Senior Business Development Manager

Kevin Edward Consumer; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Kevin Edward Consumer in the UK is seeking an experienced Account Manager to own Private Label grocery and discount partnerships. The role focuses on shaping customer strategy, driving growth, and managing high-performing accounts with support from a team.

You will lead joint business planning, negotiate pricing and promotions, and deliver profitable sales while building strong retailer relationships across buying, merchandising, marketing, online and supply teams.

Qualifications

• Experience managing Private Label FMCG accounts in UK retail channels.
• Strong track record of profitable sales growth and margin management.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable operating at strategic and operational levels.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute ambitious customer growth plans for Private Label accounts.
• Lead joint business planning with grocery and discount customers.
• Negotiate pricing, terms and promotional plans to improve profitability.
• Build compelling propositions that create value for retailer and supplier.
• Own account P&L performance and drive budget, forecast and risk reviews.
• Manage lifecycle of products, including pricing changes and specs.

Skills

Private Label FMCG

UK retail accounts

Commercial negotiations

Strategic & operational

Stakeholder presentations

Job description

Our client is one of the UK's leading beauty and personal care innovators, combining brand ownership, product development expertise and large-scale manufacturing capabilities.

They develop and manufacture over 44 million units annually across skincare, haircare, personal care, wellbeing and baby care categories. Products are supplied through a diverse business model encompassing owned brands, private label partnerships and contract manufacturing for some of the UK's most recognised retailers and beauty brands.

As they continue to grow, they are investing in innovation capabilities and are looking for an experienced Account Manager to help shape the future pipeline of products, technologies and customer opportunities across the Private Label businesses.

Role Description

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, ambitious and commercially minded person to take ownership of some the company’s most important Private Label retail partnerships.

The role will lead our highest-performing Grocery and Discount accounts. Supported by another team member and with the opportunity to build further resource around the function, this is a role for someone who wants to make a genuine impact rather than simply manage existing business.

This role offers significant scope to shape customer strategy, influence the future direction of Private Label and play a key role in the next stage of growth.

Role Responsibilities

Driving Growth

• Develop and execute ambitious customer growth plans.
• Delivery of sustainable sales, profit and margin growth.
• Identify and secure new listings, category opportunities and distribution gains.
• Lead joint business planning with customers.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms and promotional plans.
• Build compelling customer propositions that create value for both retailer and supplier.
• Take full ownership of account P&L performance.

Building Winning Customer Partnerships

• Develop strong relationships across buying, merchandising, marketing, online and supply teams.
• Become a trusted commercial partner to key retail customers.
• Lead all customer meetings, reviews and presentations.
• Influence category decisions through insight-led selling.
• Drive successful category reviews, range reviews and NPD launches.
• Ensure all opportunities are maximised throughout the customer planning cycle.
• Create and deliver activation plans covering distribution, merchandising, promotional strategy and range optimisation.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and customer performance to identify growth opportunities.
• Challenge internally and externally to drive the best commercial outcomes.
• Manage products throughout their lifecycle, including pricing, cost changes and specification updates.
• Deliver accurate budgets, forecasts and risk assessments.

Demand & Supply Planning

• Forecast demand and promotional activity.
• Monitor EPOS performance and implement corrective action plans where required.
• Work closely with supply chain teams to ensure excellent customer service levels.
• Manage launch forecasting, pipeline fill and ongoing stock requirements.

Candidate Description

• Proven experience managing major UK retail accounts for Private Label FMCG products.
• Ideally experience within beauty, fragrance, personal care or adjacent categories.
• Track record of delivering profitable sales growth.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills.
• Comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.
• Confident presenting to and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Able to balance relationship building with a determination to win new business.
• Highly driven, entrepreneurial and opportunity-focused.
• Passion for brands, customers and consumers.