Pilgrim's Europe
Commercial Controller, Commercial Controller
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Commercial Controller
Location: Uxbridge (Office-Based, 5 Days Per Week)
Travel: Regular customer and site travel required
Sponsorship: Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position
Our People Really Make the Difference!
At Pilgrim's Europe, we're looking for an experienced Commercial Controller to lead one of our most significant strategic own-label retail partnerships. This is a high-profile commercial leadership role with full accountability for driving growth, profitability, customer relationships, innovation, and team performance across a major grocery retail account.
If you have a strong background managing own-label business within food manufacturing and a proven track record of delivering sustainable growth with major UK retailers, we'd love to hear from you.
About The Role
Reporting to the Commercial Director, you will be responsible for the commercial and sales strategy of a key strategic customer partnership, driving revenue, volume, and profitability across multiple own-label categories.
You will lead the development and execution of annual and long-term Joint Business Plans, build strong senior-level customer relationships, and work cross-functionally with Technical, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Marketing and NPD teams to deliver exceptional commercial results.
This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, lead customer-focused innovation programmes, and shape the future growth of a major retail partnership.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and deliver the commercial strategy for a major strategic retail account
- Maintain full P&L responsibility across own-label product categories
- Develop and implement annual and long-term Joint Business Plans
- Lead, coach and develop a team of Commercial Managers and Commercial Executives
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior customer stakeholders, including Category Directors and Heads of Buying
- Identify and deliver growth opportunities across multiple categories and routes to market
- Lead cross-functional customer business teams across Commercial, Marketing, Category, Innovation, Technical, Supply Chain and Finance
- Drive customer-focused innovation and NPD programmes aligned to long-term customer strategies
- Ensure accurate forecasting and effective management of risks and opportunities
- Own financial governance processes and collaborate closely with Commercial Finance
- Champion the voice of the customer internally and ensure business plans align with customer objectives
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About You
You'll be a commercially astute leader with extensive experience managing own-label retail accounts within food manufacturing. You'll have a proven track record of building long-term strategic customer partnerships, delivering profitable growth, and successfully managing the complexities of supplying major grocery retailers.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Significant experience managing major UK grocery retail accounts within a food manufacturing environment
- Strong own-label account management experience
- Previous experience at Commercial Controller level, or a Senior Commercial Manager ready to step into a larger strategic leadership role
- Proven success delivering Joint Business Plans with major grocery retailers
- Strong understanding of retailer own-label strategies, category planning and customer requirements
- Proven track record of delivering sustainable sales, profit and market share growth
- Full P&L management experience
- Experience working closely with Technical, Supply Chain, Operations and NPD teams
- Exceptional negotiation, influencing and relationship-building skills
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
- Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Ability to build effective relationships both internally and externally
- Full UK Driving Licence and willingness to travel regularly
Desirable Experience
- Experience supplying own-label products to leading UK grocery retailers
- Experience within chilled, fresh or short shelf-life food categories
- Category management knowledge
- Product development and innovation experience
- Understanding of manufacturing operations and supply chain processes
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Who Will Succeed Here?
You'll Thrive In This Role If You
- Have built your career managing own-label retail customers within food manufacturing
- Enjoy developing long-term strategic customer partnerships
- Are comfortable managing complexity across commercial, technical, operational and supply chain functions
- Can influence senior stakeholders both internally and externally
- Are passionate about delivering profitable growth, innovation and outstanding customer service
Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?
At Pilgrim's Europe, our people truly make the difference. We are committed to creating an environment where talented individuals can thrive, develop their careers, and make a real commercial impact within a leading food manufacturing business.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary and benefits
- Pension scheme
- Life assurance
- Employee discount platforms
- Enhanced holiday entitlement
- Option to purchase additional holidays
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities
- Career progression within a large, international FMCG organisation
- The opportunity to work with some of the UK's leading retail customers and industry experts
Our Values
We're looking for people who share our values and bring them to life every day:
Ownership
- Determination
- Discipline
- Humility
- Sincerity
- Simplicity
- Availability
Join us and become part of a business where your contribution is valued, your development is supported, and your success helps shape the future of one of Europe's leading food companies.
If you're looking for an opportunity to lead a key own-label customer partnership, influence commercial strategy, and drive meaningful business growth within a leading FMCG organisation, we'd love to hear from you.
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