Trade Strategy Manager in London

The key purpose of this position is to drive the company's business objectives by strengthening relationships with key retailers, a strategically critical role in a highly restricted market. The incumbent will focus on the development of the annual trade engagement strategy and drive key engagement programs/initiatives targeted at top 300 high volume retailers ('Star Partners') to cement JTI's position as the preferred business partner.

As Trade Strategy Manager, you will be responsible for the following:

• Development of annual trade engagement strategy: Define & lead the development of annual Trade Engagement strategy which is targeted at high priority General Trade (GT) retailers as well as Key Accounts frontliners to support the achievement of annual volume target for the Singapore domestic market and to overall strengthen trade partnerships, positioning JTI as preferred business partner. Based on defined annual strategy, lead a team to conceptualize key engagement program/initiatives including but not limited to the following retailer touchpoints: (1) Offline - Face to face events and/or activations (2) Online - Digital initiatives via local trade platform(s). Collaborate with key functions to ensure overall strategy/initiatives deliver against set out business priorities. Review initiatives results and subsequent enhancements to continuously increase quality of retailer engagement.
• Development and management of integrated digital eco-system: Define & lead the development and management of integrated digital eco-system and subsequent digital trade strategy to drive data-led decisions, enhance efficiencies and overall digital capabilities of the organization. Lead a team with close collaboration with cross functional stakeholders (IT, Region, Global teams) to manage end-to-end deployment of key digital initiatives as part of defined integrated digital eco-system, with the focus on digital solutions and commercial work processes. Drive continuous review of the digital ecosystem to identify enhancement and digitalization opportunities to strengthen and scale digital capabilities across the organization.
• Budget management: Custodian of Trade Engagement budget: Manage total engagement spending vs planned with timely updates to Finance. Lead strategic forecast and resources planning to ensure total engagement budget is line with company's annual sales planning strategy. Continuous review of overall spending efficiency to increase engagement ROI year-on-year.
• Trade ideas and initiatives rejuvenation: Initiate new ideas/approaches to engage with the trade more effectively to increase overall trade engagement capabilities.
• People management: Recruit, motivate and guide the professional development of the team reporting directly and indirectly to the incumbent.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Qualifications: University degree or equivalent.
• Work Experience: Candidates with at least 7+ years of relevant experience in consumer & trade marketing in an FMCG operating environment in Singapore. Candidates with strong understanding of the General Trade channel and experience in customer relationship management is an advantage.
• Language: Fluency in English.
• Functional Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel & PowerPoint), good presentation and writing skills, strong project management skills, good communicator including internal & external stakeholders, and collaboration cross-functionally, problem solver and ability to translate it into actionable plans, ability to work on strategy development (includes data analysis, plans' assessment and enhancements), comprehensive budget management.