, and profitability across multiple categories.

You will lead the development and execution of annual and long-term Joint Business Plans, build strong senior-level customer relationships, and work cross-functionally to deliver outstanding commercial results.

This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, lead innovation programmes, and shape the future growth of a major retail partnership.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the commercial strategy for a major strategic retail account.
• Maintain full P&L responsibility across own-label product categories.
• Develop and implement annual and long-term Joint Business Plans.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Commercial Managers and Commercial Executives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior customer stakeholders, including Category Directors and Heads of Buying.
• Identify and deliver growth opportunities across multiple categories and routes to market.
• Lead cross-functional customer business teams across Commercial, Marketing, Category, Innovation, Technical, Supply Chain and Finance.
• Drive customer-focused innovation and NPD programmes aligned to long-term customer strategies.
• Ensure accurate forecasting and effective management of risks and opportunities.
• Own financial governance processes and collaborate closely with Commercial Finance.
• Champion the voice of the customer internally and ensure business plans align with customer objectives.

About You

You'll be a commercially astute leader with extensive experience managing strategic retail accounts within a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Significant experience managing major grocery retail accounts.
• Food manufacturing background.
• Previous experience at Commercial Controller level or a Senior Commercial Manager ready to step into a larger strategic leadership role.
• Strong own-label experience.
• Proven track record of delivering sustainable sales, profit and market share growth.
• Full P&L management experience.
• Exceptional negotiation, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships both internally and externally.
• Full UK Driving Licence and willingness to travel regularly.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within chilled, fresh or short shelf-life categories.
• Category management knowledge.
• Product development and innovation experience.
• Understanding of manufacturing operations and supply chain processes.

Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?

At Pilgrim's Europe, our people truly make the difference. We are committed to creating an environment where talented individuals can thrive, develop their careers, and make a real commercial impact within a leading food manufacturing business.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee discount platforms
• Enhanced holiday entitlement with options to purchase extra holidays
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Career progression within a large, international FMCG organisation
• The opportunity to work with some of the UK's leading retail customers and industry experts

Our Values

We're looking for people who share our values and bring them to life every day:

• Ownership - Determination - Discipline - Humility - Sincerity - Simplicity - Availability

Join us and become part of a business where your contribution is valued, your development is supported, and your success helps shape the future of one of Europe's leading food companies.

If you're looking for an opportunity to lead a key customer partnership, influence commercial strategy, and drive meaningful business growth within a leading FMCG organisation, we'd love to hear from you.