At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic retail accounts and drive sustainable sales growth.
- Company: Join Pilgrim’s Europe, a dynamic company with strong customer partnerships.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension scheme, life assurance, and career progression.
- Other info: Collaborative culture focused on ownership and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-profile role with visibility and influence.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in retail account management and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Senior Commercial Manager to lead the growth and development of a strategic retail account within Pilgrim’s Europe. This high‑profile, customer‑focused role carries full ownership of performance, responsible for delivering sustainable sales growth, profitable margin, and long‑term customer partnerships. You will drive customer strategy, Joint Business Planning, and commercial execution while influencing senior levels internally and externally. As a senior member of the commercial team, you will also lead, coach, and develop others, setting the standard for performance, collaboration, and delivery.
Location: Uxbridge (Office‑based). Reporting to: Commercial Controller. Department: Commercial.
Key Responsibilities
- Full P&L ownership for a defined account or portfolio of accounts
- Develop and deliver Joint Business Plans (JBPs) across all product categories and routes to market
- Drive sustainable sales growth, profitability and delivery against business objectives
- Own customer strategy and account development plans
- Champion the customer internally, ensuring alignment and delivery
- Identify and unlock growth opportunities through data, insight and strong customer relationships
- Lead and develop promotional strategies to maximise performance and ROI
- Drive focus on emerging routes to market, including convenience and online
- Integrate sales strategy into wider business planning, budgets and forecasts
- Monitor performance and take proactive action to manage risks and opportunities
- Own forecasting processes, including risks and opportunities management
- Deliver commercial KPIs in line with budgets and business improvement targets
- Lead performance reviews through the S&OP / SOP process
- Provide clear, data‑backed communication of account performance
- Work with Category and Customer Marketing teams to ensure plans are insight‑led, commercially viable and strategically aligned
- Manage marketing activity and budgets to deliver strong return on investment
- Support a market‑led NPD pipeline in collaboration with Product & Innovation teams
- Oversee stage‑gate processes and product launches, ensuring best‑in‑class execution
- Drive innovation that strengthens category position, sales and margin
- Build strong relationships across Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain and Operations
- Lead, coach and develop colleagues across the commercial function
- Drive a culture of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement
- Influence and challenge stakeholders at all levels, internally and externally
What We’re Looking For (Essential)
- Strong experience in major retail account management (typically 4+ years at Commercial Manager level)
- Proven track record of delivering sales growth and profitability
- Experience leading Joint Business Planning (JBP) with key retail customers
- Excellent negotiation, influencing and stakeholder‑management skills
- Strong analytical and commercial decision‑making ability
- Confident communicator with high‑impact presentation skills
- Highly organised, able to manage complexity and competing priorities
- Resilient and adaptable within a fast‑paced FMCG environment
- Experience leading or mentoring others
Desirable
- Experience within a food or FMCG business
- Understanding of category management and NPD processes
- Experience delivering effective promotional strategies
- Exposure to manufacturing and supply chain environments
- People management experience
Qualifications
- Full UK Driving Licence (travel as required)
- Degree preferred but not essential
Values & Behaviours
Demonstrates ownership, integrity and determination, working collaboratively with discipline and humility to deliver practical results.
Why Join Pilgrim’s Europe?
At Pilgrim’s Europe, you’ll be part of a business with scale, ambition and strong customer partnerships, where commercial roles have real visibility and impact.
We Offer
- Competitive base salary, aligned to experience and responsibility
- Company pension scheme with employer contributions
- Life assurance and employee benefits package
- A clear opportunity to own and grow strategic customer accounts
- Exposure to senior stakeholders and decision‑making
- Strong career progression pathways within Commercial and wider business functions
- A collaborative, values‑driven culture focused on ownership, delivery and continuous improvement
Ready to Lead and Deliver?
If you’re a commercially ambitious leader ready to take ownership of a strategic account and drive meaningful growth, we’d love to hear from you.
Application
Apply now and take the next step in your commercial leadership career with Pilgrim’s Europe.
Senior Commercial Manager, Senior Commercial Manager in Uxbridge employer: Pilgrims Europe
At Pilgrim’s Europe, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and values-driven culture. As a Senior Commercial Manager based in Uxbridge, you will enjoy competitive salaries, robust career progression opportunities, and the chance to lead impactful customer strategies while working closely with senior stakeholders. Our commitment to employee development and a supportive work environment ensures that you can thrive and make a meaningful contribution to our ambitious growth plans.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial Manager, Senior Commercial Manager in Uxbridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their market position and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth. Tailor your answers to show that you’re not just another candidate, but the perfect fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You need to be able to sell yourself just like you would a product. Highlight your achievements, especially those related to sales growth and account management, and make sure to back them up with data. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Pilgrim’s Europe. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial Manager, Senior Commercial Manager in Uxbridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Commercial Manager role. Highlight your achievements in account management, sales growth, and any relevant JBP experience to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our needs. Be sure to mention your experience in leading teams and driving commercial success.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role requires strong analytical abilities, don’t shy away from including examples of how you've used data to drive decisions or improve performance in previous roles. We love seeing those numbers!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pilgrims Europe
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Commercial Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of P&L ownership. Brush up on your financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've driven sales growth and profitability in previous roles. Use specific examples to showcase your analytical skills.
✨Master Joint Business Planning
Since this role involves leading Joint Business Plans, come prepared with insights on how you've successfully collaborated with retail customers in the past. Think about strategies you've implemented that resulted in mutual growth and be ready to share these during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This position requires you to lead and develop others, so be ready to talk about your leadership experiences. Share examples of how you've coached team members or influenced stakeholders, and highlight your approach to fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in a fast-paced FMCG environment. Think through potential challenges you might face in this role and prepare structured responses that demonstrate your resilience and adaptability.
