Hays
Sales Manager

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Your new company
Our client is an award-winning manufacturer of premium food products with a strong presence across the UK grocery sector. Renowned for quality, innovation, and exceptional customer engagement, they have built a loyal customer base and continue to experience growth within the FMCG market. The business offers a fun, vibrant, and collaborative working environment where passion, personality, and enthusiasm are highly valued.
Due to an impending maternity leave, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Sales Manager to join the business on a 13-month fixed-term contract.
Your new role
As Sales Manager, you will be responsible for managing and developing relationships with key grocery and supermarket accounts, driving sales performance, and identifying opportunities for growth across an established customer base.
This is a fully office-based position where the focus is on account management and relationship development rather than cold calling. You will work closely with internal teams to ensure outstanding customer service, successful promotional activity, and continued commercial success.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing a portfolio of major supermarket and grocery accounts
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with key retail stakeholders
- Driving sales growth through account development and strategic planning
- Negotiating commercial agreements, promotions, and product listings
- Producing sales forecasts, reports, and performance analysis
- Identifying market opportunities and monitoring competitor activity
- Working collaboratively with marketing, operations, and customer service teams
- Representing the business at industry exhibitions and trade shows (typically 2-3 per year)
- Ensuring customers receive a best-in-class service and partnership experience
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
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Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
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What you'll need to succeed
To be considered for this role, you will have:
- Proven experience in a Sales Manager, National Account Manager, or Key Account Manager role
- Essential FMCG experience
- Previous Food & Grocery sector experience would be highly advantageous
- Experience managing major supermarket or retail accounts
- Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management abilities
- A proactive, energetic, and personable approach
- Outstanding communication and presentation skills
- Strong analytical and reporting capabilities
- A genuine enthusiasm for quality consumer products
- The ability to thrive in a fast-paced and collaborative environment


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What you'll get in return
- Salary of £55,000 - £58,000 per annum depending on experience
- 13-month fixed-term maternity cover contract
- Immediate start opportunity
- Exposure to major UK grocery retailers
- A fun, friendly, and vibrant company culture
- Opportunity to work with an established and successful FMCG brand
- Supportive and collaborative team environment
- Career-enhancing experience within a growing business
What you need to do now
If you're an experienced FMCG sales professional with a background in grocery retail account management, and you're looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now or contact Hays for a confidential discussion about this opportunity.
Note: Hays EA is a trading division of Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited and acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job, you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
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