National Account Manager, Essential Home

This review provides an in-depth look at the National Account Manager opportunity within Essential Home Sales, designed to help potential candidates understand the scope of the role, its advantages, and key considerations for career growth.

The Opportunity: A Foundation for Growth in Essential Home

Essential Home is a dynamic and purpose-driven business segment focused on making every house a home through its trusted portfolio of Air Care, Surface, Laundry, and Pest Control products. Bolstered by world-class brands like Air Wick, Cillit Bang, Calgon, and Mortein, this is a nascent yet ambitious team that prides itself on a diverse, inclusive, and entrepreneurial culture. The company actively fosters a "founder mentality," encouraging agility, action-orientation, and a continuous learning approach. This environment presents a unique and exciting platform for individuals looking to make a significant impact and accelerate their careers.

About the National Account Manager Role: Strategic Partnerships and Commercial Leadership

As a National Account Manager, you will be at the forefront of Essential Home's commercial success, tasked with cultivating and nurturing strategic relationships with major UK retailers such as Tesco, Boots, Asda, and Sainsbury’s. This is a leadership role within a market-leading business known for its commercial prowess and a strong track record of innovation, with a significant portion of recent sales driven by new product launches. You will operate in a fast-paced, competitive market, where your primary objectives will be to:

• Drive category growth and deliver exceptional commercial results.
• Shape joint business plans to unlock mutual value with retail partners.
• Lead high-impact negotiations and influence strategic decisions.
• Achieve key performance indicators, including Net Revenue, Gross Margin, Net Working Capital, and account 4P targets (Product, Placement, Price & Promotion).
• Develop multi-level relationships within key accounts.
• Secure trading and distribution agreements, ensuring optimal product visibility and promotional execution.
• Contribute valuable customer insights to the Category Business Team.

Advantages for Candidates:

• Impactful Role in a Growing Business: Be a key driver of success for a newly formed but strategically important business unit within a well-established company.
• Brand Portfolio Strength: Work with well-recognized and trusted consumer brands that have a strong market presence.
• Career Development: The company emphasizes a unique learning and career opportunity, fostering entrepreneurial thinking and providing exposure to high-level strategic decision-making.
• Collaborative and Inclusive Culture: Join a team that values diversity and inclusion, with active support from global Employee Resource Groups.
• Innovation Focus: Be part of a business that thrives on new product development, offering a dynamic and forward-thinking work environment.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Access to a robust benefits package including parental benefits, Employee Assistance Program, life insurance, global share plans, and performance-based short-term incentives.
• Employee Value Proposition: The company promotes a "pay for performance" philosophy, ensuring that contributions are recognized and rewarded.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• FMCG Account Management Experience: A proven track record in account management within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods sector is essential.
• Strategic and Analytical Acumen: The ability to think strategically, analyze data, and develop creative solutions is crucial for driving category growth and managing P&L effectively.
• Commercial Prowess: Strong financial and commercial understanding, coupled with experience in P&L management and budget delivery, is a prerequisite.
• Relationship Building and Influence: Success in this role hinges on the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally, utilizing a range of influencing and negotiation techniques.
• Agile and Entrepreneurial Mindset: Candidates who are proactive, take ownership, and exhibit a "founder mentality" will thrive in this fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Adaptability and Resilience: The competitive market requires individuals who are confident, capable, and can adapt to evolving business needs.
• Potential Over Perfection: The company embraces diversity and recognizes that strong candidates may not tick every single box. They hire for potential, encouraging individuals to apply if they feel a strong connection to the role and company values.

This National Account Manager position offers a compelling opportunity for ambitious sales professionals to leverage their skills in a high-impact role within a growing and purposeful organization. If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for driving commercial success and building strong retail partnerships, this role could be an excellent step in your career journey.