Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.

Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK.

 

REPORT TO: Commercial Director

LOCATION: Hybrid, commuting distance to Widnes

Purpose of the role:

With our entrepreneurial spirit and drive to succeed we need a dynamic Sales Manager to build relationships with our customers. You’ll develop existing accounts and look for new business to add to our already prestigious portfolio. You will plan and oversee all aspects of the projects and meet the desired goals. You will oversee the organisation and scheduling of people, tasks and resources

Key Responsibilities:

• Bring your passion and enthusiasm to grow existing clients, alongside generating new business
• Live the business Values and work with your teams to drive the Vision
• Work with all depts to ensure customer strategy is met
• Formulate customer-specific sales plan/strategy, in-line with accountable budget, ensure costings are pre-checked and spec, packaging and recommended retail prices are correct
• You will be working independently alongside a pre-set sales strategy to achieve account-specific budgets
• Understand customer KPIs, and targets and review performance, with knowledge and proposals to reach category standards
• Relentlessly pioneer the future and pursue ambitious growth opportunities in your customers
• Be resourceful and employ innovative solutions to deliver value, gross margin & volume targets for your customers
• Contribute to the wider sales team and support other colleagues with their accounts. Share your ideas and help contribute to team goals and ambitions
• Assigning, monitor and co-ordinate project milestones and progress, with both internal and external stakeholders
• Lead and plan the implementation of the project (resource, relationship, allocation)
• Manage high volume SKU level CPA's (over 200 SKUs in totality)
• Ensure visibility and feedback is maintained

About You:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience managing national accounts, ideally top 6 discounters
• Strong relationships and well networked within the discount sector
• Strong commercial acumen
• Experience across our product categories, ideally in Health & Beauty or Household – Private Label
• Appetite/experience with UK discounters
• Detail-orientated with an ability to multi-task and set priorities
• Resource Planning & Allocation
• Hunter, through clear planning and execution, ability to identify new business targets and close
• Project Risk Assessment
• Familiar with using Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Excel, and PowerPoint

What We offer:

• Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
• 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
• Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
• Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff
• Great learning and development and progression opportunities
• Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets)
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Generous Company Sick Pay
• Pension Scheme Contribution
• Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Free parking on Christchurch Quay

Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category

Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK

CONTRACT LENGTH: 2 years

START DATE: September 2026

REPORT TO: National Account Manager

LOCATION: Head office, Christchurch, Dorset - Hybrid working

TRAVEL: As part of this role, you will visit our Sheffield office during a rotation and undertake occasional travel across the UK

Purpose of the role:

This is an exciting opportunity for a recent graduate who is looking to kickstart their career in sales account management. We are looking for a motivated, commercially minded individual who can build strong relationships, prioritise tasks effectively and be open to learning an in a fast-moving business environment. An enthusiasm for sales, FMCG, or retail will help you thrive in this role

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in managing and growing sales within assigned account, support the National Account Manager
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key retail partners and internal stakeholders.
• Support in analysing sales data to identify trends and opportunities
• Collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure smooth executive of orders and promotions
• Provide market insights and competitor analysis to inform strategic decisions
• Support with pricing and product negotiations in partnership with the National Account Manager
• Work with supply chain teams to ensure delivery timelines are met
• Help coordinate marketing and promotional activities within retail channels
• Take part in internal meetings and retailer presentations to develop commercial awareness
• Update your team on problems or issues & work with the account manager to provide solutions.
• Ability to take ownership of projects with tight deadlines and ensuring all stakeholders are completing tasks in full
• Ability to travel in the UK and abroad

About you:

• Recent graduate with a degree in Business, Marketing, Sales or a related field
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and trends
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to use Excel, PowerPoint, Word and databases
• Enthusiastic, proactive and eager to learn
• A passion for sales, retail and FMCG industries
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic working environment
• Highly organised with strong time management skills
• The ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and stakeholders

Application Process:

• Please submit your CV
• You will be required to email a short video answering the below questions to support your application

Why should we choose you for this scheme?

Tell us about a specific academic achievement, project, or research that demonstrates your skills relevant to this role?

(Please note that applications without a video will not be considered)

• Advert will remain open until 5th May
• Successful applicants will be contacted week commencing 11th May
• You will need to be available to attend a full day assessment centre on 27th May at our Head Office in Christchurch, Dorset

What we offer:

• Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
• 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
• Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
• Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff
• Great learning and development and progression opportunities · Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets)
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Generous Company Sick Pay
• Pension Scheme Contribution
• Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Free parking on Christchurch Quay

Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.

 

Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK.

DIVISION/DEPT: Commercial

REPORT TO: National Account Manager

LOCATION: Hybrid, commuting distance to Widnes

Purpose of the role:

You will play a key role in driving sales, enhancing customer relationships and securing new business, in addition to supporting the wider team. You will have full ownership of your sales performance focusing on achieving targets across your customer base. Active with all customers with regular face to face meetings presenting all products and identifying new opportunities

 

Main Responsibilities:

• Regular customer meetings to maintain accounts and present NPD
• Hunter, identifying and securing new business opportunities within the market
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with all customers to ensure product listings and growth
• Manage a designated sales territory and plan efficient travel routes
• Regular trade visits
• Help to manage all aspects of: Budgeting, Forecasting, objectives, etc
• Set and achieve sales targets
• Monitor sales performance weekly
• Provide regular sales reports across the account base
• Analyse sales data, market trends, and competitor activity to identify risks and opportunities

Experience and knowledge:

• Minimum 1 year’s experience in a Field Sales role
• Ability to work independently and on the field
• Time management and territory planning
• Self-motivation and target-driven mindset
• Problem-solving and customer-focused approach
• Understanding of the basic supply and manufacturing process, with established industry networks
• Experience and/or personal interest in household and health & beauty products (desirable)
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills
• Confident presentation skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
• Commercially astute, with a sales-driven approach and a focus on exceeding targets
• Strong attention to detail with a personable and creative mindset
• Ability to work collaboratively across functions, including Operations, Technical, Finance, and Product
• Strong time management and a proactive work ethic
• Strong attention to detail and good collaboration, communication, and project management skills
• Fluent use of Microsoft Office – Outlook, Excel and Power Point

 

In turn we offer:

• Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
• 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
• Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
• Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff with an office presence ideally once a week
• Great learning and development and progression opportunities · Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets)
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Generous Company Sick Pay
• Pension Scheme Contribution
• Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
• Cycle to Work scheme