Head of Commercial Partnerships (3429)

At RSPCA Assured, our mission is to ensure higher farmed animal welfare through a robust assurance scheme and trusted supply chain. Together, we're creating a better future for farmed animals and our ambition is that by 2050, more than half of the UK's farmed animals will be reared to RSPCA welfare standards. 

To help us reach our 2050 ambition, we need an exceptional leader to promote animal welfare and increase the number of RSPCA Assured labelled products in store.

We're looking for a head of commercial partnerships to manage and grow our retail and foodservice portfolio. 

Helping to drive the delivery of RSPCA Assured's revenue across meat, poultry, fish and dairy, you will sit at the intersection of commercial strategy and welfare l standards - unlocking sustainable growth that improves the lives of millions of UK farmed animals.

This is a pivotal role where you will take day-to-day ownership of high-value relationships with major UK retailers (eg M&S, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Aldi) and national foodservice operators.

• Contract: Permanent 
• Working hours: 35 hours per week. 
• Location: Homebased - you will work from home and will undertake regular, national travel, in order to visit our partners and RSPCA Assured member farms.

Operating with broad autonomy, you will navigate complex supply chains, negotiate strategic accounts and convert higher welfare commitments into commercially viable retail realities.

The role has been structured to reflect best-practice key account management in FMCG and grocery environments. It owns a defined portfolio of strategic retail and foodservice partners and is accountable for revenue growth, retention, penetration and long-term partnership development.

Operating across complex, multi-tier supply chains, the role balances commercial growth, operational feasibility and welfare standards. It translates market dynamics, category trends and customer strategy into actionable joint business plans that deliver measurable commercial and welfare impact.

The head of commercial partnerships role at RSCPA Assured is unique, in that it combines FMCG-style strategic account ownership with purpose-led growth.

The role operates at senior stakeholder level within major retail and foodservice environments, whilst leading cross-functional commercial initiatives.

As head of commercial partnerships, you will directly influence revenue, species growth and long-term financial sustainability.

We will look to you to:

• Lead, develop and retain key accounts, building deep joint business plans aligned to both partners' agendas and higher welfare ambitions
• Identify barriers in the supply chain and collaborate across agricultural, technical and marketing teams to expand higher welfare product ranges
• Manage category revenue targets, track performance KPIs and safeguard long-term profitability to support our  goal of over 50% of the UK's farmed animals being raised to RSPCA standards
• Bring together partners, suppliers and internal technical experts to lead retail trials, navigate risk and influence the continuous improvement of welfare standards
• Monitor supply chain, reputational and financial risks, acting as the escalation lead for critical account issues while maintaining scheme integrity.

We are keen to receive applications from proactive, strategically minded, commercial leaders who thrive in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

For your application to be successful, you must also have:

• Proven and extensive experience in FMCG category management, food production, or retail account management with major UK grocery multiples or foodservice operators
• A strong, proven track record of senior-level stakeholder influence, successfully negotiating growth and delivering revenue targets
• The ability to translate limited data into actionable account plans and optimise resources for maximum welfare impact
• The ability to unite internal teams (agriculture, marketing, certification, insights) with external supply chain partners
• A genuine commitment to the mission of RSPCA Assured and animal welfare.

This is a highly rewarding opportunity, which will enable you to play a pivotal role in reshaping the UK food supply chain, working alongside passionate colleagues to deliver tangible, large-scale change for farmed animals.

If you would like to discuss this fantastic opportunity before submitting an application, please feel free to get in touch. 

Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK - We are unable to sponsor visas at RSPCA & RSPCA Assured

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

We are building the future of a diverse Society, and our priority is to support animal welfare by finding people from all backgrounds who are committed  to our mission.  For this reason we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications - in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities - as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA. Your transferable skills & lived experiences could make you a valuable addition to our RSPCA Family! 

Should you need any support with your application or interview process please contact resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk / 0300 123 0685.

Our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect