At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage major grocery accounts and drive impactful customer plans.
- Company: Join a supportive and collaborative grocery retail environment.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, expenses covered, and hybrid working model.
- Other info: Fast-paced role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Take ownership of key accounts and make a real difference in the industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG account management with major UK retailers is essential.
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 or Tesco or Asda or Waitrose or Sainsbury's or M&S or Aldi or 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
Please send your CV to Sarah in the Novus team without delay - ideal start date would be August.
Interim Commercial Manager - Morrisons and online - inside IR35 employer: Novus Recruitment
Join a long-established business renowned for its innovation and quality in the food industry, where your role as a Product NPD Manager will allow you to shape new product concepts with autonomy and support. With a flexible work-life balance and a culture that prioritises employee growth through mentorship from a progressive Development Director, this is an excellent opportunity to advance your career while making a significant impact on top-tier products for key retail accounts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Commercial Manager - Morrisons and online - inside IR35
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Commercial Manager - Morrisons and online - inside IR35
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to Novus Recruitment:Don’t forget to personalise your application for Novus Recruitment! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at Novus Recruitment
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that Novus Recruitment offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at Novus Recruitment and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
