At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage major grocery accounts and drive impactful customer plans.
- Company: Dynamic grocery retail company with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid work model, and collaborative environment.
- Other info: Fast-paced role with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Take ownership of key accounts and make a real impact in the grocery sector.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG account management and strong negotiation skills.
Looking for your next interim contract? This role gives you full ownership of a major grocery account while supporting another key retailer, with plenty of scope to make an impact quickly. You’ll shape customer plans, lead negotiations, drive distribution and help deliver strong branded growth across a fast‑moving category. You’ll work closely with a Commercial Controller and a cross‑functional team, keeping things moving at pace and making sure launches, promotions and plans land well in store. A great business! We know this from feedback from other placements in the business who find the supportive culture and teamwork ethos a huge benefit to the overall environment. You will be hands‑on so need to be self‑sufficient and able to hit the ground running in this autonomous role. Hybrid role – ideally three days a week in the office.
What you’ll be doing:
- Managing a major UK retail customer along with other smaller accounts
- Building and delivering annual customer plans and JBPs
- Leading negotiations across pricing, promotions, terms and range reviews
- Driving distribution, availability and visibility of core and new products
- Managing NPD launches, seasonal activity and customer‑specific projects
- Using customer and category data to spot risks and opportunities
- Owning forecasting and working closely with Demand Planning and Supply Chain
- Building strong relationships across buying, merchandising, supply chain and category teams
What you’ll bring:
- FMCG account management experience within UK grocery at the National Account Manager or Senior National Account Manager level is essential
- Experience managing or supporting the major retailers is essential
- Strong commercial and financial understanding, including P&L
- Confidence delivering JBPs and annual negotiation cycles
- Ability to turn data and insight into clear, actionable plans
- Strong relationship‑building skills with buying and category teams
- Solid planning, forecasting and project management capability
- Autonomous operator, happy to prepare your own decks and take full ownership of the account
About you:
- Proven experience in branded FMCG at SNAM, Commercial Manager or NAM level
- Must have experience of the major retailers – Morrisons, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Aldi, Co-op
- Strong negotiator and collaborator with the ability to influence and build trust
- Curious, proactive and opportunity‑led
- Resilient, results‑focused and comfortable owning delivery
- Highly numerate with strong analytical skills
- Clear communicator with strong presentation skills
- Collaborative, organised and able to juggle multiple priorities
Interim Commercial Manager employer: Novus Recruitment Ltd
At Novus Recruitment Ltd, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that champions innovation and flexibility in the food industry. Our supportive work culture fosters collaboration and creativity, offering employees ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With a hybrid working model that balances on-site engagement with remote flexibility, we empower our team to thrive while making a meaningful impact in product development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Commercial Manager
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Novus Recruitment Ltd. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Novus Recruitment Ltd.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Novus Recruitment Ltd.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Commercial Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Novus Recruitment Ltd and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Novus Recruitment Ltd
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Novus Recruitment Ltd will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Novus Recruitment Ltd.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Novus Recruitment Ltd.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Novus Recruitment Ltd. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
