Senior National Account Manager, Toys & Licensed Gifts

• North London
• Hybrid (two days a week in the office)
• £70,000 + bonus

We’re working exclusively with a well-established gift and toy company behind a brilliant mix of own-brand ranges and much-loved licensed products, sold through retailers globally.

With ambitious growth plans and new leading licenses secured, they’re looking for a Senior National Account Manager to continue to grow the business with UK and Irish retailers, with a particular focus on the grocers.

This is a role for someone who is well-connected, experienced at opening new accounts and has the commercial experience to turn that first listing into a long-term, profitable partnership.

What you’ll be doing

Winning new business

• Identify the UK and Irish retailers with the most potential, starting with the grocers.
• Thoroughly understand the customer’s strategy, shoppers and category – approaching them in a well-informed way that lands.
• Build strong relationships with buyers and their wider commercial teams.
• Bring bespoke ranges to life with own brand and licensed propositions that can be tailored to each retailer.
• Lead negotiations from the first conversation right through to range on shelf.
• Fly the flag at buyer meetings, BLE, Toy Fair and other key industry events.

Growing what you’ve won

• Build relationships beyond the buyer, across planning, supply and marketing teams.
• Set clear account plans and priorities, and review performance regularly.
• Spot and develop longer-term partnership opportunities with key customers.

Owning the numbers

• Set budgets and forecasts for your accounts and new-business pipeline.
• Negotiate pricing, margin, volumes, promotions and trading terms.
• Make sure every commitment to a customer can be delivered operationally.

Why you’ll love it

• You’ll be selling products people genuinely love, including licensed brands that buyers and shoppers already know and want to buy!
• You’ll have the freedom to shape your own pipeline and approach.
• You’ll have a talented product development and design team on hand to create bespoke ranges for your network.

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience selling into the UK grocers – this is essential.
• A background in toys, ideally including licensed product.
• A track record of winning new national accounts and taking them through to launch.
• Established buyer relationships, so you can hit the ground running.
• Sharp commercial instincts across ranging, pricing, margin, promotions and terms.
• Experience owning significant revenue and delivering against sales and profit targets.
• The confidence to build compelling proposals and negotiate with senior buyers.
• Strong forecasting, pipeline and account planning skills.
• A self-starting approach, working independently while keeping leadership in the loop.

Diversity & Inclusion:

ILMJ values diversity, equality and inclusion and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and identities.