Head of Commercial

Promatchconsultancy; Alness; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share

EV scheme

Company pension

30 days leave

Hybrid working

Job summary

ProMatch is partnering with a Scottish food business to appoint a Head of Commercial. You will shape and lead the commercial strategy, managing a team across commercial, procurement and NPD, with significant UK retail experience driving sustainable growth.

You will join the senior leadership team, travel to customer sites across the UK, and influence future strategy while protecting partnerships and the brand’s reputation.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing major UK retail accounts within the food manufacturing sector.
• Track record of delivering sustainable commercial growth.
• Experience with major UK retailers (Waitrose, M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons) is valuable.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commercial strategy to achieve profitable growth.
• Manage major retail customer relationships and negotiations.
• Represent the business at meetings and industry events across the UK.
• Support procurement and NPD functions.
• Identify new business opportunities across emerging sales channels.
• Contribute to board-level discussions and strategic planning.
• Drive performance against budgets, targets and KPIs.
• Provide leadership to an experienced team.

Skills

Retail account management

Strategic stakeholder relationships

Cross-functional leadership

Negotiation

Commercial awareness

Job description

ProMatch is delighted to be exclusively supporting a well‑established and highly respected Scottish food business in the appointment of a newly created Head of Commercial role.

Created as part of a positive business restructure, this is an opportunity to join the senior leadership team of a successful organisation with strong customer partnerships, an excellent reputation and ambitious plans for the future.

Reporting directly to the Co‑Managing Director, the Head of Commercial will play a key role in shaping and delivering the company’s commercial strategy, leading a well‑established team across commercial, procurement and new product development whilst identifying opportunities for sustainable growth.

This opportunity will appeal to a commercially‑minded leader who enjoys building on strong foundations and helping businesses realise their future potential. With an established retail customer base, an experienced team and strong foundations already in place, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence future strategy, explore new market opportunities and help shape the next phase of the business’s growth whilst protecting the values, partnerships and reputation that have underpinned its success.

The Role

You’ll take ownership of key customer relationships, lead commercial planning and contribute directly to strategic business decisions as part of the wider leadership team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and delivering the commercial strategy to achieve profitable growth.
• Managing major retail customer relationships and commercial negotiations.
• Representing the business at customer meetings, leadership reviews and industry events, with regular travel to customer sites and stakeholder meetings across the UK.
• Supporting and developing teams across commercial, procurement and NPD functions.
• Identifying and delivering new business opportunities across emerging sales channels.
• Contributing to board‑level discussions and strategic planning.
• Driving performance against agreed budgets, targets and KPIs.
• Providing leadership, direction and clarity to an experienced and capable team.

About You

We’re keen to hear from commercially‑minded leaders who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience managing major UK retail accounts within the food manufacturing, ideally within fresh food
• A strong track record of delivering sustainable commercial growth.
• Experience managing strategic customer accounts and senior stakeholder relationships.
• The ability to balance commercial performance with long‑term partnership development.
• Experience leading and influencing cross‑functional teams.
• Strong commercial awareness, negotiation and relationship‑building skills.
• A collaborative leadership style and a desire to be part of a close‑knit leadership team.

Retail account management experience within the food industry is essential. Experience working with major UK retailers such as Waitrose, M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons or similar would be highly advantageous, as would experience within fresh food or other fast‑paced food manufacturing environments.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join a respected Scottish business at an exciting point in its journey. You’ll inherit an experienced and capable team, work alongside a grounded and supportive leadership group, and have the opportunity to influence business direction, explore new commercial opportunities and help shape future growth.

You’ll be joining a business with strong foundations, established customer relationships and a proven track record of success. The focus is on building for the future, developing long‑term partnerships and identifying sustainable opportunities for growth.

The business is looking for someone with the ambition to make a genuine impact while continuing to develop their own career at senior leadership level.

Benefits Include

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Employee ownership and profit share scheme
• Electric vehicle scheme
• Company pension
• 30 days annual leave
• Hybrid working available (3 to 4 days on site weekly)

Location

Based in the Scottish Highlands, this role requires regular on‑site presence and would suit someone who values being close to the operation, their team and the wider business.

Hybrid working is available, with an expectation of approximately 3 to 4 days per week on site. The role also involves regular travel to customer locations and meetings across the UK, including periodic visits to customer head offices and key stakeholder sites.