At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop retail strategy for UK and Ireland, driving growth and partnerships.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at MPM, a leader in the retail sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a chance to shape the future of retail.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming retail strategies and making impactful decisions.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in retail leadership with strong P&L and negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
UK, Manchester Head Office/ Permanent/ SALARY: COMPETITIVE
Job Purpose
To lead and develop MPM’s retail strategy across the UK and Ireland, driving profitable and sustainable growth across all retail accounts (excluding E-Commerce marketplaces). This role owns the retail channel P&L and is responsible for defining strategic direction, building high-performing customer partnerships, and delivering best-in-class execution across national accounts.
The Head of Retail UK/IRL acts as a key commercial leader within the organisation, setting a clear 3-year growth roadmap, leading negotiations with major retail partners, and building the capability of the retail sales team to deliver excellence.
This role will manage and develop the National Account team, ensuring delivery of business targets while fostering strong cross-functional collaboration across the organisation
Key Responsibilities
Ownership
This role deals with a wide variety of tasks including, but not limited to the following:
Strategic Leadership & Ownership
- Define and deliver MPM’s Retail strategy for UK & IRL, aligned with overall business objectives and growth ambitions
- Develop and own a 3-year roadmap for the retail channel, identifying key growth drivers across customers, categories, and channels
- Own the full retail P&L, driving revenue growth, margin improvement, and optimised trade investment across all accounts
- Lead Joint Business Planning (JBP) and annual negotiations with key retail partners to secure optimal commercial terms and ROI
- Identify and onboard new retail customers in line with MPM’s expansion strategy
Performance & Commercial Excellence
- Deliver annual budget KPIs (Turnover, Spend %, Profitability) across the retail channel
- Develop and implement robust commercial plans, including pricing, promotions, and trade investment strategies
- Drive data-led decision-making, leveraging EPOS, category data, and financial performance to optimise plans
- Monitor, analyse, and report performance across key metrics, ensuring accurate forecasting and delivery vs targets
- Continuously evaluate ROI and optimise trade spend to maximise effectiveness
Executional Excellence & Customer Development
- Build strong, strategic partnerships with key retail customers, positioning MPM as a partner of choice
- Lead customer range reviews, category conversations, and growth initiatives supported by strong insight and data
- Oversee execution of pricing, promotions, and in-store activation, ensuring alignment with brand strategy
- Ensure excellence in forecasting, availability, and supply chain collaboration
- Maintain strong understanding of in-store execution, competitor activity, and category performance
Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, coach, and develop the National Account Management team, including Senior NAMs, NAMs and others
- Act as a mentor and escalation point for customer negotiations and commercial challenges
- Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and commercial excellence
- Develop internal capability in JBP, negotiation, and data-driven selling
- Ensure clear prioritisation, high standards of execution, and talent development across the team
Cross-Functional & Regional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Commercial Strategy, Brand, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance teams to ensure aligned execution
- Collaborate on NPD launches, promotional cycles, and long-term brand building plans
- Ensure strong integration between commercial plans and operational delivery
- Act as a key member of the UK/EMEA leadership team, contributing to overall business strategy
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Proven success in a senior retail/commercial leadership role (ideally 8+ years), managing major UK/IRL retail customers
- Strong commercial acumen with proven P&L ownership, JBP negotiation, and budget management experience
- Deep understanding of UK grocery and/or specialist retail landscape
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute long-term strategic growth plans
- Strong analytical capability; confident using sales, category, and financial data to drive decisions
- Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills, including senior customer engagement
- Proven leadership experience, with a track record of coaching and developing high-performance teams
- Highly organised, proactive, and able to operate in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Experience in pet care, FMCG, or consumer goods categories
- Experience working with Private Equity-backed businesses
- Degree-level education
- Experience across both grocery and specialist retail channels
Personal Attributes
- Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset – able to connect insight and opportunity to drive growth
- Collaborative leader – balances commercial drive with team development
- Results-oriented and resilient – thrives under pressure and delivers targets
- Strong ownership mentality – accountable for outcomes and execution
- Continuous learner – embraces change and drives improvement
Is this role for you?
If this exciting opportunity sounds like a great fit for you, apply today with your CV and cover letter.
Head of Retail UK/IRL in Manchester employer: MPM Products Ltd.
At MPM, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our Manchester Head Office provides a vibrant environment where employees are encouraged to grow and develop their skills, particularly in the fast-paced retail sector. With competitive salaries and a commitment to employee development, we empower our team to drive meaningful change and achieve sustainable growth across the UK and Ireland.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Retail UK/IRL in Manchester
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like MPM Products Ltd., so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like MPM Products Ltd.!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Retail UK/IRL in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at MPM Products Ltd., customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at MPM Products Ltd. and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show MPM Products Ltd. that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at MPM Products Ltd.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
