Commercial Manager

Drive growth, win new business, and shape the commercial strategy of a food manufacturer supplying leading brands across the food and beverage sector.

Commercial Manager
Location: Northamptonshire
Working Pattern: Onsite, Monday to Friday (with customer travel)
Salary: Up to £55,000 (DOE) + 10% Bonus + £5,000 Car Allowance

The Opportunity
We're supporting a food manufacturing business to recruit a Commercial Manager to lead customer growth and drive the commercial agenda across both existing and new accounts.

This is a true hunter and farmer role, with approximately 50% of your focus on developing new business opportunities and 50% on growing and strengthening existing customer relationships. Supplying ingredients into a range of food and beverage applications, the business has ambitious growth plans and is looking to expand its customer base further.

Reporting to the Head of Sales & Marketing, you'll play a key role in delivering volume, value, and margin growth while helping shape the company's long-term commercial strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute commercial plans to achieve sales, volume, and margin targets
• Generate new business opportunities and win new B2B customers across the food manufacturing sector
• Manage, retain, and grow a portfolio of existing accounts
• Build strong relationships with customers and stakeholders at all levels
• Develop negotiation strategies and lead commercial discussions
• Identify market trends, competitor activity, and new opportunities for growth
• Lead customer projects that improve profitability and support long-term partnerships
• Produce sales forecasts, account plans, and performance reporting
• Work closely with operations, technical, finance, and supply chain teams to deliver excellent customer service and business objectives
• Contribute to the wider commercial strategy and entry into new markets

What We're Looking For

• Proven B2B commercial experience within food manufacturing
• Track record of winning new business and growing existing customer relationships
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• Commercially astute with strong analytical and forecasting capability
• Self-starter with a proactive, results-driven approach
• Ability to identify opportunities and convert them into long-term commercial relationships
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple business functions

Additional Information

• Site-based role, Monday to Friday, when not visiting customers
• 37.5-hour working week
• Customer-facing role with regular travel across the UK
• Growing business with ambitious expansion plans
• High level of autonomy and influence within the commercial function

Benefits

• Up to £55,000 basic salary depending on experience
• 10% bonus linked to business targets and KPIs
• £5,000 car allowance
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Private medical insurance (BUPA - self-cover)
• Death in Service (3x salary)
• Pension scheme (5% or 7% matched through salary sacrifice)
• EV Car Scheme (following successful probation)

Why Join?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a food manufacturing business with ambitious plans and a strong reputation for quality and service. You'll have the chance to shape commercial strategy, build new customer relationships, and play a key role in driving the next phase of growth, all while working closely with senior leadership and making a visible impact on the business.