A UK retail key account role for someone who wants to shape the category with buyers, not just process the orders.
Key Account Manager – UK Retail
Home-based, UK (customer travel, office in the East Midlands)
£60,000-£72,000 + £4,800 car allowance + bonus + benefits
Permanent
The Opportunity
We’re supporting an international packaging business with the appointment of a Key Account Manager for its UK retail customers.
You’ll own a portfolio in a specialist FMCG category. That means 4-5 major UK retailers plus the growers and packers who supply them, and at each one you’ll deal with buyers, category managers, NPD, commercial and compliance teams.
The business has grown quickly and now has a sales support team handling the admin. This role is about relationships, ideas and commercial results: bringing category thinking to retailers, holding and growing programmes, and making sure seasonal events land on time.
It’s home-based, with roughly two days a week with customers, an office in the East Midlands, and some European travel to head office/trade shows.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and develop key retail accounts, holding existing programmes and keeping ranges regularly reviewed and refreshed.
- Run seasonal and event packaging programmes from development through to delivery, working against long overseas lead times.
- Build direct relationships with retail decision makers: category managers, buyers and sustainability specialists.
- Lead the growth of potted plant packaging across the portfolio.
- Own pricing and margin, using market and competitor knowledge to negotiate the best outcome on custom programmes.
- Work closely with the in-house design team, NPD, marketing and sales support so customer projects run smoothly.
What We’re Looking For
You’ll have account management experience with UK multiple retailers at buyer and category manager level. That includes range reviews, seasonal or promotional programmes and price negotiation.
The product matters less than the retail experience. Food, fresh produce, FMCG, packaging, horticulture, home and garden or seasonal non-food are all relevant if you’ve managed ranges and timelines with major retailers. Packaging knowledge is a bonus, not a requirement.
You’ll be a self-starter who’s comfortable working remotely for an international business, well organised across several live programmes, and able to talk specifically about the impact you’ve made. A full UK driving licence is essential.
Why Join?
This is a chance to be the face of a category-specialist supplier to UK retail, with design, NPD and sales support behind you.
The business has grown fourfold in five years and wants fresh ideas on where the category goes next, from sustainability to consumer insight. There’s a clear growth brief in potted plants and real autonomy in how you run your accounts.
The package is £60,000-£72,000 plus a £400 per month car allowance, mileage, a bonus that grows with performance, and 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays.
If you’re interested in learning more, we’d be happy to have a confidential conversation.
