National Account Manager - Grocery Sector

About the Company

Our client is a prominent and innovative entity in the Irish Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) market, boasting a portfolio of some of Ireland's most recognized and cherished brands across various product categories. With a strong footprint in Ireland’s leading grocery retailers, the organisation is currently seeking a commercially savvy and ambitious National Account Manager to enhance its high-performing Commercial team.

Role Overview

The National Account Manager will oversee a range of key grocery retail accounts, driving commercial success across multiple brands and categories. Responsibilities include crafting and implementing customer business strategies, trade activation plans, and promotional schedules, collaborating closely with Brand, Trade Marketing, and Business Development departments to ensure maximum in-store visibility and profitability. This position demands a fast-paced, commercially driven professional ready to meet challenging objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing and managing Key Account Plans for assigned grocery customers
• Attaining forecasted and budgeted revenue objectives
• Controlling price promotions and trade expenditures within agreed budgets
• Handling all aspects of the customer Price File, ensuring comprehensive delivery of Consumer Price Indexes (CPIs)
• Producing accurate and prompt sales forecasts by SKU
• Executing Joint Business Plans in partnership with key customers
• Meeting company targets for new product development, product range, and distribution
• Collaborating with Commercial Finance and Trade Marketing to devise customer-specific promotional strategies optimizing profitability
• Managing multiple product categories within the assigned customer portfolio
• Interpreting complex data sets to develop actionable business insights
• Applying learnings from past activities to refine and enhance future plans
• Providing support and mentorship to team members, demonstrating leadership within the broader Commercial team

Candidate Profile

Applicants must have direct experience managing grocery retail accounts at the Head Office or buyer team level. This entails skills in delivering range reviews, negotiating promotions, managing trade investments, and executing Joint Business Plans in a structured retail grocery environment. Candidates primarily experienced in field sales or territory management without Head Office involvement may find this role unsuitable at present.

• Demonstrated experience in National or Key Account Management within grocery retail at Head Office buyer level
• Proven ability to concurrently handle multiple grocery retail accounts with full profit and loss plus trade spend accountability
• In-depth knowledge of grocery retail buying processes including range reviews, promotional planning, CPIs, and Joint Business Plans
• Experience across branded FMCG sectors such as food, beverages, household, or personal care products
• Degree qualification in a business-related field
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent numerical and analytical skills
• Superior negotiation, communication, and relationship management capabilities
• Effective organisational and planning skills
• Resilience, self-drive, and the capacity to work independently
• Adaptability to change and a mindset focused on continuous growth

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role offers an opportunity to join a company with significant brand equity and leadership in its categories, fostering a culture that values ambition and responsibility. It also provides ample avenues for career progression within an expanding commercial team. Note that candidates lacking experience in head office grocery account management are unlikely to be considered.