National Account Manager - Retail

Location: Lincolnshire

Salary: >£45,000 benefits

Industry: FMCG

Role Type: Full-time, Permanent

Are you a commercially driven Account Manager with a passion for retail, product, and building exceptional customer relationships? This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of a major grocery retail account within a fast-paced and innovative UK business supplying high-quality products. We are seeking an ambitious, relationship-led Account Manager to lead and grow a high-profile national retail account across both in-store and online channels. You will be joining a collaborative commercial team and play a key role in delivering category growth, range development, and best-in-class customer experience.

The Opportunity

In this role, you’ll be responsible for managing a major UK retailer across a number of areas, shaping category plans, influencing ranging decisions, and ensuring a smooth end-to-end process from concept to delivery. You’ll work closely with colleagues in insights, merchandising, supply chain, technical and product development to maximise opportunities and support a strong customer partnership. This is a great role for a commercially minded candidate who thrives on pace, variety and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a strong working relationship with your retail customer, fully understanding their strategy, category plans and processes.
• Support in developing an annual account plan with clear commercial objectives.
• Conduct regular business and category reviews, identifying opportunities for growth, improvement and future success.
• Review product and range performance, initiating improvement programmes where required.
• Prepare product development briefs and manage range changes and NPD to meet customer requirements and internal financial targets.
• Monitor competitor activity and provide updates and insight internally and to the customer.
• Manage weekly forecasting, ensuring accuracy to maintain service levels and meet customer KPIs.
• Agree promotional and activity plans with the customer and support delivery in line with the commercial plan.
• Support commercial negotiations including specifications, price, distribution, and volume.
• Ensure efficient sales administration and accurate reporting.
• Communicate outcomes of customer meetings across internal teams including Technical, Procurement, Production and Operations.
• Recommend and support value chain improvements, cost-saving initiatives and efficiency programmes.
• Provide monthly trading reports highlighting performance vs plan, upcoming opportunities and risks.
• Lead or support specific commercial projects and new business opportunities.

About You

• Ideally degree-educated or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with major UK retailers (e.g., grocery or multipliers), preferably within FMCG, horticulture, food, gifting or related consumer goods.
• Strong account management and relationship-building skills with the confidence to influence at all levels.
• Commercially astute with the ability to analyse market, sales and performance data.
• Highly organised, proactive and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Intermediate/advanced IT skills, especially Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• A collaborative team player with a flexible, positive approach.
• Some people-management experience is beneficial but not essential.

What You’ll Get

• The chance to work with a high-profile UK retailer and own a key commercial relationship.
• A supportive, team-focused culture with strong values around collaboration, trust, resilience and sustainability.
• Opportunities for long-term growth, development and broader commercial exposure.
• The ability to influence category direction and contribute to the success of an innovative and forward-thinking business.