Senior Vendor Manager

Job Purpose Summary

The purpose of this role is to manage our strategic vendor relationships for Imaging and Accessories across the various Group Business Units, where applicable. You will be responsible for developing strong relationships with the vendor to drive growth, customer breadth and brand awareness to achieve/exceed targets set. This will be achieved by your ownership of an enhanced forecasting and planning process internally for your vendors. We are looking for a highly driven, experienced and responsible individual to join our team. 

We are looking for an individual with a passion for sales and consumer electronics to actively introduce, promote and be an ambassador for new and existing customers.

The VM is responsible for introducing, promoting and being an ambassador for CMS’ vendor portfolio, driving growth in new and existing CMS customers and exceeding their expectations as a preferred supplier.

You will be driven to develop strong relationships with the CMS stakeholders across the geographies of the Group and work with customers and sales teams to drive growth, customer breadth and brand awareness to achieve/exceed targets and KPIs.

Role Responsibilities

• Achieve/exceed monthly/quarterly sales targets by driving brand awareness with the sales team and customers across the relevant CMS territories.
• Developing business within the agreed customer base by identifying new opportunities and collaborating with the CMS Account Manager.
• Develop and implement best practices to maximise pipeline creation and forecasting accuracy.
• Take ownership of discussing and agreeing on quarterly business plans and forecasts and provide regular performance updates.
• Constantly improve knowledge and understanding of the markets in which we operate for the product category.
• Identify market trends & outlooks to provide confidence for making strategic business decisions.
• Forming relationships with senior contacts at vendors across all departments and relationships with key Retail and Consumer contacts
• Understand all vendor's processes and promotional tools.
• Work with our Content Management team to ensure all products are represented to a high level.
• Identify potential new vendors, categories and technologies that would complement the current range and add value to the vendor portfolio
• Attend appropriate Supplier/Customer events and exhibitions, representing CMS and our vendors.
• Collaborate with other CMS departments to ensure all processes are adhered to and followed as well as process improvement where needed.
• Working with other departments on projects as required. · Dealing with Finance issues as and when they arise.
• Drive incremental projects and business to meet the company’s growth targets.
• Organise and manage regular Business Reviews with agreed customers/suppliers.

Additional Responsibilities

Skills & Personal Attributes

• A passion for driving and delivering growth in current and new channels.
• Previous success in an Account Management / Business Development role, with an understanding and experience of the UK Retail channel
• Tenacious, target-driven, and results-orientated.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to communicate eloquently in both written and verbal formats, both face-to-face and remotely.
• Ambitious and keen to take on responsibility in an organisation that provides a high level of autonomy and individual responsibility.
• Excellent motivational and leadership qualities, with a passion for achieving exceptional results.
• Strong commercial awareness, with good business sense and will seek ways to improve overall business performance.
• Ability to set pricing strategies and maximising profit where possible.
• Experience and skilled in creating customer targets, incentives and rebate schemes
• Experience with customer tender contracts and securing exclusivity
• Outstanding organisational skills and ability to manage own time effectively.
• Can demonstrate their ability to go the extra mile, to exceed expectations, conscientious and committed combined with flexibility in attitude and approach.
• Willing to travel internationally on business, as required.
• Mature, responsible and professional attitude to work.
• Proficient user of the Microsoft Office suite, particularly Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Proficient use of SAP and QlikView
• Full, clean UK Driving Licence

Key Traits