Commercial Planning & Activation Senior Manager

Role Title: Commercial Planning & Activation Senior Manager (UK & Ireland)

Location: London, UK

Summary:

This is a high-impact, commercially critical role at the heart of the UK & Ireland business. The role leads the development and execution of a commercial planning & activation strategy for the UK & Ireland, translating brand ambition into profitable, insight-led growth plans across channels and customers.

The successful candidate will own the end-to-end commercial planning cycle, including annual and in-year planning, promotion strategy, trade investment optimization, and performance tracking, while ensuring best-in-class shopper and activation execution.

As a central role within the commercial organisation, this position requires an individual with strong commercial acumen, analytical rigour, entrepreneurial mindset and cross-functional leadership to  balance strategic planning with executional excellence. 

Commercial Planning & Execution:

• Partner Sales & Finance to drive forecasting, scenario planning and trade-off decisions across the All Year Round & Seasonal product range
• Define and optimise promotional strategy & trade investment (TP/DME)
• Drive ROI, effectiveness and post-event analysis
• Lead SRGM / pricing & promotional levers
• Act as central commercial lead for seasonal portfolio size of prizes & innovation size of prizes
• Act as central commercial lead for cross functional teams to achieve the commercial KPIs by Channel (ICS, EPOS and Distribution)

Trade Marketing Activation & Shopper Strategy:

• Translate commercial plans into compelling in-store / omnichannel execution
• Deliver best-in-class activation strategies across channels
• Improve conversion, in-market execution effectiveness and commercial return
• Portfolio Strategy by Channel & Customer.
• Loyalty program development for Key Retailers (Nectar, Dunnhumby, etc.)
• Path to purchase analysis and key Shopper Drivers by Channel
• In store merchandising and communication strategy.

Own commercial inputs in the Annual, quarterly and monthly planning process for the UK business:

• IBM Process – Over-seeing short and long term R&Os focused on ICS and EPOS targets.
• Report & present on Innovation performance, Distribution, Rate of Sale in monthly cross-functional business reviews
• Lead co-ordinator on KPIs reviewed during business reviews

Commercial budget management (DME-TP) by channel, maximizing resources to deliver both the Top and Bottom line KPI´s.

• Key interface with UK distributor’s category & activation team executing plans

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities: 

• A strong commercial mindset with relevant experience in confectionery or fast‑moving consumer goods, underpinned by a clear value and growth orientation
• An entrepreneurial and autonomous approach, balanced with a collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively across functions
• A strong results focus, with a proven track record of delivering against commercial and strategic objectives
• An innovative, forward‑looking mindset, with the ability to challenge convention and identify disruptive growth opportunities
• The capability to operate successfully within a complex, large‑scale corporate environment, demonstrating sound judgment and accountability
• Proven ability to build alignment and consensus at all levels of the organisation, including peers, senior leaders and direct teams
• A continuous improvement mentality, proactively identifying opportunities, encouraging new ways of thinking and driving positive change
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to build long‑term, effective relationships with key decision makers that deliver mutual value
• Solid experience in budget ownership, trade investment management and disciplined commercial planning and execution

Education:

Individual must know and understand current trade trends, market conditions and sales enablers through continued education and training. Bachelor Degree is a must. 

Experience: 

• FMCG sales experience including selling, negotiating and leveraging insights to deliver tailored customer plans that achieve both company and customer objectives.
• Experience in Commercial Planning, Trade Marketing or Revenue Growth Management (RGM) with with proven ability to develop and execute shopper‑centric activations, promotional and in‑store activation strategies across multiple channels.
• Experience managing complex, multi‑format customers and channels within the UK retail landscape, with an understanding of both traditional grocery and eCommerce / omni‑channel environments
• Demonstrated experience in trade investment management, SRGM, commercial modelling and scenario planning to support profitable growth.
• Strong understanding of category management & distribution strategy
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, in a complex, matrixed FMCG organisation.