Head of Convenience

Parna Recruitment•Lincoln, NE

About The Position

About the Role: The Head of Convenience is responsible for leading and developing the UK Convenience channel across existing and new customers. This role combines hands-on commercial leadership with strategic channel development, ensuring existing revenues and relationships are protected and grown, while building a scalable, credible and sustainable convenience proposition for the future. The role will manage existing resources within the sales function, providing direction, structure and accountability, while playing a key role in expanding distribution, improving range penetration, and increasing relevance within the convenience retail landscape. This is a growth role, but grounded in reality: focused on execution, relationships, and disciplined commercial decision-making.

Requirements

Proven experience in a senior sales or channel role within FMCG, wholesale or convenience
Strong understanding of the UK convenience retail landscape
Track record of managing and growing customer relationships
Experience leading and influencing sales teams or commercial resources
Commercially minded, with a focus on sustainable growth

Nice To Haves

Experience building or reshaping a sales channel
Exposure to wholesale, symbol groups or independent retail networks
Experience working cross-functionally in a growing or evolving business

Responsibilities

Channel Leadership & Strategy
Own the UK Convenience channel strategy, aligned with wider UK and Group sales objectives
Identify priority sub-channels, customer types and routes to market
Translate strategy into clear, executable plans for the sales team
Monitor channel performance and adapt plans based on results and market feedback
Revenue Growth & Account Development
Drive like-for-like growth across existing convenience accounts
Identify opportunities to increase range depth, distribution and frequency
Support the development of new convenience customers and partnerships
Maintain strong personal relationships with key strategic accounts
Team Leadership & Resource Management
Lead, manage and develop existing sales resources operating in the convenience space
Set clear objectives, expectations and performance standards
Coach and support the team to improve commercial capability and execution
Ensure activity is focused on value-adding opportunities, not just volume
Commercial Execution
Work closely with internal stakeholders (Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain) to ensure the convenience channel is properly supported
Input into pricing, promotions and customer-specific activity where appropriate
Ensure customer commitments are realistic, deliverable and commercially sound
Maintain discipline around margins, terms and customer quality
Market & Customer Insight
Stay close to market trends, competitor activity and customer needs within convenience
Feed insight back into product, marketing and commercial planning
Represent the voice of the convenience channel internally