Senior National Account Manager

Location: Surrey (Hybrid – Work from home Fridays)

About the Business

We are working with leading, award-winning ambient food business who supplying both own-label and branded products to all major UK retailers and foodservice customers.

They operates an international supply base spanning over 20 countries and prides itself on quality, integrity, and long-term partnerships. The EOT structure underpins a collaborative culture where employees are genuinely invested in the success of the business.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Sales & Marketing Director, the Senior National Account Manager will take ownership of a major retail account, with full responsibility for managing, developing, and growing sales across new and existing customers.

This is a high-autonomy role offering significant exposure, responsibility, and the opportunity to build long-term, strategic customer relationships within a supportive and commercially ambitious environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Full ownership and accountability for a major UK retail account
• Identify, develop, and secure new business opportunities and product listings
• Build strong, trusted relationships across customer functions including Buying, Supply Chain, Technical, Product Development, and Merchandising
• Work closely with internal Procurement to assess market conditions and identify buying opportunities for customers
• Proactively manage customer stock levels in collaboration with Supply Chain teams
• Partner with Category Insight and Marketing teams to deliver compelling, data-led customer presentations using IRI and internal data
• Manage sales performance, contracts, pricing, and balance reporting
• Ensure seamless internal coordination to deliver excellent customer service and commercial outcomes

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree educated (2:1 or above) in a relevant business or commercial discipline
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience managing UK grocery retail accounts
• Strong preference for experience within food manufacturing or FMCG
• Own-label experience highly desirable

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to identify and win new business
• Hands-on, proactive account management style
• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Commercially astute with excellent organisational ability and attention to detail
• Confident working with data, spreadsheets, and sales reporting tools
• Results-driven, competitive, and commercially curious

Personal Attributes

• Tenacious, resilient, and determined to succeed
• Dynamic, energetic, and self-motivated
• Strong time management and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable working autonomously while collaborating across teams

Reward & Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Discretionary bonus plus Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) bonus
• Matched pension contributions up to 5%
• Private healthcare and life assurance
• Hybrid working with Fridays from home
• 23 days holiday, increasing with length of service

Why Join

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing, employee-owned food business where your contribution is recognised, your career development is supported, and your success directly feeds into shared ownership and reward.

If you’re an ambitious Senior National Account Manager looking to take ownership of key accounts and build a long-term career in a values-led, commercially strong organisation, we’d love to hear from you.