Senior Customer Account Manager – Co-op & Co-op Wholesale Foods

Job Title: Senior Customer Account Manager – Co-op & Co-op Wholesale Foods

Location: Kingston

Function: Customer Development

Scope:​Local markets

Terms & Conditions:​ Full time

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Customer Account Manager will be responsible for building strong working relationships with the customer buying team; developing and executing customer business plans at a category level which deliver USG, Market Share and Profitability. They are accountable for the day to day contact with the customer buyers, supply chain, shopper marketing, internal category & brand contacts. 

JOB PURPOSE

• Love what you do:  As a CAM you will be passionate about all aspects of leading your portfolio to competitive growth

• Love your customer: You will lead the Co-op x Unilever relationship across the Foods categories – driving growth via strategic alignment and negotiation

• Do what you say: Drive the JBP, executing the agreed 2026 plan setting up a strong ambition and agreement 

• Own it: Leverage our brand assets and the support from the BU to deliver new and exciting innovation and activation

• Be Different: The need for extensive commercial rigor in the assessment and implementation of our Growth Strategy

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Line Management of 1 x Degree Level Apprentice  

• Build strong and sustainable customer relationships  

• Negotiate effectively with your customer, e.g. to agree trade terms, trade funding, and counterparts according to the UL strategy on his/her categories  

• Manage the relationship aspects of key customer ‘events’, e.g. launching of new products, cost price changes, breaches of trade terms 

• Develop and deliver the customer strategic business plan for relevant categories, and the joint customer business plan, working closely with Category Managers and Shopper Marketing 

• Develop and deliver an optimal integrated category promotional plan (including selling the plan with the customer) 

• Manage promotional and non-promotional investments with the customer and ensures all agreements are properly documented and stored 

• Work closely with Customer Experience Specialists, Customer Planners and other cross functional members of the team to ensure administrative aspects of promotions are completed 

• Manage the launch of new products with customers, e.g. selling in the new product, providing samples etc 

• Ensure effective in-store activation of key events (e.g. promotions, range reviews), working closely with the Shopper Marketing team 

• Manage the customer P&L for relevant categories and the overall level of customer investment 

• Manage in-month performance vs forecast, working closely with CBMs and other Cross functional members  

• Manage accruals and pricing accurately and efficiently 

• Ensure customer is compliant with agreed trade terms; where these are breached seek a resolution and monitor implementation 

• P&L Management: Delivery of Turnover & Business Building Terms targets for specific category 

• S&OP Forecasting including Anaplan inputs and management

• Provision of clear up to date inputs into Business Processes (Promotional Evaluation, Customer            

• Business Planning, sales updates, in store tracking, price claim management etc

• Delivery of required admin for the customer – pricing, rebates, NLF, promo proposals, trade terms, contracts 

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

• Accountability & Responsibility 

• Consumer and Customer Focus 

• Bias for Action 

• Building Talent and Teams  

Skills

• ​Customer management & selling essentials - ideally previous experience of performing a CAM role 

• Prior commercial experience and exposure to P&L 

• Proven history of working within a team environment 

• Prior experience of leading and developing a direct report preferable however not essential 

• Proven Account Management experience 

• Two years of Shopper Marketing or Category Management is preferable 

Key UL Behaviours

• CARE DEEPLY: Care deeply about how consumers experience our brands every day, everywhere; about out people’s growth and development, and our impact on the planet

• FOCUS ON WHAT COUNTS: Ruthlessly prioritise what really, really matters and so do fewer things brilliantly. Set clear and stretching goals and recognize maximum performance impact

• STAY THREE STEPS AHEAD: Think boldly and creatively to make breakthroughs in performance. Always be curious and confident – anticipating and staying ahead of consumer needs and external trends be the competition

• DELIVER WITH EXCELLENCE: Deliver everything with excellence and pace. Take personal ownership and hold each other account – always finding a way to do what we said we would do

WHAT WE OFFER

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).