Overview

Head of TradingBased at Henderson Group Main Office, Mallusk.Henderson Group is a multi-award winning, family-owned business and, with over 5500 colleagues across the Group, it is one of Northern Ireland’s largest employers. The Company dates back to 1897 when it started life as a retail grocery business – today it is a £1.37bn Group comprising of four operating companies: Henderson Wholesale (which is complemented by its subsidiary companies, Henderson Technology and Henderson Print), Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. Henderson Wholesale Limited (HWL) supplies over 500 stores across Northern Ireland, providing a unique support package to its retail partners which includes marketing, logistics, retail services, IT support, training and development, trading support, dedicated business development managers, central warehousing and an extensive range of fresh foods.Due to succession planning and continued growth, the Company wishes to appoint an accomplished Head of Trading to be responsible for leading and developing the trading strategy as well as a highly experienced trading team. The Head of Trading will set, communicate and execute the trading vision along with the commercial strategy in order to maximise revenue, profitability and market share. They will work closely with colleagues to ensure integrated trading campaigns, seamless customer experiences and that strategies are supported operationally across departments. Driving commercial performance, the Head of Trading will lead on pricing, promotions and range strategies to achieve growth targets, improve margin mix and mitigate trading risks. They will optimise customer relationships, building strong partnerships with suppliers and key wholesale customers to ensure competitive terms, best in class product availability and market responsiveness.Applicants will possess the following skills and experience:Considerable recent experience in a senior trading, commercial, or buying leadership role within a wholesale, retail, or FMCG environment, ideally within the food retail sector.Demonstrated success in delivering profitable sales growth, margin improvement, and category performance.Strong track record of supplier negotiation and management, securing favourable commercial terms.Significant experience in leading and developing high-performing trading or commercial teams.Experience managing complex trading activities including pricing, promotions, stock management, and forecasting.Direct involvement in business change, transformation programmes, or cross-functional project delivery.Deep understanding of market dynamics, customer behaviour, and competitive landscapes within a wholesale environment.Degree or higher-level qualification in a relevant subject or relevant experience.This is a key appointment for a strategic, commercially focused leader with deep market knowledge and exceptional negotiation skills to deliver sustainable revenue and margin improvements. The closing date for applications is Monday 29th September 2025. For further information please contact Ruth McDonald Managing Director at Narratology in complete confidence.Skills:Trading LeadershipTrading StrategyHead of Trading

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