Modern Trade Manager - Cereal Company at Talent Ace Limited

TalentAce Ltd is a premier recruitment consulting firm committed to connecting top talent with leading organizations across various industries. With a focus on delivering tailored recruitment solutions, TalentAce Ltd is a trusted partner for companies seeking to build dynamic teams and foster growth. Whether a client is looking to fill entry-level positions or senior executive roles, TalentAce’s expertise in sourcing, assessing, and placing the right candidates ensures long-term success.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Modern Trade Manager - Cereal Company

Location: Lagos (with periodic travel across Nigeria for chain operations)
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports to: Head of Sales / Commercial Manager
Direct Reports: Key Account Executives, Merchandising Supervisors, Promoters (where applicable)

Role Summary

• The Modern Trade Manager (MTM) is responsible for driving sales growth, profitability, and visibility of the company’s cereal brands within modern trade channels (supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience chains, e-commerce platforms, and key wholesalers with structured retail).
• This role oversees account acquisition, relationship management, in-store execution, promotional planning, and category management to ensure superior shopper experience and competitive advantage.

Key Responsibilities
Account Management & Business Development:

• Develop and execute business plans for national and regional key accounts (e.g., Bokku Supermart, Shoprite, Spar, Game, Justrite, Ebeano, Market Square, Prince Ebeano, Addide and other online grocery platforms).
• Negotiate annual joint business plans (JBPs), trading terms, listing fees, and promotional support in line with company commercial policy.
• Lead the acquisition of new modern trade accounts and expansion into new branches of existing accounts.
• Monitor contract compliance, service levels, and ensure timely renewals.

Sales Target Achievement:

• Deliver monthly, quarterly, and annual sales targets by volume, value, SKU mix, and profitability.
• Ensure category growth and market share expansion within modern trade through data-driven interventions.
• Drive incremental sales via tailored promotions, secondary placements, and in-store events.

Promotions & Trade Marketing Execution:

• Collaborate with Trade Marketing to design and execute in-store promotions, tastings, and activation events.
• Ensure perfect store execution: planogram compliance, shelf space gains, point-of-sale material deployment, and secondary displays.
• Evaluate promotion ROI and recommend improvements.

Category & Shopper Management:

• Leverage sales data, retailer POS reports to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities.
• Conduct category reviews with retailers to position cereals as a priority segment and secure favorable planogram positions.
• Influence assortment, pricing, and promotional calendar to align with shopper behavior and competitive landscape.

Operational & Supply Chain Coordination:

• Liaise with supply chain for timely replenishment and on-shelf availability.
• Monitor and resolve delivery discrepancies, damages, and out-of-stock situations.
• Ensure compliance with FIFO/FEFO, freshness policies, and product quality standards.

Financial & Administrative Compliance:

• Ensure accurate invoicing, credit control, and prompt payment collection from accounts within agreed terms.
• Manage account-level P&L: track rebates, discounts, returns, and promotional deductions.
• Control trade spend within budget and ensure documented ROI.

People Leadership:

• Train, coach, and monitor merchandisers, promoters, and account executives on modern trade execution standards.
• Conduct joint calls and store visits to build skills and maintain execution discipline.

Reporting & Market Intelligence:

• Provide weekly/monthly sales reports, promo evaluations, competitor tracking, and shopper insights.
• Recommend strategies for pricing, assortment, and innovation based on data and competitor activities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Sales Volume & Value vs. target (by account, SKU, and pack).
• On-Shelf Availability (OSA) and planogram compliance rates.
• Listing & Range Expansion (new SKUs, new accounts, new store openings).
• Promotional ROI and uplift during activation periods.
• Account-level profitability vs. trade spend.
• Payment compliance (DSO – Days Sales Outstanding).
• Merchandising scorecards (perfect store execution).
• Category share growth in key accounts.

Qualifications and Experience

• BSc/HND in Business Administration, Marketing, or related field (MBA is an advantage).
• 5–7 years sales experience in FMCG, with at least 3 years in modern trade/key account management.
• Proven success managing national/regional accounts in the cereal, snacks, beverage, or other food categories.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills with top-tier retailers.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and familiarity with ERP/CRM systems.
• Knowledge of Lagos/Nigerian retail market dynamics and shopper trends.

Technical Knowledge Requirements:

• Modern Trade Dynamics: Understanding of retailer operations, planograms, JBP structures, and margin structures.
• FMCG Supply Chain Basics: Lead times, order cycles, inventory management, and OSA tracking.
• Promotions Mechanics: Discounts, bundled offers, free-of-charge units, and activation ROI.
• Category Trends: Health/nutrition positioning, family and kids’ segment preferences.
• Digital Retail: E-commerce strategies, online promotions, and last-mile delivery partnerships.

Behavioral Attributes

• Results-Oriented: Passionate about delivering targets under competitive pressure.
• Resilient: Navigates retailer bureaucracy, economic shifts, and price wars.
• Analytical Mindset: Fact-based decision-making.
• Customer-Centric: Balances company objectives with retailer needs.
• Integrity & Compliance: Adheres to commercial policies and ethical standards.

Salary
N300,000 - N400,000 Monthly.

Application Closing Date
31st October, 2025