Trade Marketing Manager

Blackburn, England, United Kingdom

7/18/2025

Who We Are

Science In Sport Group is a world leader in sports and performance nutrition.

We have two highly regarded brands; SiS which combines world-class science and innovation to provide optimal performance nutritional solutions for professional athletes, sports and fitness enthusiasts and the active lifestyle community. This includes over 320 professional teams worldwide across a broad range of sports including Football, Rugby, Cycling, Athletics, Basketball, Netball and Swimming. Brand ambassadors include former track cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, an eleven-time world champion and six-time Olympic champion, and Eilish McColgan, who won gold in the 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres.

PhD Nutrition is a premium, active-nutrition brand for the active lifestyle community wanting intelligent nutrition to help them achieve their goals. With over 20 years of research and development, our products are designed to maximise performance in and out of the gym. It’s an exciting time for PhD Nutrition as 2025 will kick off an entirely new line up of brand ambassadors, from hybrid athletes to qualified sports nutritionists.

The two brands sell through the phd.com and scienceinsport.com digital platforms, third-party online marketplaces including Amazon, as well as extensive domestic and international retail distribution.

In 2022 the company opened a state of the art 160,000 square foot manufacturing and logistics facility in Blackburn, Lancashire. Providing a significant advantage in product costs and customer response time and most importantly, allowing Science In Sport to lead the way for quality standards.

Science In Sport is a Performance Solutions partner to globally recognised elite teams, including Tottenham Hotspur, Saracens Rugby, British Triathlon, Aquatics GB, British Cycling, England Netball and Loughborough Sports. As well as being the Official Energy Gel Provider of RunThrough and the Official Nutrition Partner of Ultra X.

The Role

The Trade Marketing Manager will report to the Chief Operating Officer and will be responsible for driving product demand and sales growth by increasing visibility, appeal, and market share of both brands within retail, wholesale, and distribution channels; in both the domestic and international markets.

You will act as a critical link between marketing and sales, ensuring the company’s products are well-positioned and supported in the marketplace to maximise commercial performance.

In the course of your work, you will work collaboratively with the commercial channel leads and other leadership team members on the formation and execution of the trade marketing strategy, while ensuring profitable revenue growth for the Group.

The role demands a strong commercial mindset and proven track record in executing effective trade marketing plans at a global multi-channel level

• Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
• Salary: Up to £65,000 per annum
• Working Hours: 9am - 5.30pm
• Location: Blackburn
  
  

Benefits

• Cycle to work scheme
• Product discount
• Birthday day off
• Pension scheme, employer contribution at 4%
• On-site gym opening in August 2025
  
  

The Work - Your Most Important Responsibilities

• Develop and Execute Trade Marketing Strategy: Design and implement trade marketing plans that align with overall brand objectives, focusing on enhancing the business’s competitive advantage at retail touchpoints
• Promotional Campaigns and Merchandising: Plan and execute promotional activities, discounts, and incentives tailored for retailers, wholesalers, and distributors to stimulate demand and increase product sell-through.
• Category and Space Management: Lead category management initiatives, optimising product assortment, shelf placement, and in-store visibility to drive sales and position the company as a preferred supplier or category captain.
• Market and Data Analysis: Working closely with the Data & Insights team, utilise market research tools to analyse market trends, monitor competitor activity, and identify growth opportunities. Translate shopper insights into actionable strategies for category growth.
• Retailer and Distributor Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with key accounts, ensuring the brand is well-represented at all trade events and retail environments.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with sales, marketing, and product development teams to support product launches, develop trade materials, and ensure cohesive execution of trade strategies.
• Budget Management: Manage the trade marketing budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources for maximum ROI on promotional spend.
• Performance Measurement: Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as inventory turnover, average transaction value, customer retention, and gross profit margin to assess the effectiveness of trade marketing initiatives.
  
  

Capability - the skills and behaviours required to do this job well

• Strategic and Commercial Acumen: Ability to develop and execute trade marketing strategies that align with business objectives and drive commercial performance
• Analytical Skills: Proficient in data analysis to evaluate market trends, campaign effectiveness, and category performance; able to draw actionable insights from quantitative and qualitative data.
• Project and Time Management: Strong organisational skills to manage multiple projects, campaigns, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication and Influencing: Excellent verbal and written communication to engage with internal teams, retailers, distributors, and external partners; able to present ideas, negotiate terms, and build consensus.
• Relationship Building: Skilled at developing and maintaining strong relationships with key accounts, trade partners, and cross-functional teams.
• Creativity and Innovation: Ability to design compelling trade promotions, merchandising solutions, and in-store experiences that differentiate the brand and engage customers.
• Digital and Technical Proficiency: Comfortable with marketing tools such as CRM systems, data visualisation software, and digital campaign platforms; up-to-date with evolving digital marketing trends and technologies.
• Budget and Resource Management: Capable of managing trade marketing budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and maximising return on investment.
• Adaptability and Problem-Solving: Able to adjust strategies quickly in response to changing market dynamics, retailer needs, or supply chain challenges.
• Passion for Sports and Wellness: Genuine enthusiasm for the sports nutrition sector, which supports authentic engagement with both customers and partners.
  
  

Performance – how you will know you are doing a great job

• Delivery of the Group financial business plan
• Appropriate KPI’s (Gross Margin; Customer retention; Stock Turn; ATV)
• Consumer sentiment – both direct end consumers and B2B customers
  
  

Specific metrics will be set when in role and will be reviewed and built upon regularly. Alongside this, you will be supported with a personal performance plan that will enable you to continue improving your own performance and impact.

Attributes – experience and mindset that will enable you to do well in this role.

Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marketing, or a related field
• Demonstrable experience in trade marketing or category management, preferably within the sports nutrition, health foods, or FMCG sectors
• Strong analytical skills and experience with market research tools and data analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills to manage key accounts and internal teams
• Ability to operate both independently and as part of a cross-functional team
• Passion for health, wellness, and sports nutrition is highly valued
  
  

Mindset

• Thrives in fast-moving and high energy teams
• Passionate about the brands and end consumers
• Works in a collaborative way and respects views of others
• Ability to prioritise, execute with discipline yet able to adapt
• Creative and structured
• Energy and drive – passionate about the brands and products
• Able to see and think from the consumers perspective
• Ability to work in a matrix environment
  
  

Science in Sport Group is an equal opportunity employer; we value diversity and strive to cultivate an inclusive workplace. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind in regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We fully support reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, to provide an inclusive and welcoming recruitment experience.