Customer Development Manager f'real

PURPOSE STATEMENT

Customer Development Manager - f’real UK
We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment - someone who brings energy, curiosity, resilience, and a natural instinct for building relationships. You don’t need decades of experience; you do need drive, confidence, resilience and a genuine love of getting out there, meeting people, and making things happen.
If you’re the kind of person who lights up a room, learns fast, never backs down from a challenge and enjoys solving problems creatively with customers, this role will feel like a perfect fit.

Purpose of the Role
You’ll own a portfolio of customers and build long term, trusted partnerships that drive growth for both sides. This is a hands on, commercially focused role where you’ll create your own business plan, shape customer strategy, and deliver against KPIs across revenue, margin, distribution, and share.
You’ll operate with a lot of autonomy, but never alone. You’ll be surrounded by a supportive, collaborative team, and you’ll be the kind of person who brings energy back into that team too.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/OUTCOMES

Customer Growth & Strategy
•Build and deliver clear customer strategies aligned to our channel and business unit goals.
•Identify growth opportunities using insight, data, and creative problem solving.
•Deliver revenue and profit targets through insight led selling and tailored customer plans.

Relationship Building
•Develop and manage strong multi level relationships with customers - becoming their go to partner in the category.
•Represent the voice of the customer internally, ensuring we deliver what we promise.

Commercial Delivery
•Take full ownership of your customer portfolio, including planning, forecasting, course correcting, and reporting to the Business Unit Head.
•Bring category and shopper insights to life through compelling selling stories and presentations.

Internal Collaboration
•Work closely with supply chain, technical, NPD, finance, marketing, and category teams to deliver seamless customer experiences.
•Play an active role in shaping the broader BU strategy and supporting peers across the team.

Execution Excellence
•Be active in the market — visiting stores, meeting partners, understanding what’s working and what’s not.
•    Stay proactive, not reactive: when plans shift (and they will), you quickly find alternative ways to win.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

Critical
• A naturally engaging, confident communicator who builds relationships with ease
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and solve problems on the fly
• Strong commercial instincts with some experience in sales, account management, or customer facing roles (FMCG experience a bonus, not a must)
• Comfortable using data and insights to build a compelling story
• Resilient, adaptable, and energised by fast moving environments
• Strong negotiator with the ability to positively influence outcomes
• Experience collaborating with cross functional teams (e.g., supply chain, NPD, marketing)

Desirable
• Understanding of capital equipment or solution selling models
• Experience with joint business planning
• Knowledge of the beverage industry
• Experience leading small projects
•A network across retail, foodservice, or on the go channels

The Personality That Thrives Here
This isn’t part of the formal requirements, but here’s who really succeeds in this role:
• You enjoy people.
• You’re naturally upbeat, curious, confident and enjoy a challenge.
• You like the buzz of growing something that’s still scaling fast.
• You don’t wait to be asked, you just get stuck in.
• You enjoy wearing multiple hats and getting involved.
• You’re resourceful, resilient, solutions oriented, and not easily discouraged.
• And above all… you bring positive energy to the team.