Head of Commercial

FRTS plays a vital role in helping independent societies benefit from Co-op's scale, buying power, promotional activity and category expertise. As Head of Commercial, you'll drive engagement with Co-op's commercial plans while acting as the voice of independent societies within Co-op. Your leadership will help unlock growth opportunities, strengthen strategic partnerships and make sure FRTS continues to deliver value for both Co-op and its independent society partners. What you'll do

• Lead and develop Co-op's commercial relationship with independent co-operative societies across the UK
• Manage and develop a team comprising a Proposition & Trade Planning Manager and Two Category managers, working within the Senior Commercial Leadership Team
• Drive engagement with Co-op's trade plans, promotional activity, category development and own-brand growth
• Build strong relationships with senior partners across independent societies, influencing adoption of key commercial initiatives and ensuring FRTS buying catalogue reflects shared needs
• Act as the voice of independent societies internally, making sure their needs and priorities are represented in commercial decision-making
• Monitor sales, profitability and category performance, using data and insights to identify growth opportunities
• Lead discussions within key governance forums, presenting recommendations and influencing commercial priorities
• Collaborate with partners across Commercial, Supply Chain, Marketing, Proposition and Customer teams to deliver business objectives
  
  Significant commercial leadership experience within retail, wholesale, FMCG or a similar commercial environment
• A strong track record of building and influencing senior stakeholder relationships to deliver commercial growth
• Strong commercial and analytical capability, with experience using performance data and insights to drive decision-making
• Knowledge of promotions, category management, own-brand strategy, supplier relationships and commercial performance drivers
• A proactive, self-starting leadership style, with the ability to identify opportunities, drive change and develop high-performing teams
  
  We're looking for a Head of Commercial to lead Co-op's Commercial relationship with FRTS (Federal Retail Trading Services). In this role, you'll be commercially responsible for one of Co-op's most significant channels, representing approximately 25% of our overall trading volume. You'll work with a team of commercial specialists, build and maintain strong relationships and drive growth across a network of around 1,300 stores.
  
  At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We're an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare
• Company car or £6,000 car allowance
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme
A place you'll belong We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.