Head of Small Format

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.

As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.

To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility, we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact

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PURPOSE:

As Head of Small Format, you will lead the commercial strategy and execution across a diverse set of high-growth channels including Convenience Stores, Dollar & Impulse, Vending, Home Improvement, and Theater. This role is critical to expanding pladis’ footprint in non-traditional retail environments, driving profitable growth, and delivering best-in-class customer partnerships.

You’ll be responsible for shaping the go-to-market approach, leading customer engagement, and ensuring flawless execution across channels. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role that blends strategic thinking with hands-on leadership, ideal for a commercial leader with deep experience in small-format retail and a passion for driving results.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DELIVERABLES:

Drive Channel Strategy

Lead the development and execution of sales strategies for small-format channels (e.g., convenience, drug, dollar, and specialty retail).

Customer Relationship Management

Build and maintain strong partnerships with key small-format customers to drive growth and joint business planning.

Commercial Planning

Own the annual operating plan, forecasting, and promotional calendar for the channel, ensuring alignment with company goals.

Performance Analysis

Monitor sales performance, identify growth opportunities, and implement corrective actions to meet revenue and margin targets.

Innovation & Execution

Champion new product launches and ensures flawless execution in small-format environments.

Retail Excellence

Oversee in-store execution, merchandising standards, and compliance to maximize visibility and sales.

Budget Management

Manage trade spending and customer investment to ensure ROI and profitability.

Market Intelligence

Stay ahead of market trends, competitor activity, and shopper behavior to inform strategy and decision-making.

Channel Strategy & Growth

• Develop and execute tailored strategies for each small-format channel to maximize revenue, share, and profitability.

• Identify white space opportunities and lead expansion into emerging formats.

Customer Leadership

• Build and nurture strategic relationships with key accounts across all channels.

• Lead joint business planning, negotiation, and customer-specific activation.

Commercial Execution

• Own the annual operating plan, forecast, and promotional calendar.

• Ensure excellence in in-store execution, merchandising, and compliance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing, Category, Supply Chain, and Finance to deliver integrated commercial plans.

• Influence innovation pipeline and activation plans tailored to small-format needs.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing sales team focused on small-format success.

• Foster a culture of accountability, agility, and customer obsession.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Essential Criteria

• 10+ years of commercial experience in CPG, with a strong track record in small-format channels.

• Proven success in customer management, strategic planning, and team leadership.

• Deep understanding of channel dynamics across C-Store, Dollar, Vending, and Specialty Retail.

• Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

QUALFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED:

• Commercially Driven: Demonstrates a strong business acumen

• Strategic Agility: Navigates complex retail landscapes with foresight and adaptability

• Relationship Builder: Cultivates trusted partnerships with customers, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders to drive collaboration and long-term success.

• Execution-Oriented: Balances high-level strategy with hands-on leadership

ADDITIONAL JOB DETAILS:

Base starting salary ranges from $180k - $240k/year. The base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. In addition to base pay, this role includes:

• An annual incentive opportunity, awarded based on individual and company performance.

• A comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and financial security

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List. If you are a recruitment agency and wish to submit candidate to be considered for this vacancy, you must have agreed to, and signed, our terms of business.
We will not accept CVs from any other sources other than those currently on our PSL. We will not pay a fee for any candidate that has not been represented by a provider on our PSL.