Commercial Manager - 6-month Fixed Term Contract

This role offers the opportunity to help shape the evolution of the commercial teams' ways of working at WH Smith. You’ll be at the forefront of embedding a new supplier income management system and driving the transformation of commercial governance, accuracy, and control — all while supporting Buying teams to deliver maximum value from supplier partnerships.

The Commercial Manager will work closely with Buying and Finance teams, ensuring supplier contracts align with strategy and deliver maximum value. You’ll support the commercial teams with raising and managing deals in our new Supplier Income Management System and champion its adoption, driving accuracy, control, and governance across supplier income processes.

What you will be doing:

1. Supplier Income & Deal Management

• Partner closely with Buying teams to ensure supplier deals are commercially robust, strategically aligned, and structured in line with internal policy and governance.

• Support the commercial teams to raise, record, and manage all supplier income agreements within the Supplier Income Management System, ensuring integrity of data, correct categorisation, and compliance with audit requirements.

• Support the end-to-end lifecycle of supplier funding, from negotiation and approval through to reconciliation, income recognition, and reporting.

• Collaborate with Finance to ensure supplier income is correctly forecasted, invoiced, and accounted for in line with financial standards.

• Develop and maintain a clear audit trail for all commercial income arrangements.

2. Commercial Governance & Process Improvement

• Act as a process owner and advocate for supplier income governance, ensuring all deals comply with internal approval processes and external regulations.

• Champion the adoption of the new supplier income management tool across all categories in the relevant business (UK or International) ensuring users understand the system and adhere to best practice.

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, standardisation, and accuracy in the way supplier income is managed and reported.

• Partner with IT and system teams to support continuous improvement and user feedback for the new system.

3. Contract & Compliance Oversight

• Support the review and standardisation of commercial agreements to ensure alignment with strategy and compliance with relevant legislation for the UK and/or equivalent frameworks in international markets.

• Ensure all supplier contracts are properly documented, stored, and linked to their associated income records in the system.

• Work with Legal and Compliance teams to identify and mitigate commercial risks across supplier agreements.

4. Commercial Insight & Reporting

• Provide insight and analysis on supplier income performance, highlighting risks, opportunities, and trends to senior stakeholders.

• Support the development of dashboards and reporting tools that enhance visibility of supplier income across regions and categories.

• Help Buying and Commercial teams use data effectively to inform negotiations and optimise deal structures.

5. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build strong relationships with Buying, Finance, Legal, and Project teams to ensure end-to-end management of supplier income is aligned, controlled, and value focused.

• Act as a bridge between operational teams and Project/system owners to ensure commercial needs are translated into system and process design.

• Support training, communication, and engagement activities to embed the new tool and ways of working across the business.

Experience & Skills Required

• Be a centre of excellence that supports the commercial team looking on best practice negotiation, tenders etc

• Extensive commercial experience in food and associated non-food retail or food manufacturing / supply

• Extensive commercial negotiation experience

• Commercially astute and detailed-oriented

• Highly organised, with a process-driven and continuous improvement mindset

• Proactive with the ability to problem-solve, work independently, and deliver at pace.

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills

• It is desirable that you have knowledge and understanding of GSCOP (Groceries Supply Code of Practice)

Why Join Us?

About us: 

Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 5,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

Our UK Travel office is based in a buzzing part of central London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.  

At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here. 

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!