Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead major retail relationships and drive commercial growth in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join ESG Drysdale, the UK's only brassica-focused Producer Organisation.
- Benefits: Highly competitive salary, car allowance, and 30 days annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in a growing business focused on sustainability and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Strong background in fresh produce and exceptional customer leadership skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career advancement in a supportive and innovative team.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
Hybrid Role (1 day per week in office minimum)
Scotland or Northern England based
Highly competitive salary + Car Allowance + 30 Days Annual Leave
About our Client
Alexander Steele are working exclusively with ESG Drysdale, the UK's only brassica-focused Producer Organisation and one of just three recognised vegetable POs nationwide. Formed through the successful merger of Drysdale and East of Scotland Growers, the business has built a commercially robust, future-focused operation supplying fresh produce at scale. With 18 dedicated farmers operating across 200 miles of fertile Scottish coastline, ESG Drysdale has created an integrated grower network that delivers resilience, regional diversity, and year-round supply. The group supplies major UK supermarkets, B2B partners, and foodservice customers, supported by the wider ESG brand family including ESG Co‐Operative, a not-for-profit specialising in crop planning, agronomy, harvest coordination, and marketing. Driven by sustainability, collaboration, and operational excellence, ESG Drysdale plays a vital role in delivering high-quality vegetables from seed to shelf helping nourish communities across the UK, every day of the year.
The Role
As Senior Commercial Manager and second-in-command to the Commercial Director, you will play a key role in driving the next phase of commercial growth. You will lead major retail relationships while delivering strong commercial performance and contributing significantly to annual revenue. Working across the full supply chain, you will collaborate closely with operations, supply chain, technical, and finance teams to optimise performance, enhance forecasting and pricing accuracy, and support category expansion into other emerging areas. This is a high-visibility commercial leadership position requiring strong relationship-building skills, sharp commercial judgement, and a confident, challenger mindset to influence direction and elevate commercial standards across the business.
Key responsibilities
- Take full commercial ownership of major retail customers, ensuring best-in-class service and long-term growth.
- Drive profitable growth and contribute to the development and execution of the company's commercial strategy.
- Lead pricing, forecasting, and range planning, ensuring robust commercial decisions that reflect availability, customer needs, and category dynamics.
- Collaborate closely with supply chain, operations, and technical teams to safeguard service levels, proactively manage risk, and resolve issues with both speed and authority.
- Develop strong, trusted relationships with internal teams, maintaining a deep understanding of the supply chain.
- Support diversification into new categories - by identifying opportunities, shaping propositions, and supporting launch execution.
- Enhance commercial processes, systems, and reporting, driving greater accuracy, transparency, and operational discipline across the team.
- Act as the Commercial Director's deputy, providing leadership, setting standards for the commercial function, and supporting team capability and development.
Candidate Profile
- Strong background in fresh produce, chilled or frozen within UK retail supply.
- Exceptional customer leadership, with experience influencing senior retail stakeholders and delivering joint business plans that drive both volume and value.
- Credible and trusted relationship builder, able to quickly earn the confidence of internal teams and retail partners.
- Challenger mindset - not afraid to bring new thinking, question assumptions, and push for better ways of working.
- Strong commercial skills: pricing, forecasting, promotional planning, and P&L understanding.
- Self-driven and accountable, proactive in identifying opportunities, solving problems, and pushing initiatives forward.
- Tech-savvy, comfortable working with data and forecasting tools.
This is a great opportunity for a SNAM/Business Manager/Commercial Manager to take that next step up in responsibility and make a meaningful impact within a growing business.
Senior Commercial Manager in Basildon employer: ESG Drysdale
Contact Detail:
ESG Drysdale Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial Manager in Basildon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its values, especially since ESG Drysdale is all about sustainability and collaboration. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals and be ready to share specific examples that showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Mention something specific from your conversation to show you were engaged and are genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you land that Senior Commercial Manager role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and makes it easier for us to keep track of your application.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial Manager in Basildon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Commercial Manager role. Highlight your experience in fresh produce and retail supply, showcasing how you've influenced senior stakeholders and driven commercial growth.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Use it to demonstrate your understanding of ESG Drysdale's mission and how your skills align with their goals in sustainability and operational excellence.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; we want to see your achievements! Use specific examples that illustrate your strong commercial skills, like successful pricing strategies or innovative solutions you've implemented in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at ESG Drysdale
✨Know Your Produce
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fresh produce, especially brassicas. Understand the supply chain and how ESG Drysdale operates within it. This will show that you're not just interested in the role but also in the industry.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role involves a lot of relationship management, think about examples from your past where you've successfully built strong relationships with retail stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you can apply those skills to enhance partnerships at ESG Drysdale.
✨Show Your Challenger Mindset
Prepare to discuss times when you've questioned the status quo or brought new ideas to the table. ESG Drysdale values innovation, so demonstrating your ability to think outside the box will set you apart.
✨Be Data-Savvy
Familiarise yourself with data analysis and forecasting tools relevant to the role. Be prepared to talk about how you've used data to drive commercial decisions in the past, as this is crucial for optimising performance and enhancing accuracy.
