At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic growth for a top cheese manufacturer across the UK and EU.
- Company: Join a leading European mozzarella and cheese manufacturer with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, bonus scheme, and extensive holiday.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food manufacturing while building long-term partnerships.
- Qualifications: Significant FMCG experience, strong negotiation skills, and a knack for stakeholder management.
- Other info: Dynamic role with international exposure and excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Do you want to shape growth for a leading European mozzarella and cheese manufacturer by managing strategic Food Manufacturing and Cheese Processing accounts across the UK and EU? You’ll lead strategic customer growth, negotiate pricing in a dynamic market and collaborate across the UK and Denmark to deliver profitable volume plans.
Join our Commercial Ingredients trading team and take ownership of a prestigious UK/EU portfolio of food manufacturing and cheese processing customers. You will drive an ambitious growth agenda across our cheese range, balancing strategic account development with tactical execution. Working closely with colleagues in the UK and Denmark, you will influence plans, volumes and pricing to deliver strong customer outcomes and maximise product returns. Own a portfolio of key food manufacturing and cheese processing accounts, building long-term partnerships.
Responsibilities- Lead monthly/quarterly price negotiations to deliver competitive, value-creating outcomes
- Deliver key financial targets (revenue, margin, mix) with robust forecasting and performance tracking
- Manage and optimise allocated and forecasted cheese volumes across EU and UK supply
- Build and execute customer business plans to grow existing business and win new opportunities
This permanent role sits within the Commercial Ingredients trading team at our Leeds HQ and reports to the Commercial Ingredients Director. You will also represent the function at global trading forums and collaborate across a matrix of stakeholders.
What Will Make You SuccessfulYou will have significant commercial experience in FMCG (with dairy knowledge an advantage), you will have proven pricing and negotiation capability and are adept at stakeholder management in a matrix environment. Your strong numerical and analytical skills enable you to navigate complex pricing, volumes, and profitability, and you have a track record of building positive senior customer relationships and delivering growth. Results-driven and decisive, with high energy and ownership, you will be commercially astute negotiator who thrives in dynamic markets and a relationship builder with a global mindset and clear, confident communication.
We work closely together and are proud of our collaborative culture and high job satisfaction; expect a steep learning curve, meaningful responsibility, and colleagues who will cheer, support, and challenge you.
At Arla, you’ll join a market leader producing household-favourite brands in a way that makes things better for our customers, the farmers who own us and the world. In Commercial Ingredients you’ll gain international exposure (UK/Denmark), a blend of strategic and tactical responsibility, and strong support for your professional development and progression.
Benefits- Competitive salary (discussed at application stage)
- Flexible hybrid working 3 days per week in the office
- Bonus scheme (up to 20%)
- BUPA Single cover healthcare
- 26 days holiday + Bank Holidays
- Employer pension matched up to 6%
- 4 annual salary life assurance cover
- Flexible benefits option to purchase additional holidays, reward gateway scheme with retailer discounts
- Strong career development and training (internal & external)
Senior Sales Manager in Leeds employer: Arla
Contact Detail:
Arla Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Sales Manager in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Show them you know their cheese range inside out and how you can drive growth in their market.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Role-play with a friend to get comfortable discussing pricing and value creation. You want to walk in confident and ready to seal the deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Sales Manager in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Sales Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG and any specific achievements in pricing negotiations or account management that align with what we're looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share your passion for the dairy industry and how your skills can help us drive growth in our cheese range across the UK and EU.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since strong numerical and analytical skills are key, include examples of how you've successfully navigated complex pricing and volume challenges in your previous roles. We want to see your problem-solving prowess!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to join our Commercial Ingredients trading team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Arla
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Sales Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your strong numerical and analytical skills. Brush up on key financial metrics related to pricing, revenue, and margins. Be ready to discuss how you've used these skills in past roles to drive growth and make data-driven decisions.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare specific examples of successful negotiations you've led, especially in dynamic markets. Highlight how you achieved competitive outcomes and built long-term partnerships. This will show that you can handle the pricing negotiations expected in this role.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the current trends in the FMCG sector, particularly within dairy. Being able to discuss market dynamics and how they impact pricing and customer relationships will set you apart as a candidate who is not just reactive but proactive.
✨Build Rapport with Stakeholders
Since stakeholder management is crucial in this role, think about how you can demonstrate your relationship-building skills. Prepare to share stories of how you've successfully collaborated across teams or with senior customers to achieve common goals.