Key Account Assistant TEMP – FMCG & On/Off Trade | Porto Salvo

We are looking for a commercially minded Key Account Assistant to manage and develop On/Off Trade in Portugal, leading strategic and tactical plans that maximize volume and profitability.

This role plays a key part in building long-term, trust-based customer partnerships, collaborating cross-functionally and ensuring excellent in-store execution, always with a strong focus on the consumer and sustainable business growth.

The main objective is to achieve volume and profit targets within specifically assigned customers through productive relationships, planning and execution aligned with the channel and company strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and evolve customer strategic and tactical plans;
• Analyze customers by reviewing previous plans and performance, identifying key conclusions;
• Build SWOT analyses, covering strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats;
• Develop customer-specific SMART plans covering strategy, goals and tactics for range, merchandising, promotions, pricing, service and distribution;
• Achieve phased volume and profit goals by brand and account;
• Develop productive business-to-business relationships with On Trade customers;
• Maintain appropriate written, verbal and face-to-face communication with customers;
• Present, negotiate and implement targeted plans for range, merchandising, promotions, pricing, service and distribution;
• Build a clear understanding of customer structure, roles and key individuals;
• Hold periodic meetings with customers to develop trust-based and mutually beneficial relationships;
• Conduct one major business review with key customer and company personnel;
• Conduct quarterly business reviews with the primary customer contact or buyer;
• Ensure consistently high customer service, including same-day response time and resolution of customer issues within agreed timeframes;
• Understand how customers make key decisions, who owns, influences and implements them, and build relationships with key personnel;
• Facilitate multi-functional relationships between the customer and the company to influence key decisions, when appropriate;
• Work with the line manager and build internal multi-functional alignment to achieve volume and profit goals;
• Coordinate with Trade Marketing, Category Management, Logistics, Supply Chain and Marketing teams;
• Build communication and commitment within field support teams;
• Maintain an account file representing the current situation within the account and key sales drivers;
• Build an account budget and gain agreement to deliver customer-specific plans at the desired profitability;
• Build and keep the store database updated for the account;
• Provide the required level of forecasting for company production planning;
• Complete customer administration tasks, including promotional proposals and product files;
• Carry out weekly store visits to validate compliance with account plans;
• Keep budgets continually updated with the exact status of every activity and invoice;
• Evaluate all key customer activities within the plan, including promotions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics or Engineering, with passion for management and commercial areas;
• Fluent spoken and written English;
• Advanced MS Office skills, including PowerPoint, Excel and Word;
• 2 to 3 years of experience in FMCG, management consulting, marketing or sales from other industries;
• Results orientation;
• Planning and coordination skills;
• Influence and negotiation skills;
• Relationship-building skills.