Senior Commercial Manager

Soil Association; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A national charitable organization is seeking a Senior Commercial Manager to drive growth in the organic food and farming sectors. The role is hybrid, based in Bristol, and requires significant experience in sustainable farming. Candidates should have strong communication and negotiation skills to manage key accounts and advocate for organic practices. This position offers a competitive salary and various benefits, including generous holiday and pension schemes.

Benefits

27 days annual holiday plus bank holidays

Pension scheme with ethical investment options

Free membership of the Soil Association

Volunteer days for community support

Family friendly policies and flexible working

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Significant experience in sustainable farming or food and drink sector.
• Educated to degree level or with equivalent experience.
• Creative and entrepreneurial approach with leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive growth in certified organic food and farming sectors.
• Manage key produce and dairy client accounts.
• Advocate for organic farming and commercial market insights.

Skills

Sustainable farming knowledge

Organic production understanding

Strong communication skills

Negotiation skills

Market data analysis

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

Senior Commercial Manager (Agri - food, farming and organic market insights)

Location: Hybrid (Bristol) with some national travel required. Remote working requests to be considered.

Salary: £42,000 per annum (FTE), pro rata for 30 hours / 0.8 FTE

Employment Type: Full-time, Temporary (Maternity Cover)

About Us

The Soil Association, formed in 1946, is the only UK charity which works across the spectrum of human health, the environment and animal welfare. We campaign for change, we support farming innovation, we serve healthy food in communities, we support and grow the organic market, and we protect forests. We could not do any of this without our supporters, partners, donors and dedicated staff.

About the Opportunity

This role drives the growth of certified organic food and farming sectors. It will support clients, retailers and the wider industry through the gathering and sharing of organic market insights, commercial account management of key produce and dairy clients, and will advocate for organic farming, building and defining Soil Association Certification’s organic farming offer. The role will strengthen industry knowledge of, and commitment to, certified organic and will shape Soil Association Certification’s positions on key issues like regenerative agriculture. It will represent the interests of the organic food and farming industries across media and through targeted speaking slots, press opportunities, webinars and events.

About You

You’ll have significant experience in sustainable farming or the food and drink sector, with strong knowledge of organic production and supply chains. Educated to degree level or with equivalent experience, you bring a creative and entrepreneurial approach to your work, alongside excellent leadership and line management skills.

• You’re a confident communicator, with strong presentation skills and the ability to deliver talks and insights to a range of audiences, including media and industry events.
• Your strong influencing, negotiation, and relationship-building skills enable you to work effectively with clients, retailers, and stakeholders at all levels.
• With a proven ability to analyse market data and consumer insights, you’re highly skilled at turning complex information into clear, actionable messages.
• You're also a strong team player who collaborates well across organisations, and you're comfortable using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to a high standard.
• An outstanding networker, you maintain credibility across the organic and retail sectors, and have a clear empathy with the values and aims of the Soil Association Group.
• A full driving licence is desirable, as is experience in building content for events and line management.

Our Benefits

We offer a range of financial and lifestyle benefits to all our employees, including:

• 27 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days with length of service plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Pension scheme with ethical investment options and employer contribution increasing with length of service
• Free membership of the Soil Association and discounts on organic produce
• Volunteer days to give back to the local community or support green initiatives
• Family friendly policies and flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Sociable and engaging workplace of professionals that share a passion for healthy, sustainable lifestyle and produce

To Apply

Click ‘apply now’ to submit your CV and Cover Letter. Please note we look at applications on arrival and reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

Please check your junk/spam folder if you do not receive a confirmation email upon submitting your application. All candidates will subsequently receive an email to confirm whether they have made it through to interview stage.

For any queries, please contact [e-mail]

We know the value of diversity in nature and want it in our organisation. We recognise that diverse backgrounds and experiences will bring a fresh perspective to our work. If you're not sure about applying, please get in touch with us for a chat.

Thank you for your interest in supporting our work at the Soil Association.