Commercial Manager

Job Description

KCS Group is looking for a class-leading Commercial Manager to rapidly driver forward its Commercial activities in the education, public and private sectors. With such a large portfolio of products, suppliers and customers it is paramount to devise strong mechanisms for each brand to strengthen its Commercial reasoning.The Commercial Manager is responsible for deep understanding of KCS’s commercial activities and developing robust strategies to drive improved margins. Fundamentally this person will develop the pricing strategy for the business to ensure that our products are positioned at the right price points with effective margins and by ensuring we are leveraging our product purchasing effectively whilst leading our supplier and procurement activities with a portfolio of 15,000 products.Driving measurement and continuous improvement of customer success against the commercial plans that underpin the delivery of all our goals across our brand objectives is critical. The role ensures that commercial understanding of all change and go to market activities across that KCS are to be understood across all stakeholders, are aligned to our desired customer and commercial outcomes, and ultimately our business strategy and goals.Key Duties· Own, develop and recommend the KCS Group pricing strategy for our 20,000 products. Working in tandem with our Supplier relationship team· Develop a price benchmarking strategy to ensure our prices and margins are relevant throughout the year· Develop our Rebate strategy and coordinate reporting and tracking· Develop the new KCS Group advertising strategy. (This is where suppliers contribute to KCS to advertise their products and services or to feature on our websites/catalogues· Maintain a deep understanding of the commercial results, to assist the drive of the business against the market, competitors, trends and products.· Support the development and execution of customer journeys to achieve better commercial outcomes and delivery.· Partner with Marketing to create data-driven marketing channels, to drive higher sales and deeper marketing campaigns to further deepen consistent messaging across our various distribution channels· Lead the product Managers (Specialists/Managers) to create robust and stretching commercial plans which are well thought through, precise and achievable· Formulate the KCS Group catalogue commercial strategy to include income generated, revenue per page, advertising requirements, targets and product strategy in partnership with Marketing and Supplier Relations· Co-ordinate the execution of all change within that plan which will impact customer and commercial outcomes with focus on pricing, discounting, terms and conditions plus rebated· Challenge, debate and hold to account business leads on the Commercial results of their activities with recommendations for improvements· Working with our UK Sales Leads to ensure that customer propositions are competitive whilst leveraging multi-brand economies· Actively measure our performance against our defined commercial and customer outcomes, producing performance insight and driving corrective actions as required.· Develop the KCS own brand product strategy to drive quality alternatives at competitive prices to increase margins. Manage a team of supplier relationship Managers, contract officer and commercial assistantEssential CriteriaProficient and very experienced in analysing large data and deriving effective business recommendations based on the evidence. Being able to review data, gain the views of those involved on the ground and the market and creating a plan is critical.Proven experience in supply chain management and procurement. Direct involvement in owning a supply chain management function to include formal supplier contracts, supply/demand activities, buying and securing bulk stock.Public sector procurement experience to include previous knowledge of OJEU compliance (previous EU procurement rules).A solid understanding of the fundamentals of Commercial activities in buying, selling, setting margins and working with rebates/discounting is essential. Evidence will be required of this.Knowledge at working with customer or supplier formal contacts with terms, conditions and SLAs.Understanding the fundamental process of agreeing contract terms particularly on Commercials.Excellent instincts and commercial awareness coupled with a strategic mindset.Thinking for today but with a firm handle on the direction, market trends and being proactive.Proven ability to plan and coordinate work to ensure timescales and deadlines are met for groups of people across a variety of teams.This role requires coordination but also to hold others accountable to ensure objectives are met and reported-to.Experience in presenting solutions, data and presentations to senior business staff.This role has an element of internal and external written, verbal and face to face interactions therefore you will need to be personable, clear, convincing and knowledgeable.Experience of working with marketing, procurement, sales and customer experience to drive profitability whilst ensuring customers are not adversely impacted.Knowledge of price benchmarking, competitive pricing and knowing how to price a product range.Interviews 16th March 2021Commercial Services Kent Ltd is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates. Required skills

Commercial Management

Customer Experience

Procurement

Purchasing

Supply Chain Management

Keyskills :
Commercial Management Customer Experience Procurement Purchasing Supply Chain Management