Senior Commercial Strategy & Planning Manager

PZ Cussons PLC; Manchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-known consumer goods company in Manchester is seeking a Senior Commercial Strategy & Planning Manager to enhance their commercial performance by developing channel-specific strategies. In this pivotal role, you will work closely with sales and marketing teams to develop effective pricing and promotional strategies. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in fast-paced environments, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in tools like Excel. This position offers an opportunity to impact the company's growth directly, with a collaborative team atmosphere.

Benefits

Flexible working environment

Collaborative team culture

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in fast-paced, consumer-driven environments.
• Ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable strategies.
• Strong skills in developing pricing strategies and trade execution.

Responsibilities

• Drive commercial performance through channel-specific strategies.
• Manage pricing strategies across brands and channels.
• Lead promotional effectiveness analysis to optimize ROI.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Commercial acumen

Cross-functional leadership

Innovative problem-solving

Tools

Excel

IRI/Kantar/Neilson

Job description

We are PZ Cussons. Our purpose is For everyone, for life, for good.

Sustainability and the wellbeing of people, families and communities everywhere are at the heart of everything that we do.

Since our founding in 1884, we have been creating products to delight, care for and nourish consumers. Across our core categories of Hygiene, Baby and Beauty, our trusted and well-loved brands include Carex, Cussons Baby, Sanctuary Spa and St. Tropez.

POSITION SNAPSHOT

Job Title: Senior Commercial Strategy & Planning Manager

Location: Manchester

Contract Type - Permanent

Who Are We

At PZ Cussons, we make some of the UK’s best-loved brands – think Original Source, Carex, Imperial Leather, Sanctuary Spa, Childs Farm and more. We’re a FTSE-250 business with global reach and bold ambitions.

If you want to join a business with dynamic, fast-paced working environment and a collaborative atmosphere whilst working flexibly but with the opportunity to collaborate in our stunning offices, then this could be the right role for you.

Job Purpose

The Senior Customer Strategy & Planning (CS&P) Manager plays a pivotal role in driving commercial performance by shaping and executing channel-specific strategies that align with brand objectives. Acting as the critical link between Sales and Marketing, this role is responsible for developing and delivering pack, price, and promotional strategies tailored to each customer and channel. Through close collaboration across teams, the Senior CS&P Manager ensures the effective execution of brand plans in the trade environment, optimises trade spend ROI, and supports National Accounts as a strategic ‘co‑pilot’ to enable sustainable and profitable growth for PZ Cussons in a competitive FMCG landscape.

Function Overview

This role sits within the Commercial Strategy & Planning team within the wider Commercial function which consists of both Senior CS&P Managers and CS&P Managers.

Reporting Relationships

The role reports to the Head of Commercial Strategy & Planning.

Key working relationships with Commercial, Heads of Brand and Marketing teams including project leads for NPD, Category, Commercial Finance and Supply Chain teams.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop consumer‑relevant pricing strategies across packs, brands, and channels to maximise market competitiveness and shopper value perception.
• Manage optimal price laddering and pack‑price architecture (PPA) across the current portfolio, and support brand teams with strategic pricing recommendations for innovation and long‑term growth.
• Lead the analysis of promotional effectiveness using data‑led insights and performance metrics to inform future promotional strategies and improve ROI.
• Create, own, and maintain promotional guidelines ("golden rules") by brand and channel to ensure promotional activities consistently deliver commercial targets.
• Facilitate collaborative working across Marketing, Commercial, and Category functions through regular reviews and timely updates to drive alignment and integrated planning.
• Guide and champion pricing and promotional strategy for new product development (NPD) to enable successful market entry and long‑term viability.
• Drive the commercial readiness of NPD launches by collating assumptions for gate sign‑off and delivering customer‑facing decks to support strong trade sell‑in and launch performance.
• Lead trade spend optimisation through insight‑led recommendations aligned with strategic priorities to maximise ROI, improve customer investment efficiency, and enhance brand visibility.
• Support the sales team in creating and delivering channel‑appropriate plans aligned to strategic categories (grow, protect, optimise) to unlock customer opportunities and drive commercial success.

FMCG Experience

• Brings proven significant experience in fast‑paced, consumer‑driven environments with a clear understanding of category dynamics and customer needs.

Strong technical ability

• Experience in using category data sources such as IRI/Kantar/Neilson, and proficient in Excel.

Strong Commercial Acumen

• Demonstrates a solid understanding of commercial levers and market dynamics to drive brand and business performance.

Data‑Led Decision Making

• Highly analytical and inquisitive, with the ability to interpret complex data sets, identify trends and insights, and translate them into actionable strategies that improve ROI and sales performance.

Innovative Thinking & Continuous Improvement

• Challenges the status quo constructively by proposing well‑structured ideas and creative solutions that enhance commercial delivery and brand competitiveness.

Strategic Storytelling

• Able to turn insights into compelling, data‑driven narratives that influence decision‑making across the organisation.

Influencing & Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Builds strong relationships and leads effectively across functions, flexing communication and leadership style as needed. Confidently challenges with rationale, demonstrates resilience, and inspires collaboration.

Inspirational & Authentic Leadership

• Acts as a positive role model who energises teams, sets high expectations, and fosters a culture of accountability and high performance.

Enterprise Mindset

• Supports cross‑functional performance by focusing on shared business goals and promoting a "one team" approach to success.

Creative Commercial Execution

• Balances creativity and pragmatism to maximise brand performance within budget constraints, ensuring efficient and effective delivery in market.

Forward‑Thinking & Curious

• Thinks beyond the immediate task, proactively using data and insights to shape future opportunities and strategic thinking.

Please note that we are not able to offer visa sponsorship or assist with relocation support for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the country where this role is located before applying.

Equal Opportunities

At PZ Cussons, we value diversity and make sure everyone feels included. We want our team to reflect society and our global customers. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and your unique perspective helps us develop brands and create new products for our consumers.

If you need extra support during this process, please inform us so that we can accommodate your needs appropriately. It is important to us that all candidates feel recognised and have a good experience with PZ Cussons as part of our commitment to inclusivity.

PZ Cussons is big enough to make your mark, small enough to make it yours. Apply to join us!