Commercial Director

COREcruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits with a dynamic premium soft drinks company, seeking a Commercial Director to spearhead their UK strategy and expand into international markets. This pivotal role offers the chance to shape the commercial landscape across On Trade, Off Trade, and Out of Home channels. The ideal candidate will bring over a decade of experience in the Drinks FMCG sector, demonstrating a successful track record in scaling brands and leading high-performing teams. Join a purpose-driven challenger brand that values collaboration and innovation, and make a significant impact in a fast-growing sector. If you're ready to take on this challenge, your journey starts here!

Benefits

Bonus

Car Allowance

Shares & Equity options

Autonomy in role

Collaborative culture

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Commercial/Sales leadership roles within Drinks FMCG.
• Proven track record in scaling brands in competitive markets.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the commercial strategy across various channels.
• Lead and develop a high-performing commercial team.

Skills

Commercial Leadership

Sales Strategy

Market Analysis

Negotiation Skills

Team Development

P&L Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or related field

Job description

Commercial Director – Premium Soft Drinks - National– Up to £100,000 plus package

This company is an exciting and well known Premium Soft Drink & Juice business excelling in growth across both the On Trade and Off Trade in the United Kingdom. Their product, offering and service is exceptional and their growth trajectory is like no other.

This is a unique opportunity to join this brand at a pivotal point in its growth journey. They are now seeking a commercially brilliant and entrepreneurial Commercial Director to lead the UK commercial strategy across On Trade, Out of Home, and Off Trade channels – while also launching our international presence across key global markets.

This role will require extensive travel with a London based office. Previous experience at a senior level is essential within the Drinks FMCG sector.

Company Benefits

• Be part of a fast-growing, purpose-led challenger brand shaking up the premium soft drinks space
• A competitive package including Bonus, Car Allowance and Shares & Equity options.
• Enjoy autonomy, influence and ownership in a high-impact role
• Join a collaborative, ambitious and values-driven culture

Commercial Director Key Responsibilities:

• Define and deliver the commercial strategy across the UK On Trade (hospitality, premium bars and restaurants), Off Trade (retail and grocery), and Out of Home channels
• Set clear KPIs, objectives and growth strategies aligned with business goals
• Build robust commercial plans to strengthen market share, revenue growth and brand awareness
• Lead, coach and grow a high-performing commercial team, fostering a strong performance and values-led culture. Design the structure of the commercial team to scale with business growth, including recruitment of new talent
• Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Operations and Finance to ensure alignment and commercial excellence
• Own and lead top-to-top relationships with national accounts, wholesalers, buying groups, and key customers. Identify and develop new channel opportunities to diversify revenue streams
• Ensure excellence in customer engagement, contract negotiation, promotional execution and account planning
• Lead the development and execution of the international go-to-market strategy
• Open new distribution markets abroad through strategic partnerships, importers and direct-to-retail routes
• Build long-term relationships with international distributors and retail partners
• Full responsibility for commercial forecasting, budgeting, pricing strategy and promotional ROI. Track and analyse performance to drive data-led decisions and optimise margin performance
• Provide regular reporting and commercial insight to the executive leadership team

The Ideal Commercial Director candidate:

• 10+ years’ experience in Commercial / Sales leadership roles within Drinks FMCG
• Strong understanding of soft drinks, juices, or premium beverage categories
• Proven track record of scaling SME / challenger brands in competitive markets
• Extensive experience across On Trade, Off Trade and Out of Home channels
• Success in launching brands into international markets – ideally in Europe, the Middle East or Asia
• Excellent leadership and team development capabilities
• Strategic thinker with a strong commercial instinct and hands-on execution ability
• Confident communicator and credible at senior level with customers and stakeholders
• Experience managing P&L, forecasting, trade terms, and complex negotiations

If you are interested in having a chat about this role, please forward updated CV’s to Mark at COREcruitment / [e-mail]