Retail Development Manager - fixed term contract

Job summary

We are currently recruiting for a Retail Development Manager, on a 12-month, fixed-term contract, to work on a hybrid basis, two/three days from our HQ in Coventry and the remainder working remotely from home, Monday to Friday.

This role would suit someone with the drive and attention to detail to deliver multiple in-store marketing projects and engage with agricultural teams within supermarkets and the wider supply chain on behalf of British farmers.

Supporting the Senior Retail Development Manager, you will manage AHDB’s relationship with key named retailers, their processors and media houses to drive consumer demand for British red meat and dairy at the point of purchase, supporting the effective and efficient delivery of AHDB corporate strategy and KPIs. You will proactively build awareness and engagement with AHDB’s products and services, working with key accounts and their supply chains to drive greater efficiency, transparency and sustainability.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual with some experience of working with retailers who can demonstrate successful relationship development. A thorough understanding of category or commercial account management and retail planning cycles, the ability to build strong relationships and an interest in food or British agriculture is essential.

Established in 2008, AHDB is the independent, impartial public body that unlocks success in British agriculture. Funded by a levy from over 100,000 British farmers, growers and processors in the beef, lamb, pork, dairy and cereals sectors, we support and champion farmers and processors, often where no one else can or will.

Job description

• Collaborate with internal teams across the organisation to fully maximise and enhance AHDB’s retail offering
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key accounts, ensuring regular and sustained engagement with all relevant departments, including commercial, category and agriculture teams to help establish AHDB as a relevant and credible strategic partner
• Actively undertake budget management to ensure best use of levy funds
• Evaluate effectiveness of retail engagement activities ensuring value for money, making recommendations for improvement and implement where appropriate
• Contribute to the development and support the delivery of strategic plans to drive consumer demand for British products
• Work with retail colleagues to identify and maximise opportunities for cross-sector working and to ensure consistency of approach across campaigns
• Establish tactical plans, objectives and targets for defined areas of responsibility, which are agreed with the relevant Head of Retail and Education Partnerships, AHDB senior management and sector boards, as appropriate
• Contribute to the development of a single AHDB retail campaigns calendar (rolling 12 month), ensuring opportunities for maximum synergy across sectors and with external partners
• Manage relationships with external media agencies and processors to ensure optimal effectiveness and efficiency

Person specification

• Experience of working with retailers and developing relationships with a professional account management approach
• Good commercial track record, good customer service, and negotiating and influencing skills, including use of category management and understanding of retail planning cycles
• Proven ability to build strong relationships, both internally and externally, with a collaborative approach to networking
• Excellent verbal and written communication, with sound analytical skills
• Good project management skills, with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining a sharp attention for detail
• Full UK driving licence, with the flexibility to travel to meetings as and when required

Benefits

We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work, so we have a great mix of benefits and opportunities to give you the recognition you deserve:

• 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, to include hybrid working
• 33 days of annual leave plus one privilege day (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Life assurance cover (4x salary)
• A market-leading defined contribution pension scheme with Legal & General
• Enhanced pay of 20 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to length of service
• A paid day each year to volunteer and make a difference in your community
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent training and development opportunities and an agreed development plan
• Recognition awards throughout the year
• Reward Gateway membership – this gives you a huge number of online discounts and savings

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To apply, simply upload your CV and Cover Letter via our careers portal by clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this page. Our hiring managers will review your application, and we’ll be in touch with the outcome shortly after the closing date.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial interview via MS Teams. If successful, a second-stage face-to-face interview will be held at our HQ in Coventry, Warwickshire, following our competency-based framework.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk
• Telephone : 02476 935722

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles of the Civil Service, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Head of HR via email: hr@ahdb.org.uk