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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy for challenger brands and manage retailer relationships.
- Company: Join YFY, a dynamic company helping food and drink brands thrive in retail.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and high ownership in a small team.
- Other info: Work closely with senior leadership and enjoy flexibility in your role.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing brand growth and retail strategies.
- Qualifications: Strong commercial experience in UK grocery and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ per year.
About YFY
YFY helps challenger food and drink brands land and grow in retail. We sit between founders with ambition and retailers with shelves - and we make the commercial side of that relationship actually work. That means getting brands listed, keeping them there, and helping them scale profitably. We do this through retained account management, commercial projects, and outsourced buying support for retailers.
The Role
This is not a typical National Account Manager role. You’ll sit across both sides of the table:
- Acting as a commercial lead for challenger brands
- Managing retailer relationships and accounts
- Supporting retailers with sourcing and onboarding new brands
Some weeks you’ll be rebuilding a pitch for a brand targeting Waitrose. Others you’ll be deep in a range review with a buyer, or sourcing brands for a retail partner. If you’re used to owning accounts but want broader exposure, more variety, and real influence - this is that role.
What You’ll Do
- Lead commercial strategy for challenger brands
- Turn “we think we’re ready” into a clear route to listing
- Build sell-in decks, pricing, and proposition that buyers actually respond to
- Shape retail strategy across channels and categories
- Run national accounts
- Manage day-to-day relationships across retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado, and others)
- Own JBPs, promotions, range reviews, and performance tracking
- Act as an extension of the brand’s commercial team
- Work on the retailer side
- Source and assess challenger brands for retail clients
- Support buying decisions, negotiations, and onboarding
- Bring a buyer mindset into everything you do
- Deliver high-impact commercial projects
- Pitch rebuilds, category reviews, pricing models, forecasting
- Work closely with the wider YF team to deliver outcomes, not just outputs
- Help shape what we sell
- Feed into how we package, price, and evolve our commercial services
- Bring insight from the frontline into how YF grows
What We’re Looking For
Non-negotiables
- Strong commercial experience in UK grocery (brand or retailer side)
- You understand how buyers think - and how to influence them
- Confident running accounts, building JBPs, and managing commercial performance
- Excellent written communication (decks, emails, proposals)
- Able to manage multiple clients without dropping the ball
- Genuine interest in challenger brands and early-stage growth
Nice to have
- Experience on both sides of the table (brand + retailer)
- Existing buyer relationships
- Category expertise (e.g. chilled, ambient, wellness, BWS, etc.)
How We Work
- Hybrid (London + flexibility)
- Small team, high ownership
- You’ll work closely with senior leadership and have real influence from day one
Package
Competitive, dependent on experience. We’ll be transparent early.
To Apply
Send your CV and a short note on: Which part of this role you’d run at hardest - and why. No cover letters. We want to see how you think.
Senior Commercial Manager employer: YF
Contact Detail:
YF Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a job opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their products and how they fit into the market. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Whether it’s for a brand or a retailer, being able to clearly articulate your ideas and strategies is key. Role-play with a friend or record yourself to refine your delivery and boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Commercial Savvy: Make sure your CV highlights your strong commercial experience, especially in the UK grocery sector. We want to see how you understand buyer behaviour and can influence decisions, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Tailor Your Note: When you send us that short note about which part of the role you'd tackle hardest, be specific! We’re looking for insight into your thought process, so let us know why that aspect excites you and how you’d approach it.
Keep It Clear and Concise: Your written communication skills are key, so make sure everything is clear and to the point. Whether it’s your CV or your note, we appreciate straightforwardness—no fluff, just the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the info you need about the role and our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at YF
✨Know Your Brands
Before the interview, dive deep into the challenger brands you’ll be working with. Understand their unique selling points and how they fit into the retail landscape. This will help you articulate how you can support them in getting listed and scaling profitably.
✨Master the Retailer Mindset
Familiarise yourself with the key retailers mentioned in the job description, like Tesco and Waitrose. Think about what they look for in a brand and how you can demonstrate that you understand their needs during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Be ready to discuss your experience with managing accounts and building Joint Business Plans (JBPs). Prepare specific examples of how you've influenced buyers and driven commercial performance in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Real-World Scenarios
Expect to tackle practical scenarios during the interview, such as rebuilding a pitch or conducting a range review. Practise articulating your thought process and strategies for these tasks, as it will showcase your problem-solving skills and readiness for the role.