Senior National Account Manager

Job description

Company

This is a highly successful European food manufacturing group with a strong and growing UK retail presence. Operating multiple state-of-the-art manufacturing sites across Germany, France, and the UK, the business is recognised as a category leader in value-added chilled and frozen foods.

With a long-standing heritage in private label manufacturing, the group partners with many of the UK’s leading grocery retailers to deliver innovative, high-quality, trend-led food solutions. Its product portfolio spans frozen snacking, party food, vegetarian and plant-based ranges, value-added dairy, and pizza, combining culinary expertise with commercial insight to drive sustainable category growth.

The UK operation is a key strategic pillar within the wider European group, supplying major retailers with bespoke, own-label products supported by strong NPD capability, technical excellence, and an agile supply chain. The culture is collaborative, forward-thinking, and entrepreneurial, offering genuine opportunity to influence strategy and shape long-term customer partnerships.

The Role

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior National Account Manager to take ownership of a portfolio of major UK grocery retail customers.

This is a high-profile, senior commercial role with responsibility for leading customer strategy, driving profitable growth, and strengthening long-term retail partnerships. Working closely with internal NPD, technical, supply chain, and operations teams, you will play a central role in delivering innovation-led private label solutions aligned to retailer category strategies and consumer trends.

The customer base is expected to include leading UK grocers such as Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Marks & Spencer, with exact account responsibility shaped around the successful candidate’s experience and strengths.

Reporting into the Head of Retail, this role offers significant autonomy, influence, and visibility within the wider business.

Key Responsibilities

• Full commercial ownership of major UK grocery retail accounts
• Development and execution of long-term joint business plans
• Leading commercial negotiations across pricing, promotions, and range strategy
• Ownership of P&L performance, forecasting, and budget delivery
• Driving customer-focused innovation through close collaboration with NPD teams
• Translating market trends and consumer insight into compelling product opportunities
• Building strong, trusted relationships with senior retailer stakeholders
• Acting as a key internal voice of the customer across cross-functional teams

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a National Account Manager or Senior NAM within UK grocery retail
• Strong background in private label chilled and/or frozen foods
• Experience managing major grocery multiples
• Confident leading commercial negotiations and strategic customer planning
• Highly organised, analytical, and commercially astute
• Comfortable operating autonomously in a home-based environment
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence cross-functionally

Experience within chilled or frozen categories is advantageous, as is exposure to innovation-led, value-added food manufacturing environments.

Benefits

• Salary: £65,000
• Bonus: 20% of base salary
• Car allowance: £450 per month (£5,400 per annum)
• Pension: 8% total contribution (employee / employer split)
• Holidays: 33 days per annum (including bank holidays)

Location

This is a home-based role, with regular customer engagement and a requirement to attend the South Wales site one day per week.

Contact

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact

Aidan Goodall

01943 667280

aidan@fmcgselection.co.uk

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Wales

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

01-02-2026

Profession type

Retail

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English