Job Description

Assistant Trading Manager
Category Development- Retail Serviced Food
Attractive Salary & Benefits
36.5 Hours per week
Newtownabbey
Who are we?
At Henderson Group, we are proud to be one of Northern Ireland's leading organisations. Employing more than 5,500 colleagues across the UK and Ireland, the group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice & Henderson Technology.
Henderson Wholesale is a leading Wholesaler in Northern Ireland, supplying goods to over 450 stores across various brands including SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO. We source from local farmers, growers and producers and are proud to contribute to our local economy and environment. We achieved Gold accreditation against the Investors in People standard framework in 2023 in recognition of people management excellence and our commitment to investment in people.
A look into the role...
This role sits within our Henderson Wholesale Category Development team and is focused on supporting the development of the Food for Now & Instore Bakery categories, driving performance against agreed objectives.
The successful candidate will develop and gain experience within range management & development, pricing and margin management, supplier management and delivering projects, with the objective of progressing to full category responsibility.
This role will be very well suited to a candidate with previous FMCG experience, who is able to analyse commercial data, is results driven and can build successful relationships with customers and other key stakeholders to deliver commercial success.
Working as Assistant Trading Manager you will:

• With the support of the Trading Manager, manage the Sales & Profitability of agreed categories in line with the strategic growth plans for Food for Now & Instore Bakery.

• Liaise with suppliers in relation to sourcing, pricing, promotional planning and range development / management.

• Analyse data, generate reports/ insights and recommendations as required to enable data driven decision making for the team.

• Work within the team, and with other internal departments to deliver successful strategic plans & projects on time and accurately.

• Maintain accurate details relating to product information on internal systems.

• Deal with customer/supplier/colleague enquiries relating to product information.

• Liaise with Retail Operations / Sales Teams in relation to new product range / promotions / sales opportunities.

• Respond to market and customer needs with regards to new/ emerging opportunities.

• Complete regular competitor/ market analysis in relation to pricing, range and quality.

Skills for Success
Joining us as Assistant Trading Manager, the minimum criteria you will need is:

• A good standard of general education, with a minimum of GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• At least 2 years' relevant experience working within the FMCG sector, and a good knowledge of the NI food marketplace.
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Previous experience of managing price files, range/planograms, promotional execution/compliance.
• Previous experience of successful data analysis in a commercial setting, with a good understanding of financial measures and results.
• Full Valid Driving Licence.

The essential attributes we're looking for:

• A great team player, who can build successful working relationships with a range of internal & external stakeholders.
• Customer focused, with a passion for exceeding customer needs.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and manage multiple tasks accurately and within required deadlines.

• A self- starter, the ideal candidate will be proactive, and solutions orientated.

• A logical and methodical thinker, with the ability to be thorough in approach and see tasks/ projects through to completion.

It is desirable if you have:

• Third level qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. business management).
• Previous experience working within the Food to Go or Bakery Categories.
• Experience of successfully participating in/ leading projects or working knowledge of project management tools.

Are we right for you?
As part of this role, it will be important that you feel aligned with the values that we live and work by.
Ambition - We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better.
Customer First - We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities.
Teamwork - We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills.
Integrity - We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity.
The Reward
The impact you can make with Henderson Group goes far beyond your day-to-day role. You will be part of a business that places our local communities at the heart of what we do and is committed to social responsibility.
We're an Investors in People GOLD Accredited employer- we value employee development and heavily invest in our people, creating many opportunities for career development.
Benefits include market competitive salary, reimbursement for company mileage, bonus incentive scheme, contributory pension scheme, healthcare, life assurance, employee assistance programme, social club, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at Henderson Group company-owned stores, and many more.
This is a full-time position working 36.5 hours per week. Working hours will be 8:45am-4:45pm Monday to Thursday and 8:45am-3:45pm Friday.
If you would like to speak with us before making your application, our Talent Acquisition Specialist - Joanne McClelland would be happy to have a confidential chat with you about the role on offer - email joanne.mcclelland@henderson-group.com to get in touch.
Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight on Monday 22nd September 2025.
*Applicants should note that we reserve the right to apply the desirable criteria if required at shortlisting stage.
We are an equal opportunities employer.

Skills Required