About Us

We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 119 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 26,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration are driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all.

As we move forward, our consumers will be at the heart of what we do, evolving to needs and expectations and committing to a more meaningful contribution to harm reduction by building a successful NGP business. Integral to our long-term success is our sustainability strategy, behaving responsibly and supporting our ambitions, all underpinned by high governance.

Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we’re fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

The Role

The Channel Executive is responsible for set initiatives or customer accounts, defining growth strategies through understanding of market dynamics and analysis.

As part of a dynamic team, you will have regular interactions with Key Account Directors/Area Business Managers, Head of Key Accounts/Field Sales and senior customer contacts.

Working in partnership with our Insights Department, Brand Marketing and Sales teams you will help us to define our Annual Business Plan & quarterly Sales & Trade Marketing strategy.  You will be jointly responsible for leading the commercial analysis using a range of data sets including Sales in / Out, consumer demographics and footfall tracking, consumer trends and loyalty programme participation to ensuring we have an investment plan focused on the right product, marketing and promotional activities by channel.

Within the key account and wholesale channels you will assume the role of a category expert supporting the grocery account directors in the delivery of our JBP’s and provide tailored advice and direction to the grocery buyers, our customers.

Within the convivence channel you will identify opportunities from national down to postcode level and work as part of a team to devise tailored investment plans to deliver sustainable market share growth.

 

Key Accountabilities

• Supporting the trade strategy and sales teams with relevant category, channel and market insights to inform key business decisions. Analyze complex issues and develop intelligent solutions.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external customers to design and implement promotional and marketing events.
• Analyse marketing data and provide recommendations to increase sales.
• Analyse Imperial Brands performance by channel, coupled with consumer trends and external data to make recommendations on brand and initiative strategy to enhance our position in those channels
• Work across multiple channels (Grocery, Convenience, Wholesale, Online), contributing to the planning, execution and review processes
• Putting together proposals to secure new listings within Grocers, Wholesale and Independents
• Taking responsibility for the financial management of projects ensuring an acceptable ROI is achieved
• Develop category management strategies to improve sales results and deliver customer category objectives.
• Adhere to company priorities and strategies for operational efficiency.
• Develop marketing presentations for assigned customers and work with account managers and directors to present category management reviews to clients.
• Help to build and optimize product pricing and promotional strategies
• Manage trade investment

Communications and Working Relationships:

Internal:

Trade Marketing, Consumer Marketing, I&I, CLA, Cluster Market Team

External:

Relevant industry bodies, IGD, Buyers, Account Directors/Managers

 

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Knowledge of category management, marketing and sales principles
• Excellent verbal & written presentation, communication and project management skills
• Understanding of UK retail trade with a good grasp of market, consumer and shopper data
• An analytical mind with a strategic ability
• Excellent communication and people skills
• Drive medium and short-term decision-making that is right for the customer and consumer
• Have a strong understanding of external market trends and competitor activity, understanding the impact on our brands and create plans to combat
• Commercially astute. with a successful track record in the achievement of targets and objectives, with an ability to stay ahead of competitors and deliver excellence.
• Naturally pragmatic and solutions orientated.
• Proficient in MS Office

Desirable:

• Proven experience as category manager or similar role
• Supported on cross-functional sales planning and trade execution
• Influences key stakeholders to create a holistic plans 
• BSc/BA in business administration, marketing or related field

About you

You are highly commercial and analytical, comfortable interpreting complex data and working with a wide range of insights to make fact-based decisions. With a background in sales, buying, account management or marketing, you’re able to translate insights in to strategic plans detailing focused customer marketing actions. You can develop strategies based on real world insight and bring people along with you using strong communication and stakeholder management skills.  You are able to adapt your presentation style to your audience both internally and externally.

You have pre-existing knowledge of, or are a fast and curious learner, quickly gaining knowledge of, the category, market trends, retailers, and consumers all of which will help you to identify key opportunities, strengths and weaknesses which will inform your day to day decisions.

What we offer

Imperial Brands offer a competitive package of salary, bonus scheme, pension and 25 days holiday (with an additional 4 days on top to cover the Christmas period and bank holidays). and hybrid work

Next steps:

Interested applicants should apply with their CV highlighting their suitability for the role