Market Strategy & Planning Manager

STADA Thornton & Ross; Arborfield; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary bonus

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

EV charging scheme

Wellbeing program

Cycle to Work

Job summary

STADA Thornton & Ross in Reading, UK seeks a commercially minded MS&P professional to bridge brand strategy and retail execution. You will turn marketing plans into compelling customer propositions that drive growth and influence cross-functional teams.

The role requires a degree in Marketing or related field, 5–7 years in FMCG/CHC, and strong analytical, presentation and stakeholder skills. Hybrid working with attractive benefits and bonus opportunities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or related discipline preferred.
• Approximately 5–7 years' experience within FMCG, Consumer Healthcare (CHC), OTC, Personal Care or branded consumer goods.
• Experience in MS&P, Customer Strategy & Planning, Shopper Marketing or Category Management.
• Strong commercial understanding of distribution, pricing, promotions, shopper activation and in-store execution.
• Excellent presentation skills with the ability to create compelling PowerPoint materials for customers and internal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Translate brand plans into customer-facing activation plans across product, price, promotion and place.
• Develop retailer-ready selling stories for priority brands, NPD and commercial initiatives.
• Anchor plans in shopper insight, category opportunities and retailer priorities.
• Translate innovation strategy into launch toolkits, distribution targets, POS requirements and promo plans.
• Define distribution priorities by brand, SKU and customer, aligned to growth and profitability objectives.
• Lead the MS&P drumbeat through Commercial Alignment Meetings and launch readiness reviews.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Influencing without authority

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Marketing or related field

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

Company description: Thornton & Ross

Job description: STADA UK Thornton & Ross – MS&P Manager Reading | U.K.| Full-time | Permanent

Role Purpose: STADA UK is strengthening its Consumer Healthcare (CHC) commercial organisation by creating a more integrated approach to brand strategy, customer planning and in‑market execution.

How You Will Make Impact:

Customer & Shopper Activation

• Translate brand plans into customer-facing activation plans across product, price, promotion and place.
• Develop retailer‑ready selling stories for priority brands, NPD and commercial initiatives.
• Anchor plans in shopper insight, category opportunities and retailer priorities.

NPD Launch Excellence

• Translate innovation strategy into launch toolkits, distribution targets, POS requirements and promo plans.
• Define and monitor launch KPIs by customer including distribution, availability, visibility, feature space and execution.
• Capture customer feedback and in-market learnings to continuously improve future launches.

Distribution, Availability & Retailer Priorities

• Define distribution priorities by brand, SKU and customer, aligned to growth and profitability objectives.
• Monitor R&Os with Sales and Marketing, developing action plan to address gaps.
• Support cross-functional prioritisation when out-of-stock issues or supply constraints impact customers.

Pricing, Promotion & ROI Discipline

• Develop brand/customer promo guidelines, covering promotional depth, frequency, mechanics and timing.
• Lead promo ROI reviews with Sales and Finance, translating insights into improved investment decisions.
• Support pricing flow and ensure activity is consistent with brand positioning and commercial goals.

In-Store Excellence & Perfect Store

• Define best-in-class in-store execution standards, including range, shelf presence, visibility, POS, secondary displays and feature space.
• Develop POS and shopper activation toolkits that support brand plans and launch priorities.
• Monitor execution standards and recommend corrective action where performance is off plan.

Power of 1 Commercial Planning

• Lead the MS&P drumbeat through Commercial Alignment Meetings and launch readiness reviews.
• Equip Sales teams with clear deployment materials, objection handling tools and clear customer priorities.
• Partner with closely with Marketing, Sales, Category, Finance and Demand Planning to maximize success of the category & brand performance.

What We Are Looking For:

We're looking for a commercially minded MS&P professional who understands how to bridge the gap between brand strategy and retail execution. You are passionate about shopper-led thinking and know how to transform marketing plans into compelling customer propositions that drive growth. Comfortable influencing cross-functional teams, you thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy bringing structure, pace and commercial focus to complex projects. You'll combine strong analytical thinking with excellent stakeholder management, enabling you to influence without direct authority and build alignment across Marketing, Sales and other commercial functions. Above all, you're someone who enjoys turning strategy into action and delivering measurable results in the market.

You will bring:

• A degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience, is preferred
• Approximately 5–7 years' experience within FMCG, Consumer Healthcare (CHC), OTC, Personal Care or branded consumer goods.
• Experience in MS&P, Customer Strategy & Planning, Shopper Marketing or Category Management.
• Strong commercial understanding of distribution, pricing, promotions, shopper activation and in-store execution.
• Excellent presentation skills with the ability to create compelling PowerPoint materials for both customers and internal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Analytical, pragmatic and action-oriented, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced commercial environment.

How We Care For You

At Thornton & Ross our purpose “Caring for people's health as a trusted partner” motivates us every day. And what would be a better place than starting with our own employees. Which is why we give much in return:

• Competitive salary and annual bonus scheme.
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme offering 8% employer contribution rates.
• Hybrid working – we spend three days of your choice in the office, with the remaining days working at home.
• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays with the potential to buy up to 5 additional days.
• Free winter flu jab.
• Wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme and KYAN Wellbeing – offering free coaching and counselling services for you and your family.
• Electric Car Scheme through Octopus Energy, plus free on-site EV charging.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Enhanced Family Leave.
• Plus, many more employee benefits & celebration events.

STADA Group values and promotes its diverse culture, regardless of gender, age, social or ethnic origin, disabilities, religion, ideology, or sexual orientation. We use the strength of our uniqueness to develop creative ideas, expand our experience and increase innovative strength. Our focus is on equal opportunities, respectful cooperation, and the promotion of an inclusive working environment.