Location: London / Henley-On-Themes (Hybrid Working) (There is an expectation to be able to travel to our barns in Henley-On-Themes) 
Reports to: Customer Controller
Contract Type: Full-Time

Purpose of the Role:
As an Account Manager, you will lead and manage key customer accounts, fostering strong relationships while aligning customer goals with our ambitious growth plans. You will support, inspire, and motivate both customers and colleagues to ensure Ella’s Kitchen continues to thrive as a market leader in the High Street and Convenience channels. You will have the opportunity to shape and deliver the strategy for Ella’s Kitchen and Hain Baby Brands, while driving commercial performance and category management excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Customer Management & Sales Delivery (60%)

• Lead the delivery of UK Net Sales targets in alignment with budgeted goals.

• Bring commercial and brand plans to life with your customers, ensuring execution excellence.

• Manage trade spend effectively, ensuring investments are aligned with strategic objectives.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers through a proactive contact strategy, ensuring smooth communication both internally and externally.

• Collaborate with Dealers to track progress and ensure alignment with sales plans.

• Provide accurate sales forecasts, ensuring forecast accuracy for your customer base.

2. Sales Fundamentals / Reporting & Tracking (30%)

• Work closely with the category and marketing teams to provide category management insights that help differentiate Ella’s Kitchen from competitors.

• Accurately report sales data, including weekly sales numbers, trade spend, forecasting, and promotional performance, and actively seek areas for improvement.

• Contribute to cross-functional projects, including new product development and market performance reviews.

• Be the ‘eyes and ears’ for your customers, conducting regular store visits and staying updated with market trends to inform internal teams.

3. Joint Business Plans (10%)

• Collaborate on the creation of Joint Business Plans (JBP) with customers, ensuring alignment with long-term objectives and delivering on commercial goals.

• Think critically about JBP elements to optimize for both short-term and long-term impact across Ella’s Kitchen and our partners.

• Build detailed bottom-up plans at a SKU level to ensure commercial success while aligning with our brand values.

• Ensure timely delivery of JBPs, ensuring all internal and external approvals are met within set timelines.

What You’ll Need:

• Experience: Proven experience managing customer accounts, delivering commercial results, and implementing strategic plans.

• Passion for the Brand: A strong passion for Ella’s Kitchen’s mission to improve children's lives through healthy food, and a commitment to using business as a force for good.

• Willingness to Learn: An open mind and the ability to think creatively and challenge the status quo.

• Skills:

  • Exceptional commercial acumen and strong numeracy skills.

  • Outstanding relationship-building abilities, with top-notch questioning and negotiation skills.

  • Excellent communicator with the ability to influence and engage internal and external stakeholders.

  • Proactive thinker with the capacity to think strategically and execute with precision.

  • Highly adaptable and comfortable in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment.

  • Results-focused with a “never give up” attitude when facing challenges.

  • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.