National account manager

🌟 National Account Manager - Pharmacy Wholesale & Optical

📍 Chippenham, Wiltshire | Hybrid (2 days per week)

📈 UK Commercial | EMEA Team

👥 Reporting to: Commercial Manager UK & ROI


Are you a commercially astute National Account Manager ready to build something new while maximising established partnerships?


We’re looking for a high‑impact National Account Manager - Pharmacy Wholesale & Optical to play a pivotal role in launching and scaling our Optical Channel, while also driving growth across a core portfolio of UK pharmaceutical wholesale accounts.


This is a rare opportunity to shape a channel from the ground up, influence strategy, and deliver meaningful commercial results within a fast‑moving, growth‑focused environment.


🚀 The Opportunity

This role combines new business creation with strategic account leadership:

✅ Establish and grow Alliances’ presence in the Optical Channel

✅ Secure and develop partnerships with optical wholesalers and major retail chains

✅ Own and grow a portfolio of established Pharmaceutical Wholesale accounts

✅ Lead Joint Business Plans (JBPs) and impactful trade marketing programmes

✅ Deliver against sales, revenue, and profit targets

You’ll be a trusted partner externally and a collaborative leader internally working closely with Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure seamless execution.


👓 What you will be responsible for

Optical Channel Development

* Build and scale a new Optical Channel customer base
* Onboard optical wholesalers (commercial, operational, contractual setup)
* Win new business with major optical retail chains from proposal through to contract and pricing negotiation
* Lead the creation and delivery of strategic JBPs
* Develop and manage trade marketing and promotional calendars
* Drive sustainable revenue growth, distribution expansion, and margin improvement
* Build deep market insight across optical, customers, and competitors

Pharmaceutical Wholesale Account Management

* Manage and grow established wholesale relationships
* Lead commercial negotiations (pricing, terms, ranging, promotions)
* Deliver JBPs, forecast accuracy, and demand planning
* Drive sales performance while maintaining excellent service levels
* Act as the primary commercial contact, resolving issues and strengthening long‑term partnerships
* Ensure compliance with governance, regulatory, and ethical standards


🎯 What we’re looking for

You’re a commercial leader who thrives on ownership, influence, and results. You’ll ideally bring:

* Proven experience in National Account Management or Business Development
* Background in healthcare, consumer health, optical, pharmaceutical, or FMCG
* Demonstrated success in winning new business and opening new channels
* Experience managing UK pharmaceutical wholesale accounts (highly desirable)
* Strong negotiation skills and commercial acumen
* Experience developing and executing Joint Business Plans
* Exceptional relationship‑building, influencing, and communication skills
* Ability to work autonomously in a matrix, fast‑paced environment
* A strategic mindset with strong execution capability
* Resilience, adaptability, and a results‑driven approach


🌍 Why Join Us?

* Shape and own a brand‑new commercial channel
* High visibility role with real strategic impact
* Collaborative UK & EMEA commercial team
* Hybrid working with flexibility
* A business that values partnership, performance, and ambition
* Great benefits including up to 25% bonus potential, up to 10% pension contribution, BUPA, Life Assurance, Cycle and Electric car schemes, etc
* Work life balance - 25 days holiday, plus celebration and volunteering days, and option to buy an additional 10 days holiday