At a Glance
- Tasks: Build relationships with growers and retailers to drive innovation and sustainability in fresh produce.
- Company: Dynamic fresh produce business focused on collaboration and growth.
- Benefits: Influential role with direct access to senior leadership and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Unique opportunity to broaden your influence in the food industry.
- Why this job: Make a real impact across the supply chain while working on exciting projects.
- Qualifications: Strong relationship-building skills and a passion for agriculture and sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
A genuinely different opportunity within fresh produce. We are working with a highly successful and ambitious fresh produce business to appoint a Strategic Customer & Projects Manager into a newly created and influential position. This isn't a conventional Commercial Manager role or a traditional Project Manager position. We're looking for someone who can join the dots building trusted relationships with growers, major UK retailers and strategic partners, then bringing together the right people to turn ideas and opportunities into results.
Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer, you'll work across six interconnected areas:
- Growing Community
- Innovation & Development
- Sustainability & CSR
- Consumer & Marketing
- Customer Partnerships
- Ways of Working
The organisation's growing community is fundamental to its success. You'll develop strong relationships with growers, gaining a genuine understanding of their businesses, capabilities, challenges and ambitions. You'll improve communication, encourage greater collaboration and ensure the grower perspective is represented in relevant business and customer conversations. You'll also help growers understand changing retailer, consumer and sustainability priorities, creating stronger alignment across the supply chain.
Alongside this, you'll become a trusted and consistent point of contact for key retailers and strategic partners, understanding their priorities and coordinating the appropriate expertise from across the business. One day you could be meeting growers to discuss future crop plans, supply challenges or new product opportunities. The next, you might be coordinating a sustainability initiative, reviewing consumer insight or bringing several teams together to deliver an important customer project. You don't need to be the expert in every subject. You do need to know how to find the expertise, bring the right people together, ask intelligent questions and make sure things happen.
Your Remit
- Growing Community: Strengthen relationships and communication with growers, creating a more connected, engaged and forward-looking grower network. Understand their capabilities and priorities, share relevant insight and help develop collaborative plans around innovation, sustainability, resilience and future supply.
- Innovation & Development: Build relationships with growers, breeders and development partners to identify emerging products, varieties and growing techniques, ensuring the business has early visibility of future opportunities.
- Sustainability & CSR: Understand retailer expectations and coordinate credible, measurable initiatives across growers, internal teams and external partners.
- Consumer & Marketing: Translate changing consumer behaviour and market insight into opportunities for category growth, innovation and stronger customer propositions.
- Customer Partnerships: Work alongside the commercial team to understand retailer priorities and develop deeper, more strategic relationships by connecting customers with the right knowledge, ideas and expertise.
- Ways of Working: Improve communication, collaboration and accountability, ensuring actions are captured, responsibilities are clear and commitments are delivered.
Who Are We Looking For?
We're deliberately keeping an open mind about background and current job title. You could come from grower relations, agriculture, commercial, category, innovation, sustainability, marketing, customer strategy or project management. Fresh produce or wider food/FMCG experience would be highly relevant, particularly if you have worked with growers, suppliers or major UK retailers. More important is your ability to demonstrate:
- Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills.
- Credibility with growers, customers and senior stakeholders.
- A genuine interest in agricultural supply chains and long-term partnerships.
- Strong commercial awareness.
- Natural curiosity and an appetite to learn.
- The confidence to challenge constructively.
- The ability to influence without relying on hierarchy.
- Strong project management and organisational capability.
- A track record of bringing people together and delivering results.
Why Consider It?
Roles with this breadth don't come along very often. You'll work across the entire journey from grower and product development through to consumer insight, retailer relationships and business strategy. You'll report directly to the Chief Commercial Officer, with the visibility and support required to make a genuine impact. This could particularly suit someone who has built a strong career within one area of food, agriculture or fresh produce and now wants to broaden their influence across an entire business and supply chain.
UK based | Fresh Produce | Senior strategic appointment. If you're intrigued even if your current job title doesn't appear to be an obvious match we'd be very interested in having a confidential conversation.
Strategic Customer & Projects Manager in Perth employer: Alaska Black
Alaska Black is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the East Midlands where you can thrive as a Site-Based Maintenance Electrician. With a strong focus on employee development and a culture that values teamwork and innovation, we provide comprehensive training opportunities and support for career advancement. Enjoy the benefits of working in a large commercial facility, where your skills will be recognised and rewarded, making a meaningful impact in our operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Customer & Projects Manager in Perth
✨Connect with Local Farmers and Co-ops
Don't underestimate the power of local connections in agriculture. Get involved in local farmers' markets or agricultural co-ops. These are great places to meet potential employers and get the inside scoop on job openings before they're even advertised.
✨Get Involved in Agricultural Events
Keep an eye out for agricultural fairs, conferences, and workshops in your area. These events are golden opportunities to network with industry professionals and showcase your passion. You might even stumble across job boards or companies actively looking to hire!
✨Volunteer for Relevant Experience
Consider volunteering with organisations focused on agriculture, sustainability, or community gardening. This not only boosts your CV but also expands your network. You never know who might be watching your hard work and dedication!
✨Keep an Eye on Job Listings at Industry-Specific Websites
Be sure to check out agriculture-focused job boards and websites regularly. Companies like Alaska Black often post opportunities on their own sites before anywhere else, so don’t miss out! Apply directly through us to increase your chances!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Customer & Projects Manager in Perth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in agriculture, it's crucial to highlight any hands-on experience you have in farming, crop management, or sustainable practices. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're after, so be specific about the responsibilities you've had and any tools or techniques you've used.
Certifications Matter:In agriculture, relevant certifications can really give your application a boost. If you have any qualifications related to agricultural practices, pest management, or environmental regulations, make sure to mention them! They're great indicators of your commitment and expertise in the field.
Tailor Your CV to the Agriculture Sector:Your CV should reflect your passion for agriculture. Structure it to emphasise your field experience and any relevant projects you've been involved in. Don't forget to highlight your soft skills, like teamwork and communication, which are essential in this sector.
Passion is Key in Your Cover Letter:Since this is a full-time position, we want to feel your enthusiasm for agriculture in your cover letter. Share why you're drawn to this industry and mention any long-term goals you have that align with what Alaska Black does. This can really set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Alaska Black
✨Get Familiar with Agricultural Technologies
Make sure you're up to speed with the latest agricultural technologies and tools that are commonly used in the field. Whether it’s precision farming tools or crop management software, being able to discuss these effectively during your interview with Alaska Black will show that you're technically savvy and ready to contribute from day one.
✨Showcase Your Practical Experience
Since agriculture is a hands-on industry, be prepared to share any practical experiences you've had. This could be through internships, volunteer work, or even personal projects. Discussing specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them can really impress the interviewers, especially in a full-time role at Alaska Black.
✨Understand the Sustainable Practices
Sustainability is a hot topic in agriculture right now, so it's important to understand current practices and regulations in the industry. Familiarise yourself with concepts like crop rotation, organic farming, and environmental impact. Having informed opinions on these topics can set you apart from other candidates during your interview.
✨Practice Common Industry Scenarios
Expect to tackle a few scenario-based questions that mimic real-life challenges in agriculture. For instance, you might be asked how you would handle a pest infestation or manage resources during a drought. Practising these scenarios will help you respond confidently and showcase your problem-solving skills during the interview with Alaska Black.
