Purpose:
The National SPAR Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and growing the total Rainbow business with the SPAR Group nationally. The role drives profitable volume growth through disciplined commercial management, operational brilliant basics execution, and strong relationship building across SPAR Head Office, the six SPAR Distribution Centres, regional teams, and independent SPAR store owners. The role balances national alignment with SPAR’s decentralised operating model to ensure consistent execution and sustainable long term partnerships.
Requirements:
- Degree in Business, Marketing, or Management
- 5–8 years’ FMCG retail key account experience
- Proven experience managing decentralised retail customers
- Strong commercial, analytical, and execution capability
- Willingness to travel nationally
Main Responsibilities:
Account & Relationship Management
- Own and execute the national SPAR customer strategy aligned to channel and category priorities.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with SPAR Head Office, all six SPAR DCs, regional management teams, and key independent SPAR store owners.
- Engage both strategically and operationally with regional and store level stakeholders to drive alignment and execution.
- Act as the primary commercial and operational interface between SPAR and Rainbow.
- Develop and deliver annual customer business plans and joint value creation initiatives.
Commercial, Pricing & Negotiation
- Lead negotiations on pricing, trading terms, promotions, and rebates within approved mandates.
- Ensure optimal ranging, price compliance, and promotional mechanics across all SPAR regions and DCs.
- Drive margin improvement through mix management, disciplined trade spend, and ROI evaluation
Operational Brilliant Basics Execution
- Drive brilliant basics execution across availability, ranging, pricing integrity, forecast accuracy, and promotional compliance.
- Ensure consistent execution standards across SPAR Head Office, all six DCs, and independent stores.
- Proactively identify and resolve execution gaps including delists, out‑of‑stocks, poor promotional uptake, and DC constraints.
- Embed a culture of execution discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Promotion, Execution & Merchandising
- Develop and manage national and regional promotional calendars aligned to SPAR cycles.
- Partner with marketing, merchandising, and field teams to ensure strong in store execution and visibility.
- Identify differentiated promotional, merchandising, and store level activation opportunities.
Supply Chain & Forecasting
- Own demand forecasting accuracy for SPAR and feed into S&OP.
- Manage availability, service levels, and DC execution in collaboration with supply chain partners.
- Anticipate and mitigate stock risks and regional supply constraints.
Financial & Performance Management
- Deliver agreed volume, revenue, and profitability targets.
- Track performance vs budget and lead corrective actions.
- Provide structured monthly reporting, insights, and recommendations.
Key KPIs:
- Volume and value growth
- Gross margin and trade spend ROI
- Forecast accuracy and service level
- Ranging, pricing, and promotional compliance
- Operational execution scorecards
- Relationship strength across HO, DCs, and stores