Senior National Account Manager - Grocery Retail

Attractive Salary + Car Allowance + Bonus + Benefits

The Business

Our client is part of a substantial international food group, combining more than a century of heritage with significant manufacturing expertise, global resources and an established presence across UK Grocery.

This is a business with genuine substance behind its commercial ambitions. With specialist manufacturing operations, sophisticated international sourcing capabilities and continued investment in its UK infrastructure, the organisation has built an enviable reputation for quality, innovation and delivering customer-specific product solutions.

Its products already have a significant presence across the UK's leading grocery retailers, spanning everyday consumer essentials through to more premium, added-value propositions. However, what makes this opportunity particularly attractive is the combination of international scale and the culture of the UK business.

Rather than operating within an unnecessarily layered corporate structure, the UK team offers a more entrepreneurial, collaborative and commercially agile environment, where individuals are trusted to take ownership and make a meaningful contribution. Supported by substantial international manufacturing and technical capability, the business is now looking to appoint an outstanding Senior National Account Manager to help lead the next phase of its UK Retail development.

The Opportunity

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious National Account professional to take ownership of some of the most strategically important customer relationships within a substantial international food organisation.

As Senior National Account Manager, you will lead the business's largest UK Grocery customer, alongside responsibility for other major retail partnerships. The scale and importance of these relationships will provide genuine commercial ownership, significant internal visibility and the opportunity to influence how the business develops across UK Retail.

This is much more than simply maintaining existing listings.

You will become the commercial architect of your customer portfolio, developing strategic account plans, identifying opportunities for profitable growth and building partnerships that deliver long-term value for both retailer and supplier. Working across a portfolio that combines established, high-volume products with opportunities for further category and product development, you will help customers navigate the balance between quality, value, innovation and commercial performance.

You will also work closely with colleagues across the UK and wider international group, bringing together Commercial, Technical, Product Development, Manufacturing, Finance and Supply Chain expertise to deliver customer objectives. Crucially, you will be joining a business where good commercial people are given the freedom to operate.

You will have the support of an experienced, commercially astute and highly engaging leadership team, combined with the autonomy and accountability to make your own impact.

For someone looking to move beyond traditional account management into a role offering greater customer responsibility, influence and commercial breadth, this is a genuinely exciting opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full commercial ownership of a portfolio of strategically important UK Grocery customers, including the organisation's largest retail partnership
• Develop and execute customer strategies that deliver sustainable growth across sales, distribution, margin and profitability
• Build strong, credible relationships with senior retail buyers and wider customer stakeholders, positioning the business as a trusted long-term partner
• Identify opportunities to expand existing customer relationships through additional listings, range development, product innovation and category growth
• Work closely with Category, Technical and Product Development colleagues to translate customer requirements into commercially viable product opportunities
• Develop a strong understanding of consumer and shopper trends, using insight to support customer recommendations and future growth plans
• Collaborate with international manufacturing and sourcing colleagues to ensure customer propositions are commercially competitive and operationally achievable
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across Commercial, Finance, Supply Chain, Technical and Operations to deliver exceptional customer service and execution
• Maintain strong commercial disciplines across forecasting, customer planning, pricing and performance management
• Act as the voice of the customer internally, influencing future priorities and ensuring the wider organisation remains aligned with customer expectations
• Identify emerging customer challenges and opportunities, developing practical solutions that strengthen relationships and protect long-term business performance

Why Apply?

• Lead the largest UK Grocery customer within an established international food business
• Manage a strategically important retail portfolio with genuine commercial ownership and influence
• Join a substantial global organisation with significant manufacturing, sourcing and technical capabilities
• Work across established, high-volume product categories with opportunities for innovation, range development and profitable growth
• Benefit from continued investment in the UK operation, providing a strong platform for future commercial development
• Enjoy the autonomy of a more entrepreneurial UK business, supported by the resources and capabilities of a major international group
• Work with an experienced, supportive Commercial Leadership Team that values trust, accountability and individual contribution
• Gain valuable exposure across major Grocery customers, international operations and cross-functional business management
• Build an excellent platform for future progression into National Account Controller and broader Commercial Leadership opportunities

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an accomplished and ambitious National Account professional with a strong grounding in UK Grocery Retail. You could already be operating as a Senior National Account Manager or be a high-performing National Account Manager looking for greater customer ownership and responsibility.

Experience within Branded or Private Label Food and FMCG environments would be particularly relevant, although candidates with strong Own Label manufacturing experience are especially encouraged.

• Proven experience managing major UK Grocery customers, ideally including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose or the leading Discounters
• Strong commercial and financial capability, including customer P&L ownership, pricing, margin management and forecasting
• Experience developing and delivering Joint Business Plans and negotiating commercial agreements
• A strong understanding of the requirements of Private Label or customer‑specific product development
• The ability to identify opportunities for customer growth through category development, innovation and improved commercial execution
• Excellent customer relationship skills with the credibility to influence senior retail stakeholders
• Strong cross-functional capability, working effectively across Technical, Product Development, Supply Chain, Operations and Finance

The confidence to take ownership, make decisions and communicate openly when challenges arise

A collaborative, team-focused personality with high levels of integrity and personal accountability

The ability to balance strategic thinking with the practical demands of managing complex retail relationships

Above all, we are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys the challenge of managing major Grocery customers, developing relationships and creating opportunities for sustainable commercial growth.