UK Market Manager - Retail

Salary: £38 - £48k annually dependant on experience

Annual Leave entitlement: 25 days (plus 10 bank holidays)

Working hours: Full-Time – 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Ratho, Edinburgh / Hybrid-working

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 25th of February at 12:00 noon

In person interviews for this role will take place w/c 4th of March 2026

Prior to any employment commencing with Scotland Food & Drink you will be asked to provide documents to demonstrate your right to work in the UK.

JOB SUMMARY

The UK Market Manager – Retail at Scotland Food & Drink (SF&D) is responsible for supporting the delivery of the UK Market Development Strategy with a focus on managing key customer accounts and developing route-to-market opportunities. The role contributes directly to the growth of the Scottish food and drink sector, aligned with the industry vision set out in Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the World.

This position requires an experienced, commercially minded account and projects manager with strong knowledge of the food and drink sector. The postholder is responsible for:

• Managing relationships with key customers, including major retailers and wholesalers, building sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships that support the sales growth of Scottish products in Scotland and across the UK.
  
  
• Acting as the lead point of contact for assigned major accounts, collaborating with cross-functional teams both within SF&D and across nominated accounts to develop and deliver strategic account plans, ensuring effective communication flows.

Working at both strategic and operational levels, engaging flexibly and collaboratively with internal colleagues and external partners to achieve business objectives and support the implementation of the UK Market Strategy. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

Your day-to-day responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Customer Relationship Development: Operate as the lead point of contact for major customer accounts, collaborating with internal colleagues and external partners to develop and deliver strategic account plans, ensuring effective communication flow between SF&D and assigned accounts.
  
  
• Commercial Opportunity Management: Identify, develop, implement and oversee commercial initiatives to grow sales of Scottish food and drink, ensuring alignment with customer priorities and organisational objectives.
  
  
• Project and Programme Delivery: Design, plan and manage the delivery of bespoke development projects within account plans, ensuring timely execution and measurable outcomes.
  
  
• Industry Representation & Event Support: Represent SF&D at external-facing events and support industry initiatives to facilitate supplier-buyer engagement, market development and promotion of Scottish food and drink.
  
  
• External Partnership Collaboration: Work with external partners and stakeholders on strategic projects that support growth, resilience and sustainability in the sector.
  
  
• Internal Collaboration and Advisory: Provide guidance and support to the Business Development team on account-related strategy, market approaches and supplier engagement.
  
  
• Budget & Resource Oversight: Manage and monitor budgets, costs and outcomes associated with assigned accounts and initiatives, ensuring alignment with agreed objectives.
  
  
• Graduate Support: Supervise and support graduates assigned to key accounts where relevant.
  
  
• Customer Data Management: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in the customer relationship management system to ensure data integrity and support reporting.
  
  
• Stakeholder and Board Engagement: Represent SF&D on the UK Market Board and other relevant internal and external groups, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and the UK Market Strategy.

 
ABOUT YOU

• Commercial Acumen: Works independently to apply deep understanding of the UK food and drink sector and supply chain environment, providing insight and guidance on commercial opportunities and strategies to support organizational objectives.
  
  
• Project Management & Planning: Uses comprehensive knowledge and skills to plan, organise, prioritise, and oversee multiple projects and account activities, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with business objectives. Demonstrates a proven track record of programme delivery, achieving measurable results.
  
  
• Relationship Management: Works without supervision to build and maintain strategic relationships with senior stakeholders across large and complex organisations, demonstrates strong people skills to motivate, influence, and support colleagues and partners effectively.
  
  
• Account Management: Applies expertise to independently manage key accounts, developing tailored account plans and driving program delivery to achieve commercial outcomes. Proven ability to maintain and grow strategic accounts successfully.
  
  
• Negotiation & Influence: Uses comprehensive knowledge and skills to negotiate and influence independently, providing guidance to colleagues on obtaining consensus between internal and external parties with differing interests.
  
  
• Communication & Presentation: Works independently to communicate ideas and information clearly, concisely and persuasively, including report writing, presentations, and public speaking.
  
  
• Analytical & Reporting: Uses comprehensive knowledge to analyse performance data, monitor progress, and produce relevant, effective reports to inform decision-making.
  
  
• Attention to Detail & Problem Solving: Works without supervision to ensure high levels of accuracy and to develop solutions that meet the demands of account and project plans.
  
  
• Adaptive Mindset: Works at an advanced level to assess changing circumstances and adjust strategies and work habits as required to achieve objectives.
  
  
• Mobility & Flexibility: Willing and able to travel and participate in events outside of normal working hours as required to support business goals.

Experience

• Wide and deep experience providing expert competence.
  
  
• Food & Drink Supply Chain Knowledge: Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the food and drink supply chain, including production, distribution, and commercial dynamics, to inform strategy and decision-making.
  
  
• UK Retail Market Knowledge: Possesses deep knowledge of the UK retail market, including trends, customer behaviours and commercial opportunities, to guide market strategy and business growth.
  
  
• Managerial Experience: Experience of coordinating accounts, activities and resources to achieve defined objectives and deliverables within agreed timeframes.
  
  

ABOUT SCOTLAND FOOD & DRINK

Scotland Food & Drink is the industry leadership organisation tasked with delivering the industry strategy and driving responsible growth for the sector. We are also a membership organisation with over 420+ companies at our heart.

Working with us gives you an opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting and innovative industries in Scotland.

Our culture and our people are core to delivering our diverse and collaborative work . We have work/life balance as one of our core values and a comprehensive benefits package including, a group pension plan, 35 days annual leave (in addition to your birthday off), enhanced maternity & paternity benefits, a health care cash plan, a flexible working policy, an electric vehicle scheme, a cycle to work scheme, a life assurance scheme, professional study & training assistance, an employee assistance programme and wellness events.

There are also opportunities to socialise and attend industry events and dinners.

We believe working with us should be a hugely positive experience, our core values are:

• Ambition - We pursue excellence with unwavering ambition.
  
  
• Collaboration - We believe in the power of working together.
  
  
• Innovation - We embrace a culture of continuous improvement and creativity.
  
  
• Celebration - We believe in recognising and celebrating achievements.
  
  
• Authenticity - We are committed to honesty, transparency, and integrity.
  
  
• Balance - We believe in finding balance between work and the rest of our lives.

We are also an equal opportunity employer, and we recognise that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. We support candidates with reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please let us know when applying if you will require any additional support.  

APPLY NOW

Please send CV and covering letter, or any questions you have regarding the role to:

 careers@foodanddrink.scot with the title of the job you are applying for in the subject line.