Founded in Japan in 1887, Kao is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives with our high-quality products and services to create a Kirei Life for all – a beautiful life that respects the needs of our consumers and customers as well as the planet. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. As a company driven by purpose and strong corporate values, we pride ourselves to be listed among the World´s Most Ethical Companies since 18 consecutive years. Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation, and treating each other with trust and respect.
The role:
We have an exciting and unique opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious, and commercially-driven professional ready to make an immediate impact. Does this sound like you?
As the National Account Manager for Sainsbury’s & Waitrose, you will have full ownership of the combined P&L and be directly responsible for achieving budgeted targets. In this dynamic role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to nurture strong customer relationships, uncover new opportunities, and craft insightful, growth-focused strategies that drive long-term profitable growth. Your leadership will be crucial in driving exceptional results with these key customers.
What you will do:
- Account Management: Build and maintain strong, long-lasting relationships with Sainsbury’s & Waitrose. Serve as the primary point of contact for all communication between KAO and Sainsbury’s & Waitrose whilst effectively representing the voice of the customer with internal stakeholders.
- Full ownership of the combined Sainsbury’s & Waitrose P&L and be directly responsible for achieving budgeted targets.
- Sell and negotiate Range, Distribution, Placement, and Pricing strategies as part of Joint Business Planning, to drive mutual growth and align with strategic objectives.
- Own the monthly commercial discipline, including Business Planning, Forecasting, Pricing, and Invoice Management, ensuring accuracy and alignment with business objectives.
- Account administration e.g. Promotional and New Line Forms
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams Marketing, Category, Supply Chain and Shopper Marketing to execute retail channel specific plans/projects.
- Provide timely business updates (when required) to piers and senior stakeholders within the business.
- Contribute positively to the total UK consumer care business through cross-functional workstreams/forums.
What you will need:
- BSc/BA Hons degree or equivalent
- 2-3 years of Account Management/Buying experience in a branded FMCG environment. Experience of working with Health & Beauty brands is preferable, but not essential.
- Proven experience of the Account Management fundamentals e.g. P&L ownership, planning & forecasting, invoice management, insight based selling and negotiation
- Strong interpersonal skills and high personal credibility is required to build collaborative working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
- Excellent communication skills, able to simplify complex messages and situations to piers and senior stakeholders within the business.
- Sound commercial acumen, experience of working with P&Ls to structure business proposals and decisions, underpinned by accurate commercial modelling.
- Proven Leadership, the ability to proactively drive a growth agenda through the business and execute with excellence.
- Intermediate Excel Skills
How we work: Having been selected among the World´s Most Ethical Companies for 16 consecutive years, we are a company with a purpose and strong corporate values. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. At Kao, each employee can actively shape their job and their career. We work collaboratively to achieve our common goals, always aiming to deliver the best for our customers.
What we offer: A friendly and flexible work environment with competitive salaries, benefits package, ongoing development and the opportunity to enhance your skills and deliver tangible results. At Kao your voice will be heard. Your opinion really counts. We believe that change comes from taking opportunities into your own hands, so we value and reward entrepreneurial thinking and innovation.
Hiring Process: Kao embraces the diversity and the individual personalities of its people because we believe it is diversity that makes us strong. This is why we welcome applications from all areas of the global community.
Want to learn more: If you feel you are as unique as our products and want to find out why 33,000 people across the globe opted for a career with us please visit our Americas website (https://www.kao.com/americas/en/) or EMEA website (https://www.kao.com/emea/en/)
https://www.kao.com/emea/en/privacy/
What We Do
Ever since the company's founding in 1887, Kao has strived to deliver value to the life of people everywhere in the world. Today, we are a leading manufacturer in the fields of hygiene, beauty and health, while our chemical business contributes to the development of diverse industries. With more than 33,000 employees, our mission is to enrich the lives of people globally and contribute to the sustainability of the world.
In the regions of Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), we focus on our Beauty Care business with premium brands in three business sectors: Consumer, Salon and Cosmetics.
Our Business Sector represents skin and hair care brands that are recognized worldwide for their innovation and quality, such as Jergens, Curél, Bioré, Guhl, and John Frieda.
Our Salon Business Sector is committed to unleashing the creativity of stylists around the globe. With our industry leading brands Goldwell, KMS and Oribe, stylists have everything in their hands to create beautiful show-stopping hair representative of the individuality of their clients.
Our London-based boutique brand, Molton Brown, offers luxury beauty products found only in our exclusive Molton Brown stores, high-end department stores and travel retail, as well as five-star hotels around the world.
All three business sectors are driven by the same values and beliefs: Creating high-quality products and constantly striving for the best is what is at the heart of everything we do.
This is why we understand that our people are one of our core assets, and we strive for a working environment that allows team members to flourish and grow. Join us, and you will have opportunity to help us make life beautiful
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