Job Detail
Job Description
Strategic Leadership Role in a Global Drinks Group
We’re hiring on behalf of a market-leading global drinks business with an exceptional brand portfolio and deep commercial partnerships across the UK retail landscape.
This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of the company’s largest UK channel, leading strategy and delivery across Southern Grocery accounts – including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado and Majestic. It’s a senior leadership role with a team of 9 (including experienced controllers), and direct accountability for nearly a third of total UK revenue.
The Role
This is not a day-to-day account manager position. It’s a strategic, high-impact leadership post reporting into the Commercial Director – ideal for someone with the commercial edge and ambition to be the next in that role.
Your focus will be to:
- Lead and develop a high-performing grocery sales team
- Own long-term JBP strategy and execution across all major Southern retailers
- Build board-level relationships with key retail partners
- Represent your channel internally, working cross-functionally to shape category and brand strategy
- Bring rigour and commercial excellence to tracking, forecasting, and decision making
The Ideal Fit
We’re looking for an experienced FMCG commercial leader with:
- Controller/Channel Director/Sales Director-level experience
- Deep expertise in managing Tesco and Sainsbury’s
- A track record of leading large teams across complex grocery accounts
- Proven ability to deliver against stretching targets in competitive categories
- Gravitas, clarity, and a natural presence with internal and external stakeholders
- Experience in alcohol is a plus, but not essential – what matters most is capability, ambition, and commercial sharpness
What’s on Offer
- £100–120k base + 33% bonus
- £7k car allowance, private medical, pension, tech
- Flexible hybrid working (1–2 office days/month)
- Generous annual leave, birthday off, early Friday finishes
- Product allowance and lifestyle perks
- A supportive, high-trust culture where performance and potential are recognised
This is a career-defining opportunity to take the lead on the UK’s most commercially significant channel within a high-growth global brand house. If you’re ready to step into a bigger role – or want a clear pathway to Commercial Director – this is your moment.
Due to the high volumes of responses to online advertisements, regrettably, we are only able to acknowledge successful applications. If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks unfortunately on this occasion, your application has been unsuccessful. Please visit our website for our full data protection policy.
