Customer Development Manager

Princes Group; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food and beverage company in Liverpool is seeking a Customer Development Manager responsible for customer service delivery and supply chain management. You will lead a team to ensure optimal service levels and collaborate with various stakeholders to enhance operational efficiency. Ideal candidates will have experience in customer service and supply chain principles. This role offers competitive benefits including flexible working arrangements and comprehensive health coverage.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus birthday off

14.5% pension – 5% employee opt-in / 9.5% employer

Flexible holiday option – buy 5 additional days

Private medical insurance

Critical illness cover

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Knowledge of customer service principles.
• Understanding of supply chain principles – warehousing, distribution, forecasting and planning.
• Experience with retailer logistics and supply management.

Responsibilities

• Manage up to 4 Order Fulfilment Assistants to deliver required service levels.
• Collaborate with customer contacts and Demand Planning Managers.
• Ensure compliance and audit expectations are met.

Skills

Good verbal and written communication

Customer empathy

SAP/Excel experience

Planning and data analysis

Leadership

Excellent organisation

Job description

Vacancy Name: Customer Development Manager

Employment Type: Permanent

Country: United Kingdom

Location: Liverpool

Business Area: Operations

Workplace Type: Hybrid

About Princes: The Princes Group has over 7,000 employees with offices and production sites in the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, France and Mauritius. Princes manufactures 350 different food and drink products responsibly sourced and enjoyed by consumers every day. None of this would be possible without striving to be an employer of choice, where our colleagues are proud to represent our business.

Role Description

Responsible for customer service delivery to a number of Retail/CFI accounts. The job holder will monitor all aspects of supply performance from order capture to delivery and from event planning to adherence to ensure that service is delivered at the agreed level and cost. The job holder will work with both internal stakeholders and the customer to identify and implement more effective ways of operating from stock planning to routes to market.

Develop mutually beneficial relationships with customer contacts to ensure that Princes maintains a strong collaborative relationship, while also being responsible for maintaining commercial agreements regarding load fill, lead time, delivery day, order multiples & MLOR.

Facilitate meetings with customer contacts to ensure full end‑to‑end collaboration.

Dimensions

• Nominated account focus
• Manage a team of up to 4 Order Fulfilment Assistants
• Regular travel to retailer head offices
• All foods and drinks SBAs
• Good knowledge of Supply Chain principles

Principal Responsibilities

• Manage up to 4 Order Fulfilment Assistants to ensure that the day‑to‑day order fulfilment process delivers the required service levels for nominated accounts. Publish agreed KPIs and identify reasons for variances.
• Track Order Fulfilment Assistants’ progress and regularly review via monthly 1‑to‑1s.
• Ensure that costs to serve nominated accounts are within budget and that all cost drivers within the job holder’s control are in line with commercial agreements.
• Agree volume plans and phasing with customer contacts for new listings. Validate with commercial agreements and feedback any exceptions.
• Collaborate with the Demand Planning Managers to ensure that product phase‑out plans are actioned with the customer to minimise product write‑off.
• Develop mutually beneficial relationships with retailer contacts to keep Princes abreast of all retailer initiatives and coordinate the Princes response/position.
• Develop a Princes supply strategy focused on each customer. Lead any analysis and evaluation required. Lead any project implementations.
• Understand the customers’ internal supply chain systems and web‑based systems to drive supply chain performance for both Princes and the customer.
• Ensure shortage reports, stock trackers and supply bulletins are produced and published to a high level, providing the right level of communication for all customers.
• Oversee an internal control process to ensure compliance and audit expectations are met.
• Attend or host regular customer supply chain meetings to promote positive working relationships.

Role Requirements

Knowledge

• Customer service principles
• Supply chain principles – covering warehousing, distribution, forecasting and planning
• Retailer logistics/supply management
• Experience with supply chain systems

Skills

• Good verbal and written communication
• Customer empathy
• SAP/Excel experience required
• Planning and data analysis
• Leadership
• Excellent organisation

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus birthday off
• 14.5% pension – 5% employee opt‑in / 9.5% employer
• Hybrid and flexible working – 4 days in office / 1 day WFH
• Flexible holiday option – buy 5 additional days
• Enhanced family‑friendly & carers policies
• Life assurance cover
• Private medical insurance
• Critical illness cover
• Learning and development opportunities

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Sales and Business Development

Industries

Food and Beverage Services