This is an entry level role in the Sales function.  This role is involved in building category plans and monitoring the performance of those plans with close support from the Commercial Manager.  It is a customer facing role on a day to day operational level.  Any business planning, negotiations or range reviews would be carried out with support from the Commercial manager.

The primary focus of the role is to build knowledge, understanding and skills as gateway to becoming a commercial manager.

The also role supports the account team by completing administrative tasks to support the financial control, forecast accuracy and promotional planning.

This role supports the CM ensuring the category Joint Business Plan delivers against the business’s budgets, forecasts and brand share targets. Working on the in-year plan and supporting annual planning for future year.

Business Planning

• Supporting the CM creating customer specific business plans at category level
• Supporting the CM creating channel specific category plans where applicable
• Supporting the CM creating category level trading terms
• Effectively utilise shopper insight to shape the business plans
• Supporting the CM ensuring category plans are aligned to brand share targets
• Supporting the CM maintaining an accurate forecast including Risks and Opportunities
• Supporting the CM planning, negotiating and managing CPI’s when applicable

Business Execution

• Supporting the CM negotiating category level business plans
• Responsible for delivering seamless execution on new product launches
• Supports the Demand Planning team to deliver forecast accuracy, bias and customer service targets
• Supporting Category team to ensure Birdseye products are visible and available
• Supporting the CM and category team in advising the customer through the Range Review process

Business Control

• Supporting the CM tracking commercial performance of the category plans both internally and externally
• Supporting the CM communicating performance against the plan internally and externally
• Responsible for updating volume forecasts based on EPOS data where available, future and insights
• Responsible for creating course corrective activities if the plan is not on track to deliver internally or externally
• Responsible for accurately reporting profit through the deductions and releases processes working in partnership with the Commercial Finance and Customer Finance teams
• Responsible for inputting to the monthly customer Scorecard and proposing corrective actions for underperforming areas
• Supporting CM and wider business in managing the residual and clearance process with key customers

• Desirable to have 1 years’ experience working in a multi-channel customer facing team within an FMCG manufacturer or retailer
• Desirable to have a basic understanding of category management and shopper marketing
• Desirable to have some sales and negotiation training
• Basic working knowledge of Microsoft office. Comfortable learning new systems and processes
• Effective communicator, both verbally and written
• Good commercial acumen and commercial understanding of other business functions.
• Confident and engaging presentation skills
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to influence cross functionally
• Commercially curious with the ability to interpret data and see trends
• Able to effectively prioritise and manage own time to deliver in full to tight deadlines
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal teams and external customers at multiple levels