Commercial Lead - Retail

Job Title: Commercial Lead - Retail / Reporting to: Head of Retail Sales / Location: Luton, Beds

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly ambitious and commercially minded individual to join a market leading and fast-growing manufacturer and distributor of high-quality wiring, lighting & electrical accessories supplied into the electrical wholesale and retail DIY channels. The successful candidate will be given the opportunity to contribute to the continuous growth of the retail team, supporting the Head of Retail Sales in defining and implementing the commercial strategy for the division.

Commercial Strategy, Pricing and Sales Support

1. Work with relevant stakeholders to play a leading role in managing the retail commercial offer, including pricing and commercial agreements with retail partners.
2. Work closely with Product Management to review, calculate, implement and communicate pricing for new and existing products, taking account of competitor activity, market positioning and movements in the company's cost base.
3. Undertake broader commercial analysis and provide stakeholders with clear insight, direction and recommendations on pricing, profitability and commercial opportunities.
4. Provide commercial support for new business tenders.

Forecasting, Performance Analysis and Reporting

1. Prepare forecasts for internal review and communicate them to the Business Systems team.
2. Monitor and analyse weekly sales and margin performance against agreed forecasts, including despatches, orders received and customer sales-out data. Provide clear commentary to internal stakeholders and prepare the relevant figures and narrative for monthly management reports.
3. Obtain and maintain accurate customer sales data and analyse weekly performance against forecast by key customer and product range. Identify areas of strong and weak performance to support commercial decision-making and customer performance reviews.

Project Coordination and Customer Support

1. Support weekly internal project review meetings, ensuring minutes and actions are documented and shared promptly.
2. Coordinate new product launches with customers, working across relevant internal departments and external contacts to ensure all deliverables are completed.
3. Support the Head of Retail Sales and Retail Business Development Manager with customer activities as required.

Market Insight, Promotions and Marketing Support

1. Maintain a strong awareness of market and competitor activity, including product developments, pricing and promotions.
2. Identify and deliver promotional opportunities that generate incremental sales and margin.
3. Work with Marketing colleagues to develop collateral supporting promotions, product launches and the ongoing activities of the Retail Sales team.

Systems and Data Management

1. Work closely with the Business Systems team and customers to ensure internal systems contain accurate product and pricing data.
2. Work with the Data Management team to verify product data before initial customer orders are despatched. Upload product data and assets to customer portals, verify their accuracy and coordinate any updates required before or after launch.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• 3-5 years' experience in a commercial decision-support, commercial analyst or similar role, together with strong commercial acumen and an entrepreneurial approach.
• Educated to degree level in a relevant business discipline (e.g. Business Studies, Business Management, Finance, Economics).