Key Account Executive (Retail)

About Us

At H. L. Yong Company (Pte) Ltd, we are dedicated to driving growth and delivering excellence across Singapore's retail landscape. We are seeking a high-energy, results-oriented Retail Key Account Executive who excels at building powerful commercial relationships, negotiating win-win outcomes, and balancing stakeholder interests. If you possess a keen passion for retail, a marketing-driven mindset, and a highly competitive spirit, we want you on our team.

Role Overview

As a Retail Key Account Executive, you will champion the growth and commercial execution of our assigned key retail accounts across traditional and modern brick-and-mortar channels—including supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, independent grocers, and petrol stations.

A core component of this role is bridging the gap between brand strategy and retail execution. You will work hand-in-hand with internal Brand Managers to utilize their budgets for full-year or quarterly promotional planning, and then negotiate directly with retail buyers to bring those campaigns to life on the shelves.

Key Responsibilities

Budget Collaboration & Strategic Planning

• Joint Promotional Planning: Partner closely with internal Brand Managers to co-develop comprehensive full-year or quarterly advertising & promotion (A&P) plans tailored to your assigned retail channels.

• A&P Budget Utilization: Maximize the commercial impact of marketing funds provided by Brand Managers, ensuring all promotional spending aligns with agreed-upon channel budgets and brand guidelines.

Commercial Negotiation & Buyer Management

• Buyer Relationship Management: Cultivate, strengthen, and maintain close, trust-based working relationships with retail category buyers across your assigned accounts.

• Listing & Space Negotiation: Lead day-to-day discussions with retail buyers to secure listings for new products, optimize current product portfolios, and pitch the quarterly/annual promotional plans secured from Brand Managers.

• Shelf Presence: Hold commercial negotiations with retail partners to secure premium shelf space, maximum store facings, and optimal promotional slots.

• Channel Development: Actively pitch to expand sales networks across key physical formats and identify quick-turn opportunities to clear short-expiry stocks when necessary.

In-Store Execution & Sales Operations

• Ground-Level Collaboration: Work closely with our merchandising team and individual retail store managers to ensure flawless execution of approved trade marketing activities and maintain excellent in-store product displays.

• Target Achievement: Meet and exceed monthly KPIs and sales targets (sell-in & sell-out), evaluating promotion effectiveness to suggest aggressive improvements.

• Inventory Control: Coordinate tightly with the merchandising and logistics teams to monitor stock levels, eliminate stock-outs, and ensure exceptional service-level delivery.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work seamlessly with internal Finance, Logistics, and Sales & Marketing teams to smoothly execute the overarching sales plan.

Market Intelligence

• Competitor Tracking: Research and provide continuous feedback on competitors’ pricing, promotional tactics, and market developments to ensure our brands remain highly competitive.

Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree preferred but ability trumps education

• Experience: Minimum 1–2 years of experience in retail account management or a closely related commercial/sales role. Experience directly managing buyers in supermarkets, CVS (convenience stores), or pharmacies is highly advantageous.

• Core Competencies (High Priority):

o Advanced Buyer Management & Negotiation: Proven track record of handling retail buyers, navigating complex account hierarchies, defending margins, and successfully closing commercial negotiations.

o Stakeholder & Collaboration Skills: Strong ability to work cross-functionally with internal Brand Managers to build out structured, calendarized promotional plans based on brand budgets.

• Domain Knowledge: Solid understanding of traditional trade marketing, budget tracking, and physical retail mechanics.

• Key Attributes: Outstanding communication skills, a highly competitive spirit, resilience under pressure, and a collaborative team-player mindset.