National Account Manager Retail

Lakeland Dairies; Ireland; Remote; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lakeland Dairies is seeking a commercially focused National Account Manager to lead and grow our UK retail business across grocery and convenience sectors. You will own a portfolio of key strategic customers, drive sustainable growth and strengthen partnerships while coordinating with Marketing, Category, Technical, Operations and Supply Chain teams.

The role requires proven experience managing major national accounts, strong commercial acumen, ability to analyse performance data, lead Joint

Qualifications

• Experience delivering profitable growth in foodservice or FMCG sectors.
• Experience managing major national accounts with revenue and margin accountability.
• Ability to develop Joint Business Plans (JBPs) and lead customer reviews and growth initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Own and grow a portfolio of retail accounts across UK grocery and convenience.
• Lead Joint Business Plans, reviews and strategic growth initiatives.
• Develop a robust pipeline of new business opportunities and manage tenders from submission to implementation.
• Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, contracts and promotional investments.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Category, Technical, Operations and Supply Chain to deliver customer-focused solutions and innovation.
• Forecast, report and manage pipeline with alignment to operational capability.

Skills

Account management

Negotiation

Business development

Data analysis

Job description

Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Society Limited (The Group) is the second largest dairy processor on the island of Ireland. The business is complex and ambitious with a milk supply pool of 2 billion litres of milk, drawn from over 3,200 family farms across 16 counties.

Applications are invited for the above position within our Foodservice Sales team.

The opportunity:

We are looking for an ambitious and commercially focused National Account Manager to lead and grow our retail business across the UK grocery and convenience sectors. This is a high-profile role with full ownership of a portfolio of key strategic customers, giving you the opportunity to drive sustainable growth, strengthen existing partnerships and unlock new opportunities across our UHT milk, butter, flavoured milk and value-added product ranges.

Working at the heart of our commercial team, you will combine exceptional account management, customer insight and strategic thinking to retain and develop business, lead successful tender processes and deliver profitable growth. Building strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders alike, you will play a key role in enhancing customer engagement, driving commercial performance and positioning Lakeland Dairies as a trusted, long-term partner within the retail market.

What success will look like:

• Own and grow a portfolio of retail accounts, delivering revenue, volume, margin and profitability targets.
• Build strong relationships with key retail customers, leading Joint Business Plans, reviews and strategic growth initiatives.
• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of new business opportunities across grocery and convenience channels.
• Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, contracts, promotional investment and customer terms.
• Identify and convert new business opportunities, including managing retail tenders from submission through to implementation.
• Act as the retail channel expert, using customer, category and market insights to inform strategy and drive growth.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Category, Technical, Operations and Supply Chain teams to deliver customer-focused solutions and innovation.
• Drive the successful launch of new products and customer initiatives, ensuring clear ownership of forecasts, volumes and commercial performance.
• Provide accurate forecasting, account reporting and pipeline management while ensuring commitments are aligned with operational capability.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, governance standards, health & safety requirements and data protection regulations while contributing to a high-performing team culture.

What you will bring:

We’re looking for a commercially driven sales professional with a proven track record of delivering profitable growth within the food, foodservice or FMCG sector. The successful candidate will have experience managing and developing major retail or national accounts, with accountability for revenue, margin and customer growth, alongside strong commercial acumen and the ability to analyse performance data to identify opportunities and drive informed decision-making.

You will have experience developing and delivering Joint Business Plans (JBPs), leading customer reviews, growth initiatives and performance management activities, while demonstrating the ability to secure new business opportunities and maximise existing revenue streams.

Strong negotiation skills are essential, with experience managing pricing, promotional activity, contracts and customer agreements. A solid understanding of retail market dynamics, customer requirements and category growth opportunities is also required, along with the ability to work collaboratively across Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing and Technical teams to deliver outstanding customer solutions and sustainable business growth.

If you have the necessary skills and attributes to meet this exciting opportunity in a dynamic, high volume and fast-moving business, we would be delighted to hear from you.

***The successful applicant will be prepared to travel within the UK, Ireland and internationally as required***

If you have the necessary skills and attributes to meet this exciting opportunity in a dynamic, high volume and fast-moving business, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Lakeland Dairies Ltd is committed to having an inclusive workplace where every employee feels they belong. If you require accommodations to be made during the recruitment process or have questions relating to accessibility, please contact us at [e-mail].