Discounter Channel lead L8

Overview

To lead the end-to-end Customer Collaboration agenda across designated Discounter customers, ensuring industry-leading service delivery through effective demand and supply planning, strong customer partnerships, and robust cross-functional collaboration. The role is accountable for driving service performance, supply chain excellence, and strategic customer engagement by integrating customer intelligence into the business planning process, leading customer-specific Integrated Business Planning (IBP) activities, and influencing internal and external stakeholders to deliver sustainable growth and operational efficiency.

As the supply chain lead for key customer accounts, this role provides strategic direction, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and develops high-performing teams while ensuring alignment with PepsiCo UK business objectives.

Responsibilities

Strategic Customer Collaboration Leadership:

• Lead the customer collaboration strategy for designated Discounter customers, aligning supply chain priorities with customer expectations and PepsiCo business objectives.

• Build, manage, and influence senior customer and internal stakeholder relationships, acting as the primary supply chain contact for key accounts.

• Develop and maintain AGS plans, ensuring alignment across Commercial, Finance, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, and Operations functions.

• Identify and implement initiatives that improve customer service, forecast accuracy, inventory health, availability, and overall customer satisfaction.

• Represent PepsiCo supply chain interests within customer forums, establishing trusted partnerships and driving joint business outcomes.

Integrated Business Planning (IBP) Ownership:

• Lead customer-specific IBP handshakes, ensuring customer intelligence, promotions, innovations, risks, and opportunities are embedded within planning processes.

• Act as the planning lead for Discounter customers, applying alternative forecasting approaches where conventional methodologies are limited by data availability.

• Drive alignment across Sales, Finance, Supply Planning, and Operations within the 0-22 week planning horizon.

• Facilitate regular planning reviews and escalation processes to proactively manage supply and demand risks.

• Deliver clear recommendations that support effective decision-making and business performance.

S&OP and Operational Leadership:

• Represent Customer Collaboration within S&OE, DDS, Service Calls, and other governance forums.

• Lead customer-specific risk and opportunity management activities balancing service, inventory, capacity, and cost objectives.

• Drive improvements in forecasting, replenishment, and operational planning processes.

• Ensure customer requirements and priorities are effectively reflected across operational decision-making forums.

Customer Service and Supply Chain Performance:

• Accountable for delivering agreed customer service targets and maintaining industry-leading service levels.

• Lead the resolution of complex supply chain challenges, driving root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.

• Ensure successful execution of innovation launches, range reviews, and promotional activities through robust cross-functional planning.

• Provide accurate visibility of service performance, inventory health, and supply risks to customers and internal stakeholders.

• Drive continuous service improvement and customer satisfaction.

Innovation and Change Management:

• Lead supply chain delivery for customer innovation, product launches, range reviews, and major projects.

• Establish clear governance, milestone tracking, and risk management processes to ensure successful project execution.

• Champion best practice sharing and continuous improvement across the Customer Collaboration function.

• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve efficiency across the end-to-end supply chain.

Leadership and Team Development:

• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports to create a high-performing and engaged team.

• Conduct regular performance reviews, development planning, and succession planning activities.

• Lead 30-60-90 day planning reviews to ensure alignment, accountability, and delivery of key priorities.

• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and inclusion.

• Demonstrate and promote PepsiCo values and leadership behaviours.

Functional Leadership:

• Influence the wider Customer Collaboration strategy and contribute to capability development across the function.

• Act as the subject matter expert for Discounter customer planning and collaboration.

• Provide coaching, guidance, and support to peers and stakeholders across the business.

• Drive the evolution of processes, governance, and performance measures to support future business growth and customer needs.

Qualifications

• Strategic customer relationship management

• Integrated Business Planning (IBP)

• Demand and supply planning expertise

• Strong commercial and financial acumen

• Stakeholder management and influencing skills

• Leadership and people development

• Project and change management

• Supply chain risk management

• Data analysis and performance management

• Continuous improvement mindset

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Cross-functional collaboration and decision making