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- Tasks: Lead negotiations and drive growth for a leading brand across Pharmacy, Grocery, and Wholesale.
- Company: Dynamic FMCG company with a focus on innovation and competitive strategy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Take ownership of a brand and make a real impact in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in account management within FMCG and strong negotiation skills.
- Other info: UK-wide role with travel opportunities and a chance to shape the commercial agenda.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Our client, with offices in Banbury and Ireland, is seeking a commercially driven, resilient National Account Manager to take full ownership of one of its brands across Pharmacy, Grocery, and Wholesale. This role is for someone who is comfortable leading tough buyer negotiations, fighting for listings, and defending margin in highly competitive categories. You will be accountable for performance, distribution, and profitability, not just relationship management.
Reporting to the Business Unit Director, you will own the national commercial agenda for the brand and play a key role in driving sustainable, profitable growth across UK bricks-and-mortar retail.
Key Responsibilities- Full accountability for sales performance, distribution, and profitability of the brand across UK bricks-and-mortar retail.
- Own and deliver the customer P&L, ensuring growth is achieved while protecting margin.
- Lead high-stakes commercial negotiations with grocery multiples, national pharmacy chains & wholesalers.
- Win, defend, and expand listings, including range reviews, re-listings, NPD sell-ins, and promotional space.
- Manage national accounts, wholesalers, multiples, and pharmacy groups to deliver significant, sustainable, and profitable growth.
- Develop and execute robust account plans and JBPs, aligned to overall business strategy.
- Challenge buyers constructively to secure optimal pricing, trade terms, promotions, and distribution.
- Identify and deliver new business opportunities through new customers, new channels, and new product launches.
- Lead the commercial agenda internally, identifying opportunities and risks within the P&L.
- Maintain accurate forecasting and reporting on sales, volume, margin, and promotional performance (monthly, quarterly, annual).
- Ensure compliance with agreed commercial terms and manage customer trackers for key brands and products.
- Evaluate promotional effectiveness and adapt promotional strategy on a monthly and quarterly basis.
- Act as the primary commercial interface between customers and internal teams, including close collaboration with E-Commerce and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Take ownership of cross-functional execution, setting clear standards of accountability and commercial behaviour.
- Proven experience as a National Account Manager or Senior Key Account Manager within FMCG, ideally across Grocery and Pharmacy.
- Demonstrable track record of winning and defending listings with UK multiples, wholesalers, and pharmacy groups.
- Strong experience negotiating commercial terms, pricing, margins, and promotions in competitive retail environments.
- Solid understanding of the UK OTC and healthcare landscape, including key customer structures and routes to market.
- Experience onboarding new retail customers and launching new brands or products into market.
- Strong customer P&L ownership experience.
- Commercial confidence and resilience — able to challenge buyers and internal stakeholders to achieve the right outcome.
- Ability to assess a brand commercially and build a clear, executable growth strategy.
- Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills; credible at buyer level.
- Highly numerate, with strong Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI capability.
This is a UK-wide role with potential customer travel and occasional attendance at the Banbury office. Suitable for candidates who enjoy competitive negotiations, taking ownership, and driving outcomes rather than maintaining the status quo.
Please contact Matt Hartwell on 07301 283663 or email your CV to matt.hartwell@forcerecruitment.com for a confidential discussion.
National Account Manager - 1 day a week in Guildford employer: Force Recruitment and Outsourcing
Contact Detail:
Force Recruitment and Outsourcing Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land National Account Manager - 1 day a week in Guildford
✨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 tough negotiations! Brush up on your negotiation skills and be ready to showcase your commercial acumen. Practice makes perfect, so consider role-playing scenarios with a friend or mentor to build your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your results! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, highlight your past successes in managing accounts and driving growth. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to win listings and protect margins.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it’s super easy to keep track of your applications that way!
We think you need these skills to ace National Account Manager - 1 day a week in Guildford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Commercial Savvy: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience in managing P&L and driving sales performance. We want to see how you've tackled tough negotiations and defended margins in competitive environments.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We love it when candidates show they understand what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your achievements and skills at a glance. We appreciate straightforward communication!
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Force Recruitment and Outsourcing
✨Know Your Numbers
As a National Account Manager, you'll need to be highly numerate. Brush up on your P&L management skills and be ready to discuss specific figures from your past experiences. Prepare to explain how you've driven profitability and growth in previous roles.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Given the competitive nature of this role, practice your negotiation techniques. Think of examples where you've successfully defended margins or secured listings. Be prepared to role-play tough negotiations during the interview to showcase your resilience and commercial confidence.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the UK OTC and healthcare landscape. Research key players in the grocery and pharmacy sectors, and be ready to discuss how you would approach these markets. Showing that you understand the routes to market will impress your interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to talk about how you've developed and executed account plans in the past. Highlight your ability to identify new business opportunities and adapt strategies based on market conditions. This will demonstrate your proactive approach and strategic mindset, which are crucial for this role.
