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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead growth and account development for key UK retail partners.
- Company: Join John Cotton UK, a leader in sustainable sleep innovation with over 100 years of heritage.
- Benefits: Enjoy a values-led culture, full P&L ownership, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape strategy in a forward-thinking business focused on quality, innovation, and sustainability.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in National Account Management, strong analytical skills, and a collaborative mindset required.
- Other info: This role offers excellent visibility within the senior leadership team.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We are devoted to perfecting our products to make sure the great British public gets the best night’s sleep ever. John Cotton UK is one of the most established names in UK textiles — a category leader in sustainable sleep innovation. We are the UK’s leading supplier of mattress components and one of Europe’s largest pillow and duvet manufacturers. A proud family business founded in 1916, we’ve spent over 100 years innovating in fibre technology, including recycled and repurposed materials; cleverly pioneering fibre technology from our Head Office in Mirfield. Our commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability runs through everything we do — with a strong focus on customer satisfaction and future growth.
Our culture is underpinned by our Core Values:
- Delight Customers
- Excel in Quality
- Rigorous Integrity
- Integrated Teamwork
- Ambitiously Innovative
- Passionate About Sustainability
We’re now looking for a commercially driven Senior Business Manager – Retail to lead growth and account development across key UK retail partners.
The Opportunity
As the Senior Business Manager- Retail, you will take full ownership of one of your leading Retail Customers, with responsibility for strategy, sales performance, relationship development, and long-term growth. You’ll work cross-functionally to lead customer plans, coordinate internal delivery, and drive innovation through seasonal and promotional NPD. This is a high-impact commercial role with full P&L responsibility, excellent visibility, and the chance to make a measurable difference in a values-led, forward-thinking business.
The Role Will Focus On:
- Managing and growing national retail accounts with full commercial responsibility
- Developing and implementing tailored growth strategies by customer
- Leading customer communication across buying, merchandising, and technical functions
- Delivering account profitability through costing and profit analysis by product range
- Leading seasonal NPD and Branded promotional launches in line with internal critical paths
- Conducting market and gap analysis to support customer category development
- Building internal alignment across supply chain, production, NPD, marketing, and finance
- Managing forecasting accuracy with support from internal planning functions
- Providing structured performance feedback to senior customer stakeholders
- Leveraging wider group resources to support efficiency and sales growth
Key Drivers
- Deliver strategic account growth and long-term commercial value
- Own full P&L responsibility across multiple retail partnerships
- Coordinate cross-functional delivery across internal teams
- Lead critical path and range management for launches and discontinuations
- Use market data to shape promotional, pricing, and NPD strategies
- Be a key voice in shaping future product initiatives by account
Why Join?
- Trusted UK heritage – Over 100 years of quality, innovation, and operational excellence
- Lead with impact – Full account ownership and visibility within the senior leadership team
- Grow in a values-led culture – Collaboration, innovation, and sustainability at the core
- High-impact role – A rare opportunity to shape strategy and drive real growth
- Future-facing business – Strong investment in products, people, and long-term partnerships
Candidate Requirements
We’re seeking a confident, strategic commercial leader with a proven record of delivering in the UK retail environment.
- Strong National Account Management or Key Account experience in Consumer Goods or FMCG
- Full P&L ownership and commercial performance delivery
- Excellent relationship-building skills across buying, merchandising, and tech teams
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage internal delivery
- Analytical mindset with strong forecasting, costing, and pricing skills
- Experience launching and managing seasonal NPD (ideal)
- Positive, proactive, and naturally collaborative
Ready to shape the future of UK retail in a heritage business with fresh ambition? Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.
Please note: We have chosen to work exclusively with PT Executive and 1 other PSL Recruiter; therefore, we kindly ask that other recruiters respect our decision and do not contact us in relation to this role.
Senior Business Manager - Retail employer: John Cotton Group Ltd.
Contact Detail:
John Cotton Group Ltd. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Business Manager - Retail
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in the UK retail market, especially in consumer goods and FMCG. Understanding current market dynamics will help you speak confidently about how you can drive growth and innovation for John Cotton UK.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the retail sector, particularly those who have experience with national accounts. Building relationships can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals that could strengthen your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed P&L responsibilities in previous roles. Highlighting measurable outcomes from your past experiences will demonstrate your capability to deliver commercial performance.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical skills by being ready to discuss how you've used data to inform pricing strategies or product launches. This will align well with the role's focus on using market data to shape promotional initiatives.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Business Manager - Retail
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Company Values: Familiarise yourself with John Cotton UK's core values: Delight Customers, Excel in Quality, Rigorous Integrity, Integrated Teamwork, Ambitiously Innovative, and Passionate About Sustainability. Tailor your application to reflect how your experience aligns with these values.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasise your National Account Management or Key Account experience in Consumer Goods or FMCG. Provide specific examples of how you've successfully managed P&L responsibilities and delivered commercial performance.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Demonstrate your ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage internal delivery. Include examples of how you've built relationships across buying, merchandising, and technical functions to achieve strategic goals.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the Senior Business Manager - Retail role. Use keywords from the job description to ensure your application stands out and clearly shows your fit for the position.
How to prepare for a job interview at John Cotton Group Ltd.
✨Understand the Company Values
Familiarise yourself with John Cotton UK's core values such as customer delight, quality excellence, and sustainability. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs and provide examples from your past experiences that demonstrate this alignment.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
As a Senior Business Manager, you'll need to demonstrate a strong understanding of P&L management and commercial performance. Prepare to discuss specific strategies you've implemented in previous roles that led to significant account growth or profitability.
✨Highlight Cross-Functional Leadership Experience
This role requires collaboration across various teams. Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully led cross-functional projects, managed internal delivery, and built relationships with different departments like marketing, finance, and supply chain.
✨Prepare for Market Analysis Discussions
Given the focus on market and gap analysis, brush up on your analytical skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've used market data to inform product launches or pricing strategies in the past, and think about how you would approach these tasks for John Cotton UK.
