At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead international commercial strategies and adapt market-specific approaches for ESN's expansion.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at The Quality Group, a leader in sports nutrition.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, remote options, and 50% discounts on products.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse culture with exciting career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-growing company while promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in key account management and trade marketing, ideally in sports nutrition.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Overview
Start: Immediately | Level: Intermediate/Senior | Location: Netherlands, UK or Germany, remote | Type: Full-time (40h/week)
ESN is expanding its B2B footprint across Europe. This role bridges the gap between brand and commerce — translating ESN's German go-to-market playbook into market-specific strategies that give our international sales teams a clear brief: where to play, how to win, and what to bring. Reporting into the Head of International for ESN, you'll own the commercial framework for new markets including Switzerland, France, Italy, and the UK, working in close partnership with local sales leads and the brand team in Germany. This role requires flexibility to travel between the international markets of ESN within Europe and regular visits (around 1-2x times/month) in the Headquarter in Hamburg, Germany.
Your mission
- You define market entry strategies by deciding where ESN wins in each market—across channels, key accounts, and categories—while adapting the German playbook to local dynamics.
- You curate the A-assortment by building and maintaining a focused, high-impact product portfolio that balances hero SKUs with local market and retailer needs.
- You set promotional guardrails by defining pricing, promotion depth, and trade investment to protect brand equity while enabling commercial success.
- You develop in-store activation playbooks by creating scalable, channel-specific toolkits that sales teams can execute easily across markets.
- You enable sales teams by translating strategy into clear, actionable materials such as sell-in decks, assortment rationale, and promotional frameworks.
- You track and drive performance by defining relevant KPIs (e.g. distribution, sell-through, promo ROI) and establishing a clear review cadence across markets.
- You ensure brand alignment with Germany by acting as the key interface between the core DE team and international markets—translating strategy without reinventing it.
Your Experience & Skills
- You bring 8+ years of experience across key account management, category management, and trade marketing—ideally within sports nutrition, FMCG, or consumer health.
- You have strong KAM expertise with full ownership of major retail or wholesale accounts, including JBP negotiations and end-to-end trade term management.
- You master category management tools such as range reviews, planogram development, shopper insights, and space-to-sales optimization.
- You bring deep trade marketing experience across activation planning, promotional architecture, sell-in materials, and in-store execution.
- You have worked across multiple European markets and understand how to adapt strategies beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
- You are fluent in English, with German or another European language as a strong plus.
You’ll thrive if
- Think like a GM, not just a marketer — you care about sell-through as much as brand fit.
- Can simplify complex brand strategy into tools a sales rep can use in a buyer meeting.
- Are energised by ambiguity and enjoy building structure where there isn’t any yet.
- Have enough commercial edge to push back on promotions that destroy value.
- Are genuinely curious about the sports nutrition category and how it varies market to market.
Why choose us?
Being part of our team means joining a high-performing company with a diverse and inclusive culture. In our fast-growing team of over 1,200 employees, we combine our passion for sports nutrition, supplements, and healthy foods with cutting-edge technology, production, and logistics processes. All of this serves one goal: providing our customers with top-quality products to support their healthy and active lifestyle. You can look forward to a strong sense of team spirit, ongoing opportunities for professional growth and responsibility, and an exciting work environment that blends lifestyle and career.
With locations in Hamburg, Elmshorn, Kaltenkirchen/Nützen, and Elsdorf, TQG offers diverse career opportunities in areas such as technology, product development, sales, marketing, and logistics. Additionally, you’ll benefit from:
- Flexible working hours and remote work options.
- Attractive employee discounts (50% discount on our products).
- Subsidy for the E-gym Wellpass (Classpass in NL & UK).
- Workation.
- Corporate benefits (only in Germany).
- 28 days vacation/year and much more.
Benefits may vary depending on the location.
About Us
The Quality Group (TQG) is an innovative provider of sports nutrition products, bringing together the successful brands ESN and More Nutrition since 2021. ESN has been the German market leader in sports nutrition since 2004, offering products like protein powders, bars, and supplements designed for ambitious fitness goals. Founded in 2017, More Nutrition focuses on healthy, reduced-sugar foods, providing solutions for conscious nutrition and weight management without compromise. TQG’s vision is to help people become the best version of themselves. With passion and innovation, the company develops high-quality products that promote health, performance, and joy in life. Its agile company culture and exciting career opportunities make TQG a strong partner not only for customers but also for employees.
This is us – The Quality Group – nice to meet you! Now it’s your turn! We look forward to your application! Regardless of gender, age, background, or identity – what matters to us is who you are and what you bring to the table. Join our team and grow with us!
International Commercial Strategy Lead (gn) - ESN employer: The Quality Group
Contact Detail:
The Quality Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land International Commercial Strategy Lead (gn) - ESN
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how you fit into their vision, especially when it comes to their approach to sports nutrition.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of International Commercial Strategy Lead. Keep it concise and impactful.
✨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 about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace International Commercial Strategy Lead (gn) - ESN
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the International Commercial Strategy Lead role. Highlight your experience in key account management and category management, especially within sports nutrition or FMCG, to show us you’re the right fit!
Showcase Your Market Knowledge: We want to see that you understand the European markets! Share examples of how you've adapted strategies for different regions and how you’ve successfully navigated market entry challenges in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to explain your achievements and how they relate to the role. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Quality Group
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the European markets ESN is targeting. Understand the nuances of each market, especially Switzerland, France, Italy, and the UK. This will help you articulate how you can adapt the German go-to-market playbook to local dynamics.
✨Showcase Your KAM Expertise
Be ready to discuss your experience in key account management. Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully managed major retail accounts and navigated JBP negotiations. Highlight your ability to balance brand equity with commercial success.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Think like a General Manager during your interview. Be prepared to explain how you would define market entry strategies and set promotional guardrails. Use real-life scenarios to illustrate your strategic mindset and how you simplify complex strategies for sales teams.
✨Emphasise Your Curiosity
Express your genuine interest in the sports nutrition category. Discuss how you've adapted strategies across different markets and your approach to understanding local consumer behaviour. This curiosity will resonate well with the team’s culture and mission.