At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage key accounts with national pub groups and drive sales performance.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Ridgeview, a leading name in the drinks industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a vibrant work culture.
- Why this job: Make an impact by building strong partnerships and driving growth in the hospitality sector.
- Qualifications: Experience in account management within drinks or hospitality is essential.
- Other info: Be part of a compact team where your contributions truly matter.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: UK (national travel required)
Contract: Full-Time - 37.5 hours per week - non traditional hours
Reporting to: Head of UK Sales
Role Overview
The Key Account Manager (MPO) is responsible for managing and developing Ridgeview's relationships with national pub groups and multiple operators. The role has direct responsibility for delivering sales performance across assigned accounts, including volume, revenue, and profitability, while strengthening long-term customer partnerships and driving market share growth. This is a commercially focused role combining account management, negotiation, planning, and execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Key Account Management
- Manage and develop relationships with national pub groups and multiple operators
- Deliver new listings, distribution growth, and menu placements
- Lead negotiations on pricing, contracts, and commercial agreements
- Build strong, long term partnerships with key stakeholders
- Deliver volume, revenue, and profit targets across assigned accounts
- Manage account-level P&L, forecasting, and budget delivery
- Identify and implement opportunities to drive growth and improve performance
- Develop and deliver structured account plans aligned to channel strategy
- Lead activations, promotions, and customer‑specific initiatives
- Work cross functionally to ensure effective delivery
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer performance
- Provide insight led recommendations to improve results
- Maintain accurate reporting on sales performance, forecasts and activity
- Use CRM systems to track account engagement and pipeline
- Deliver training, tastings, and engagement sessions
- Represent Ridgeview professionally across all customer interactions
- Engage customers and trade influencers through FB, Instagram, X and LinkedIn
- Provide engaging news and information to PR and digital media agencies for amplification
Person Specification
- Essential
- Experience managing key accounts within drinks, hospitality, or FMCG
- Strong commercial and negotiation skills
- Proven track record delivering significant growth across accounts
- Excellent relationship management and communication skills
- Strong organisational and planning capability
- Able to function effectively in a compact, lean team and a 'can do' environment
- Established network across UK MPO channels
- Wine knowledge (WSET desirable)
- Experience within premium brands
Key Attributes
- Builds strong, lasting relationships based on trust, consistency, and credibility
- Demonstrates clear commercial awareness, confidently managing pricing, negotiations, and profitability
- Takes ownership of account performance, with a strong focus on delivering results
- Works collaboratively while maintaining accountability for individual performance
- Brings a proactive and hands‑on approach, following through with pace and attention to detail
- Communicates clearly and professionally, building confidence with stakeholders
- Continuously develops knowledge of customers, category, and market dynamics
Other Requirements
- Car driver and access to car due to company location and access to customers and events
Key Account Manager - Multiple Pub Operators in Hassocks employer: Ridgeview Wine Estate
Contact Detail:
Ridgeview Wine Estate Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Key Account Manager - Multiple Pub Operators in Hassocks
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the hospitality and drinks industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have a lead on that perfect Key Account Manager role!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their market position and come armed with insights on how you can help them grow. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re the one they need to boost their sales performance!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since this role involves a lot of discussions around pricing and contracts, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play with a friend or mentor to build your confidence before the big day.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and take the initiative to connect directly with us. Let’s get you that Key Account Manager position!
We think you need these skills to ace Key Account Manager - Multiple Pub Operators in Hassocks
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Key Account Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing key accounts, especially within drinks or hospitality. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your commercial awareness and negotiation skills. Tell us why you’re passionate about building relationships in the pub industry and how you can drive growth for Ridgeview.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; highlight your achievements! Use specific examples of how you’ve delivered sales performance and built strong partnerships. Numbers speak volumes, so include any relevant metrics if you can!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ridgeview Wine Estate
✨Know Your Accounts
Before the interview, dive deep into understanding the national pub groups and multiple operators you'll be managing. Familiarise yourself with their current market position, recent news, and any challenges they might be facing. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also your commitment to building strong relationships.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare specific examples of past negotiations where you successfully delivered results. Highlight how you managed pricing, contracts, and commercial agreements. This is crucial for the Key Account Manager role, so make sure you can articulate your approach and the outcomes clearly.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Be ready to discuss market trends and competitor activities relevant to the drinks and hospitality sectors. Bring insights that could benefit Ridgeview and show how you can leverage this knowledge to drive growth and improve performance across accounts.
✨Engage with Your Communication Style
Practice clear and professional communication, as this role requires building confidence with stakeholders. Think about how you can convey your ideas effectively and engage customers through various platforms like social media. A strong communication style can set you apart from other candidates.