A rare opportunity to work within Scotmid Co-operative, in partnership with leadership organisation Scotland Food & Drink, in a fast-moving commercial environment to grow sales of Scottish food and drink.
Industry leadership organisation Scotland Food & Drink, is seeking a new graduate to undertake an exciting commercial role working in Scotland, in partnership with Scotmid Co-operative, Scotland’s largest independent co-operative.
This is an excellent opportunity for an individual to gain invaluable insight, skills and knowledge in one of Scotland’s most progressive sectors.
The successful candidate will work with Scotmid’s Local Sourcing Manager and connect with commercial buying and marketing teams to help develop the trading capabilities of suppliers, through effective product ranging, promotions and marketing and help them grow their sales. The graduate will also sit within Scotland Food & Drink’s UK Market Development team allowing them to share best practice with the industry via initiatives such as briefing events, workshops and learning journeys.
Scotmid Academy, the successful candidate will have access to the learning and development provided by this initiative; it’s purpose is to support, challenge and develop Scotmid people to be the best they can. The Academy offers a range of in-house and accredited training programmes, which are designed to give the skills and knowledge to help encourage success in a retail career.
The role would be suited to a new graduate who is seeking a career in the food and drink industry in Scotland and is highly motivated by this exciting sector. The successful candidate will work between Scotmid (Newbridge) and Scotland Food & Drink (Newbridge).
Scotland Food & Drink is an industry leadership organisation set up in 2007, with over 460 members, which drives responsible growth in the industry to secure Scotland’s reputation as the land of food & drink. The Scotland Food & Drink partnership is a unique collaborative partnership consisting of ten industry bodies, five public sector organisations and one research collaboration working in food & drink in Scotland, making Scotland Food & Drink the only body in the world to facilitate government and industry to work side by side. Currently, Scotland Food & Drink is working towards Ambition 2030 which aims to double the size of the food and drink industry in Scotland to £30 billion in turnover by 2030.
Scotmid Co-operative operates around 300 retail outlets across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. Our businesses include Scotmid Food, Semichem, Funeral Directors, Post Offices and their property division.
Scotmid:177 Scotmid convenience stores across Scotland offering excellent value food and household essentials for it’s customers.
Semichem: over 89 Semichem stores throughout Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland and online. Semichem is a leading discount health and beauty retailer, offering customers a fantastic range of products at affordable prices.
Lakes & Dales co-operative: Following a merger with Penrith Co-operative, there are 9 Lakes & Dales co-operative stores across Cumbria and County Durham.
The ultimate objective of the post is to support the retail business by building a strong core of Scottish SME food and drink businesses who understand the requirements and opportunities within the retail market and who adopt an ethos of continual improvement and innovation, exploring new markets and products, and make full use of local provenance.
This role is an excellent opportunity for a highly ambitious recent graduate who has a keen interest in the food and drink industry and is excited by working in a fast-moving commercial and marketing role.
This is an important project which requires an enthusiastic individual, eager to learn.
The successful candidate will work within the retail business local sourcing, category marketing and buying teams to provide supplier development support, helping develop the trading capabilities of suppliers, through effective product ranging, promotions and marketing to help both the suppliers, and the retail business, to significantly grow sales, bringing product to market more quickly and allow greater flexibility for risk in testing NPD with customers.
This role will facilitate support provided by SF&D, helping SME’s to reach their target consumer / customer, bring new products to market, grow their sales and scale their business.
We need a Customer & Supplier Development Officer who will learn quickly, with confidence to take the initiative when appropriate and who is committed to making their mark within the industry.
The candidate will possess the following skills & qualities;
Primarily based within Scotmid’s Newbridge H.O. However, there will also be the requirement to work from the SF&D office in Edinburgh approximately 1 day a month, or by mutual agreement.
Travel to companies throughout Scotland (suppliers and event locations) is also required as part of this role.
35-hour week, normal working hours 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, although full flexibility will be required given the nature of events for businesses. Annual holiday entitlement is 25 days per annum, plus public holidays.
Salary £22,500 per annum.
Work related travel and subsistence expenses and an allowance of 45p per mile for car use will be paid.
Closing date: 26/7/19
1st Interview: 12/8/19
2nd Interview: September TBC
Applicants should send a CV and covering letter to: sophie@greenburn.co.uk