Job Description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognised brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programmes that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.
Information at a Glance
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Job Title:  Customer Development Executive
Travel Required?:  Travel - 25% of time
Posting Start Date:  26/08/2026
Hybrid

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number #175667 - Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specialising in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Report to: Customer Development Director 

Location: Woking, UK

Salary range pa: £45000 - £50000

 

Role Summary 

As a Customer Development Executive based in our Woking office, you will sit within the UK Customer Development team and play a pivotal commercial role in driving net sales, margin, and category growth for one of our primary UK retail partners. This exciting role bridges operational delivery with strategic account management, offering personal accountability for key sub-categories while supporting the broader Joint Business Plan (JBP). You will operate in a fast-paced environment, leveraging data-driven insights and AI-enabled tools to optimize promotional execution, trade investment, and demand forecasting. This position is ideal for an ambitious commercial professional looking to transition into full account ownership within a world-class FMCG environment.

Responsibilities

  • Drive Commercial Growth & JBP Ownership: Deliver budgeted net sales, margin, and volume targets for assigned sub-categories by leading the development, management, and execution of customer Joint Business Plans.

  • Leverage AI & Digital Tools: Champion the adoption and integration of internal AI tools and digital platforms across the commercial team to automate workflows, optimize trade spend mechanics, and enhance predictive promotional planning.

  • Promotional & Financial Stewardship: Lead 5P/7P promotional planning, trade spend optimization, and ROI post-evaluations, ensuring accurate accruals, invoice resolution, and P&L governance.

  • Demand Planning & Forecasting Alignment: Manage customer demand inputs in the Atlas forecasting system, analyzing EPOS tracking and baseline shifts to maintain forecasting accuracy and robust supply chain alignment.

  • External Engagement & Retailer Influence: Build strong, trust-based relationships with commercial, supply chain, and online contacts, presenting fact-based selling stories that negotiate win-win category growth solutions.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Shopper Development, Category Management, Commercial Strategy, and Brand teams to construct impactful omnichannel shopper campaigns and seamlessly execute new product launches (NPI).

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related field.

  • At least 3 years of experience in Customer Development, Account Management, Commercial Operations, or Category Management within the FMCG or retail sector.

  • Demonstrated experience with demand forecasting systems (e.g., Atlas, SAP) and volume/pricing planning mechanics.

  • Proven track record of managing trade promotional grids, financial accruals, and analyzing EPOS / retailer scan data.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working with major UK grocery retailers (specifically UK Top 4).

  • Strong commercial and financial acumen with a solid understanding of P&L levers and Joint Business Planning (JBP) processes.

  • High technical aptitude with an interest in leveraging AI tools, advanced data analytics, and digital workflows to maximize efficiency.

  • Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and negotiation capabilities.

  • Alignment with core Colgate-Palmolive values: Caring, Inclusion, Courage, and Continuous Improvement.

Career Pathway

  • Customer Development Manager (CDM) – Key Accounts

  • Commercial Strategy / Shopper Marketing Manager

  • Category Development Manager


Our Commitment to Inclusion
Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives  to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

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