Commercial Strategy Manager

The Commercial Strategy Manager focuses on driving and shaping the mid-long term commercial strategy, optimising business performance and building the narratives that influence how the business and brands show up with their key strategic retail customers. Client Details A global FMCG organisation, established and successful footing within ambient food. Highly recognisable range of brands that live in consumers daily lives! Description Shape the commercial strategy

• Partner with the Commercial VP and Sales Leadership Team as a trusted advisor on the most complex and ambiguous commercial questions.
• Lead the long-term and short-term commercial planning processes - growth outlook, sub-channel strategy, annual operating plan.
• Own the strategic outputs that define the commercial narrative: category strategy, customer narratives, and the growth story.

Drive strategic initiatives from concept to impact

• Lead priority commercial initiatives end-to-end, from diagnosis and business case through to delivery and measurement.
• Own the governance, portfolio management, and integrated roadmap: milestones, risks, resources, and investment.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure tangible commercial outcomes, not just strategic recommendations.

Be the strategic go-to for Commercial Leadership

• Build the strategic storyline for internal and external forums.
• Act as a chief of staff to the VP of Sales, handling high-priority, time-sensitive requests with precision and judgement.
• Maintain a sharp external lens: consumer trends, competitive moves, macroeconomic and geopolitical shifts that shape the commercial agenda.

Profile A successful Commercial Strategy Manager will have:

• Consulting-grade problem structuring - frame problems clearly, test hypotheses rigorously, and land on a "so what" that drives action.
• Comfort in ambiguity with senior stakeholders - you can walk into a room of Directors and VPs with a half-formed problem and leave with a clear path forward.
• Storytelling that drives decisions - you translate analysis into compelling, executive-ready narratives that shift the conversation.
• Bias to delivery - you don't just recommend; you own outcomes. You hold yourself accountable for commercial impact, not just strategic output.
• Intellectual curiosity - you stay on top of what's happening externally as much as inside it. You bring fresh thinking from other industries, markets, and categories. Requirements:
• Demonstrable experience at a top-tier strategy consulting firm or an FMCG in-house strategy / commercial excellence team.
• Strong commercial and strategic judgement.
• Proven ability to influence and operate credibly with senior leaders (Director / VP level and above).
• Outstanding analytical skills and structured problem-solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including executive presentations for C-suite audiences.
• Ability to lead complex, cross-functional agendas autonomously in a matrixed organisation.

Job Offer

• Competitive salary, grading dependent on the level of experience.
• Healthcare benefits.
• Attractive pension scheme.
• Hybrid working pattern - 2-3 days in Berkshire If of relevance and interest, please apply! Desired Skills and Experience The Commercial Strategy Manager focuses on driving and shaping the mid-long term commercial strategy, optimising business performance and building the narratives that influence how the business and brands show up with their key strategic retail customers. A successful Commercial Strategy Manager will have: Consulting-grade problem structuring - frame problems clearly, test hypotheses rigorously, and land on a "so what" that drives action. Comfort in ambiguity with senior stakeholders - you can walk into a room of Directors and VPs with a half-formed problem and leave with a clear path forward. Storytelling that drives decisions - you translate analysis into compelling, executive-ready narratives that shift the conversation. Bias to delivery - you don't just recommend; you own outcomes. You hold yourself accountable for commercial impact, not just strategic output. Intellectual curiosity - you stay on top of what's happening externally as much as inside it. You bring fresh thinking from other industries, markets, and categories. Requirements: Demonstrable experience at a top-tier strategy consulting firm or an FMCG in-house strategy / commercial excellence team. Strong commercial and strategic judgement. Proven ability to influence and operate credibly with senior leaders (Director / VP level and above). Outstanding analytical skills and structured problem-solving. Excellent written and verbal communication, including executive presentations for C-suite audiences. Ability to lead complex, cross-functional agendas autonomously in a matrixed organisation.