Summary:
This is a high-impact, commercially critical role at the heart of the UK & Ireland business. The role leads the development and execution of a commercial planning & activation strategy for the UK & Ireland, translating brand ambition into profitable, insight-led growth plans across channels and customers.
The successful candidate will own the end-to-end commercial planning cycle, including annual and in-year planning, promotion strategy, trade investment optimization, and performance tracking, while ensuring best-in-class shopper and activation execution.
As a central role within the commercial organisation, this position requires an individual with strong commercial acumen, analytical rigour, entrepreneurial mindset and cross-functional leadership to balance strategic planning with executional excellence.
Commercial Planning & Execution:
1. Partner Sales & Finance to drive forecasting, scenario planning and trade-off decisions across the All Year Round & Seasonal product range
2. Define and optimise promotional strategy & trade investment (TP/DME)
3. Drive ROI, effectiveness and post-event analysis
4. Lead SRGM / pricing & promotional levers
5. Act as central commercial lead for seasonal portfolio size of prizes & innovation size of prizes
6. Act as central commercial lead for cross functional teams to achieve the commercial KPIs by Channel (ICS, EPOS and Distribution)
Trade Marketing Activation & Shopper Strategy:
7. Translate commercial plans into compelling in-store / omnichannel execution
8. Deliver best-in-class activation strategies across channels
9. Improve conversion, in-market execution effectiveness and commercial return
10. Portfolio Strategy by Channel & Customer.
11. Loyalty program development for Key Retailers (Nectar, Dunnhumby,
12. Path to purchase analysis and key Shopper Drivers by Channel
13. In store merchandising and communication strategy.
Own commercial inputs in the Annual, quarterly and monthly planning process for the UK business:
14. IBM Process – Over-seeing short and long term R&Os focused on ICS and EPOS targets.
15. Report & present on Innovation performance, Distribution, Rate of Sale in monthly cross-functional business reviews
16. Lead co-ordinator on KPIs reviewed during business reviews
Commercial budget management (DME-TP) by channel, maximizing resources to deliver both the Top and Bottom line KPI´s.
17. Key interface with UK distributor’s category & activation team executing plans
Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:
18. A strong commercial mindset with relevant experience in confectionery or fast‑moving consumer goods, underpinned by a clear value and growth orientation
19. An entrepreneurial and autonomous approach, balanced with a collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively across functions
20. A strong results focus, with a proven track record of delivering against commercial and strategic objectives
21. An innovative, forward‑looking mindset, with the ability to challenge convention and identify disruptive growth opportunities
22. The capability to operate successfully within a complex, large‑scale corporate environment, demonstrating sound judgment and accountability
23. Proven ability to build alignment and consensus at all levels of the organisation, including peers, senior leaders and direct teams
24. A continuous improvement mentality, proactively identifying opportunities, encouraging new ways of thinking and driving positive change
25. Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to build long‑term, effective relationships with key decision makers that deliver mutual value
26. Solid experience in budget ownership, trade investment management and disciplined commercial planning and execution
Education:
Individual must know and understand current trade trends, market conditions and sales enablers through continued education and training. Bachelor Degree is a must.
Experience:
27. FMCG sales experience including selling, negotiating and leveraging insights to deliver tailored customer plans that achieve both company and customer objectives.
28. Experience in Commercial Planning, Trade Marketing or Revenue Growth Management (RGM) with with proven ability to develop and execute shopper‑centric activations, promotional and in‑store activation strategies across multiple channels.
29. Experience managing complex, multi‑format customers and channels within the UK retail landscape, with an understanding of both traditional grocery and eCommerce / omni‑channel environments
30. Demonstrated experience in trade investment management, SRGM, commercial modelling and scenario planning to support profitable growth.
31. Strong understanding of category management & distribution strategy
32. Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, in a complex, matrixed FMCG organisation.