Are you a commercially driven sales professional with a strong track record of developing B2B relationships, winning new business and delivering profitable growth within the food and drink industry?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Commercial Manager to join an established and ambitious food manufacturing business. This is a senior commercial role with responsibility for shaping and delivering the company’s sales strategy, growing key customer relationships and identifying new market opportunities.

The successful candidate will play a central role in building a customer-focused culture, strengthening long-term partnerships and ensuring that commercial performance supports the organisation’s wider strategic objectives.

The opportunity

As Commercial Manager, you will be responsible for delivering budgeted sales volume, value and margin across an established customer base while developing new business opportunities across the UK and European markets.

You will work closely with internal stakeholders and customers at all levels, using market insight, commercial data and a clear understanding of customer requirements to create sustainable growth. This role will suit a confident relationship builder who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on, results-focused approach.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the company’s commercial and sales strategy.

• Manage, retain and grow a portfolio of B2B customers.

• Identify, pursue and convert new business opportunities with existing and prospective customers.

• Build strong, enduring relationships with customers and key stakeholders.

• Lead commercial projects designed to increase volume, value and profitability.

• Develop effective selling plans and negotiation strategies to support agreed forecasts.

• Deliver sales budgets and forecasts by account.

• Monitor sales, margin and commercial performance on a monthly basis.

• Identify risks to forecast and implement plans to protect performance.

• Analyse customer, market and competitor information to identify opportunities for growth.

• Recognise emerging market trends and contribute to strategic planning.

• Explore opportunities to enter new target markets.

• Represent the business professionally across the external market.

• Work collaboratively with operational and internal teams to ensure excellent customer service.

• Promote a culture focused on customer needs, product quality, safety and sustainable business performance.

About you

You will be an experienced commercial or sales professional with a successful background in B2B food, drink or wider FMCG manufacturing.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• A proven track record of winning new contracts and developing significant B2B opportunities.

• Experience managing customer relationships at multiple levels.

• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to balance volume, value and margin.

• Experience creating and delivering sales or commercial strategies.

• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.

• The ability to forecast accurately using data, market conditions and customer insight.

• Strong analytical skills and confidence interpreting commercial performance metrics.

• A proactive, inquisitive approach to identifying and creating opportunities.

• The confidence to think clearly and make sound decisions under pressure.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Experience leading customer-facing projects from conception through to delivery.

• A high level of integrity, accountability and professional judgement.

• The ability to work collaboratively while taking ownership of commercial outcomes.

You may currently be working as a Commercial Manager, Senior Account Manager, Business Development Manager, Sales Manager or similar within food manufacturing, ingredients, FMCG or a related B2B environment.

What’s on offer

• Salary of £55,000 per annum.

• Car allowance of £5,000 per annum.

• 10% annual bonus opportunity.

• BUPA private medical cover for the employee.

• 25 days’ holiday, plus statutory bank holidays.

• Employer pension contribution matched at 5% or 7%.

• Death in Service benefit of three times annual salary.

• The opportunity to influence commercial strategy within an established and growing food manufacturing business.

Apply today

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially ambitious food and drink professional to take ownership of a high-impact role and contribute directly to the future growth of a successful manufacturing business.

For a confidential discussion or to apply, please contact The Oval Partnership, specialists in recruitment, executive search and selection across the UK food and drink manufacturing industry.