National Account Manager - Department Stores

Sunday Riley is looking for an experienced National Account Manager based in London, UK to join our growing global team. The National Account Manager will be responsible for nurturing strategic partnerships with UK accounts.

The ideal candidate has a forward-thinking mindset which allows them to push boundaries and build game-changing cross-functional relationships; proven experience working as an independent National Account Manager, will be highly numerate; target-driven, retail sales savvy, keen to find creative solutions to challenges and passionate about working in the beauty industry.

Responsibilities

• Retail Partner Relationships – Conduct successful negotiations on terms, pricing, distribution, on-site visibility, and support with Buying and Merchandising teams.
• Lead presentations of product newness and account reviews at quarterly market meetings.
• Build strong working relationships with Retail teams, utilising insight from the field and engaging the team in the execution of sales, events and merchandising plans to ensure a cohesive but tailored approach with designated retailer partners.

Driving Performance

• Manage, monitor and optimise sales performance.
• Ensure a top-line understanding of retail sales, including sell-in and sell-through.
• Manage category and individual store performance to identify retail opportunities and strategic needs.
• Build and deliver against an annual retail sales target. Use product innovation, new stores, retail trends and field support to build your sales plan.
• Develop and deliver plans to maintain and drive top 5 brand ranking across the online retail platform.
• Manage forecasting in partnership with the Retail Planner ensuring accuracy for NPD and core lines.

Cross-Functional Working

• Work closely with Operations, Visual and Digital Merchandising, Brand Marketing, PR & Social teams to create and deliver an annual plan for each retailer covering activation of key launches and marketing moments, events, store/retailer animation, considering both customer acquisition and retention.
• Review implementation and performance of the annual strategy vs expectations on a quarterly or appropriate frequent basis.
• Align launch, animation and promotion plans with SRMS team – local and global - to ensure a consistent and phased plan across all retailers within the region, avoiding unnecessary conflicts of activity.

Leadership Development

• Model hands-on learning leadership by providing continual learning opportunities, coaching & feedback to strengthen individual & team performance.
• Conduct weekly touch-bases with direct reports to convey action plans.
• Responsible for analysis of account managers data reports to assure accuracy in sales reporting.

Competencies

• Communication - Keep all Directors informed on important issues, ensuring concise, clear and convincing communications.
• Business Acumen - See bigger business issues for both the retailer and SRMS; formulate a strong account strategy and align to retailer priorities; quantify the business plan and be aware of impact across other accounts and teams.
• Adaptability - Recognise the pace of change and maintain composure in high-pressure situations; welcome input for personal growth.
• Pride - Maintain high personal standards, be passionate and positive, and provide regular feedback while clarifying roles and responsibilities.
• Relationships - Build strong, collaborative relationships with co-workers, direct reports and retail account teams.
• Values - Look out for the company’s best interests and meet commitments.
• Arranger - Prioritize tasks, delegate effectively, and follow up to improve methods.

Work Location - Territory, Hub, and Work week

• This role is office based in SOHO, London (Hybrid).
• This is a full-time role, operating in normal business hours.
• This schedule may require weekend and international work on an ad hoc basis.

Preferred Qualification And Experience

• Extensive experience in a similar role.
• Previous experience within UK beauty retail.
• Ideally spent time in a startup/scale-up FMCG business or high-growth challenger environment.
• P&L and JBP ownership experience.
• Strong commercial awareness, acumen and negotiation skills.
• Structured and analytical, comfortable working with data.
• Memorable, positive, professional and enthusiastic presence.
• You forecast accurately and have a strong attention to detail, as well as finely tuned human sensitivity.
• Entrepreneurship and an eye for new opportunities; highly developed influencing and negotiating ability; good marketing and customer marketing literacy.
• Effective use of networking and strong inter-personal skills.
• Passion for skincare.
• Excellent and advanced Microsoft Office skills (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Certified negotiation training is a plus – please specify on your CV.
• Self-motivated, committed and goal-oriented.
• You must have the right to work in the UK.

EEO

Sunday Riley actively creates a culture of inclusivity and respects that diversity in the workplace leads to a positive and stronger team. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity for all employees, contractors, and prospective employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other criteria protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

What We Offer

This role offers the opportunity to work in an ever-changing growing company that is passionate about its products, operating within a fast-moving industry and dynamic category. The successful candidate will find an open, creative and collaborative work environment.

Social And Environmental Responsibilities

We are committed to promoting human rights, equality, diversity, inclusivity of products, customer care, and sustainability goals. We expect employees to be accountable and aligned with the company values.