Commercial Executive – Clicks Group Careers

Job Purpose

The Commercial Executive is responsible for driving competitive and sustainable growth within the Commercial division by leading category strategy, value retailing, and supplier partnerships. This role focuses on growing market share, improving margins, and delivering strategic business objectives in a highly competitive retail environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies and operating plans aligned with Commercial and Group priorities

• Lead product assortment strategies, including New and Only at Clicks, to position the business as a destination in health and beauty

• Implement space and range principles to deliver strong in-store execution and seamless digital merchandising

• Drive value retailing through effective pricing, promotion strategies, and trade terms to achieve sales, margin, and customer objectives

• Define budgets and annual operating plans, monitoring KPIs and adjusting strategies using data-driven insights

• Build and manage strong supplier partnerships through negotiation of trading terms, joint business plans, and service level agreements

• Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Stores, OMNI, Finance, and Marketing to ensure end-to-end delivery

• Lead, develop, and inspire high-performing teams to meet current and future business objectives

• Streamline merchandising ways of working to improve speed, efficiency, and execution across divisions

Functional Expertise

• Deep category experience within FMCG, health, and beauty, with a proven trading track record

• Strong value retailing capability and commercial judgment

• Digital expertise across e-commerce, retail media, and data-driven merchandising

• Solid understanding of South African FMCG markets and consumer behaviour

• End-to-end supply chain knowledge from sourcing to shelf availability

• Financial planning, budgeting, and P&L ownership experience

• Expertise in supplier negotiations, trading terms, and joint business planning

• Strong understanding of retail legislation, including food and product labelling where applicable

Performance Measures

• Category sales, margin, and market share growth

• Price perception and promotion return on investment

• Delivery of supplier trading terms and joint business plans

• Team engagement, capability development, and talent retention

• Execution of operating plans and process efficiency

Skills and Attributes

• Strong commercial acumen with advanced negotiation skills

• Entrepreneurial mindset with enterprise-wide thinking

• Tenacious, resilient, and results-driven with high ownership

• Analytical and data-driven decision-making capability

• Strategic thinking with sound judgment

• Strong influencing and relationship-building skills

• Clear verbal and written communication with the ability to present actionable insights

• High attention to detail with a bias for action

• Authentic, principled leadership with a people-centred approach

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Relevant degree such as BCom is essential; MBA or postgraduate qualification is advantageous

• 5–8 years’ experience in a senior commercial role within retail or FMCG

• Proven track record of category growth, margin improvement, and successful supplier negotiations

Core Competencies

• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking

• Analysing

• Deciding and Initiating Action

• Leading and Supervising

• Planning and Organizing

• Persuading and Influencing

• Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts

• Authenticity and Integrity