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Commercial Planning & Activation Senior Manager

Posted Date:  Jun 19, 2026
Requisition Number:  128652

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.

 

 

Apply now »