Commercial Manager

Zest; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established business in the UK seeks a Commercial Manager to drive commercial strategy and manage retail accounts. This role entails taking ownership of key retail customers, leading negotiations, and collaborating with marketing teams. The ideal candidate has strong commercial acumen and retail management experience in the FMCG sector, with exceptional communication skills. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the transformation of the team and advance your career.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing retail accounts within the FMCG sector.
• Ability to build long-lasting customer relationships.
• Comfortable 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 cross-functional teams for seamless delivery of initiatives.

Skills

Strong commercial acumen

P&L management experience

Numerical proficiency

Exceptional verbal communication skills

Exceptional 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.