Commercial Manager

Zest Recruitment; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm in the UK is seeking a proactive Commercial Manager to drive the commercial strategy within a dynamic team. The role involves managing key retail accounts, executing joint business plans, and leading negotiations. Ideal candidates will have strong commercial acumen, P&L management experience, and excellent communication skills. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a growing business and advance your career.

Qualifications

• Strong background managing retail accounts in the FMCG sector.
• Adept at building long-lasting customer relationships.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, commercially driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Assume full responsibility for a portfolio of retail customers.
• Work closely with retail partners to build accurate volume forecasts.
• Create and execute joint business plans to support revenue targets.
• Lead commercial negotiations to secure optimal pricing.
• Collaborate with the Commercial Executive to interpret market data.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams for customer initiatives.

Skills

Strong commercial acumen

P&L management experience

Numerical proficiency

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

Job description

With a real commitment to build and shape this team for the future, this well‑established business is looking for a Commercial Manager with strong retail experience (ideally M&S) to hit the ground running and take ownership for its M&S account.

Looking to strengthen its commercial capability as it continues to grow, this role offers a fantastic chance to take full ownership of key retail accounts and drive commercial strategy within a high energy, collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Assume full responsibility for a portfolio of retail customers, cultivating strong partnerships and delivering compelling, tailored presentations.
• Work closely with retail partners to build accurate volume forecasts, plan promotional activity, and manage product costings.
• Create and execute joint business plans that support revenue targets and sustainable growth.
• Lead commercial negotiations to secure optimal pricing and protect product profitability.
• Collaborate with the Commercial Executive to interpret market and category data, enabling insightful reporting and informed decision‑making.
• Coordinate effectively with cross‑functional teams—such as marketing and product development—to ensure alignment and seamless delivery of customer initiatives.

The successful candidate will be a confident, proactive Commercial Manager with a strong background managing retail accounts in the FMCG (ideally food) sector. You will be adept at building long‑lasting customer relationships and comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, commercially driven environment.

Skills & Qualifications

• Strong commercial acumen, including numerical proficiency, P&L management experience, and accurate forecasting capabilities.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to influence retail buyers, collaborate internally, and maintain positive customer partnerships.

With a commitment to re‑shape and re‑build this team for success, this role is a fabulous opportunity to be part of the transformation and through its success propel your career forward in a rewarding role.