Sales Grocery Channel Lead

Essity may be a company you are not familiar with, but you will know our market-leading consumer brands, including TENA, Bodyform, Cushelle, Velvet, Plenty and Tork , as well as Leukoplast, Actimove, and JOBST within our medical portfolio. Our company mission is to break barriers and improve the well-being of people across the world through our health and hygiene products and solutions.
We\’re looking for a confident, talented leader to own the retail and channel strategy with some of the top major multiples within the UK, to successfully deliver mutually profitable growth. You\’ll take responsibility to manage the development of the channel strategy and lead the team in the execution of the plans. You will also nurture established customer relationships and collaborate closely with our retail partners to align strategies and jointly develop successful plans.
Reporting to the Commercial Director UK&ROI, you will play a vital senior role in the future development of the business through your ability to identify growth opportunities, capitalise on them and thus create long-term value for the business.
There are plenty of reasons to work at Essity:
High reaching starting salary with annual reviews
Pension 10% employer contribution
Annual bonus
Private medical insurance for yourself and one other
Holidays starting at 27 days plus bank holidays (with flexible bank holiday options)
Staff product and discounts
Essity Rewards (online and in-store shopping discounts)
Benefits include: EAP support service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discount and many more
Local community activities and charitable initiatives
About the role
Manage an agreed portfolio of key customers via the respective account management team.
Develop relationships with key customers to support account management team.
Identify and develop incremental sales opportunities within the account portfolio.
Liaison between Commercial Director and team to ensure implementation and achievement of annual business objectives.
Monitor, coach and develop Sales team to attain highest possible level of professional standards and ensure achievement of Company targets.
Construction and implementation of customer business plans and customer planning meetings.
Ensure there is strategic alignment with the customer (s) through a multi-dimensional 3-year customer plan which consists of a commercial and service charter (e.g. new branded opportunities, NPD, contract targets, ESG alignment, inbound service metrics, contact strategy) that are relevant based on where the customer fits within our customer segmentation framework.
Monitor cost control and recommend any necessary actions to reduce costs where possible.
Communicate strategic customer plans and objectives to the wider business and lead process to ensure all departments have alignment to individual plans.
Develop relationships with key customers to a minimum of Buying / Trading Controller level. Target quarterly review meetings with contacts to ensure agreed business objectives are endorsed at higher levels.
Attend and support KAMs at relevant customer meetings with key Buyers.
Ensure there is sufficient management of the sales forecast through the account review process.
Attend business meetings fully briefed with the necessary information (e.g. Specific internal customer meetings, controller meetings, sales meetings, demand reviews and performance updates).
Monitor and coach Sales personnel to identify areas of strength and development and maintain team motivation and discipline.
Work closely with other department Controllers to encourage shared learning and positive working relationships.
Work with NRM team to positively influence customer profitability.
Pro-actively identify problems and implement solutions.
Identify potential areas of business systems improvement.
Support Sales Director with relevant data and information (in line with agreed timings, content and format
Knowledge, Skills & Experience Extensive account management experience preferably in the food or drink industry
Broad commercial experience of retail
Strong financial and operational awareness
SAP Analytics and Reporting
Excellent leadership skills
Comfortable communicating and building relationships at all levels
Excellent organisational skills
Proactive
Self motivated and achievement orientated
Project management experience would be an advantage
About Our DEI Culture Guided by our Beliefs & Behaviour, our culture is the foundation that connects our history with our future. At Essity, care, collaboration and inclusion are more than buzzwords, they are practiced on an everyday basis. And with a purpose of breaking barriers to wellbeing, promoting gender equality and enable customers and consumers to lead a fuller life at all stages of life, DEI is in our core.
As we work in diverse teams across geographies, cultures and professional areas, inclusive leadership is something we expect from ourselves and each other. In our leadership platform, we express this as leveraging the power of differences. From experience we know that diverse and inclusive teams are key to innovate and profitably grow our business while simultaneously address our ambitious climate targets.
What\’s next? Essity kindly but firmly declines direct contact with recruiting and staffing agencies, as well as job advertising sellers.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement EEO is the law. Essity is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates.

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