Head of Commercial

COREcruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Head of Commercial to drive growth across key operations. The ideal candidate will have a proven background in the drinks or FMCG sector, demonstrating success in commercial and operational roles. Responsibilities include managing commercial functions, developing sales strategies, and collaborating with teams for optimal performance. Excellent leadership and negotiation skills are essential. The position is based in Manchester, with competitive salary negotiations and relocation options available.

Qualifications

• Proven commercial leader in the drinks, FMCG, or wholesale sector.
• Strong understanding of commercial and operational disciplines.
• Experience in driving growth through sales strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the commercial function.
• Identify and grow revenue opportunities.
• Build and execute long-term commercial strategy.
• Work with logistics teams for supply chain performance.
• Collaborate with marketing to align strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Sales strategy

Stakeholder management

Team development

Job description

Head of Commercial –Leading Drinks Operation – North – Salary Negotiable (Relocation available)

My client is an established and well know business operating across both hospitality and brewing in the UK.This business has an exceptional track record in terms of hospitality and product, along with a strong growth plan moving into 2026.

They are seeking a Head of Commercial to drive growth across multiple key operations in the business.The Head of Commercial You will take ownership of the full commercial function, driving performance across sales, new business, procurement, supplier management, pricing, and commercial operations, while also working cross-functionally with teams such as marketing, HR, and NPD.

This role requires candidates with experience covering both operations and commercial within a large FMCG business – and a strong understanding of the on-trade sector.

Head of Commercial Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the commercial function across sales, new business, account development and customer strategy.
• Identify, secure, and grow revenue opportunities across multiple channels.
• Build and execute a long-term commercial strategy aligned with organisational goals.
• Lead on pricing models, margin analysis, and profitability planning.

• Oversee buying, procurement, and stock planning to ensure efficient and cost-effective operations.
• Manage supplier relationships, leading negotiations and reviewing commercial contracts.
• Work closely with logistics and operations teams to ensure seamless supply chain performance.

• Collaborate with marketing teams to align brand and commercial strategies, campaigns, and promotional plans.
• Support people management initiatives, coaching and developing teams across the commercial function.
• Partner with finance, HR, and leadership to build a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

• Sit on the senior leadership team, contributing to broader business direction, culture, and growth targets.
• Develop insights, reporting, and forecasting to support board-level decision making.
• Lead innovation initiatives across product development, category trends, and customer solutions.

The Ideal Head of Commercial candidate:

• A proven commercial leader with strong experience in the drinks, FMCG, or wholesale sector.
• Strong understanding of both commercial and operational disciplines, including procurement, supply chain, and supplier management.
• Demonstrable experience driving growth through sales strategy, new business development, and customer engagement.
• Comfortable operating at both high-level strategy and hands-on delivery.
• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.
• A collaborative and forward-thinking approach with a passion for team development and innovation.

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

COREcruitment are experts in recruiting for Hospitality, Catering, Leisure, Retail, FM, Property and Construction sectors.We currently have over 1350 live roles across the UK, Middle East, Europe, Africa, North & Central America and South East Asia.
To view other great opportunities please check out our websitewww.corecruitment.comor call us for a confidential chat about upcoming opportunities.Likewise, if you are looking to recruit then we would love to hear from you.
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