Modern Trade Key Account & Business Development Assistant Manager/ Manager (Telco Industry)

Location: [Kuala Lumpur] Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Modern Trade Key Account & New Business Development Manager to own and grow strategic partnerships with major modern trade retailers (supermarkets, convenience chains, e-commerce platform) for our Telco product portfolio. This role is responsible for managing key account relationships end-to-end — from commercial negotiations and contract management to joint business planning — while actively identifying and developing new modern trade business opportunities to expand market coverage and revenue.

The ideal candidate is a strategic yet commercially sharp operator who can balance account management discipline with a hunter's mind-set for new business growth, and who understands both retail dynamics and telco go-to-market strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Key Account Management

• Own end-to-end relationships with assigned modern trade key accounts (national/regional supermarket chains, convenience store groups).
• Negotiate and manage trading terms, listing fees, shelf/space allocation, and promotional agreements with retail partners.
• Develop and execute Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with key accounts to drive mutual growth (sell-in, sell-out, market share).
• Act as the primary point of contact for commercial escalations, disputes, and contract renewals with key retail partners.

Business Development & Growth

• Identify, evaluate, and on-board new modern trade partners/outlets to expand distribution footprint.
• Develop business cases for new account acquisition, including commercial terms, investment requirements, and ROI projections.
• Explore new format opportunities (e.g., telco corners/kiosks within modern trade, co-branded zones, digital integration points).
• Build a strong pipeline of growth opportunities within existing and new modern trade & e-commerce partners.

Commercial & Sales Performance

• Own sales targets (sell-in, sell-out, revenue, market share) for the assigned modern trade account portfolio.
• Monitor account-level P&L, trade spend efficiency, and profitability; optimize trade investment ROI.
• Analyze sales performance, category trends, and competitor activity to inform account strategy.
• Forecast demand and align with Supply Chain to ensure product availability and minimize stockouts/overstock.

Campaign & Activation Alignment

• Collaborate with Trade Marketing/Campaign teams to align in-store campaigns, promotions, and activations with account-specific opportunities.
• Ensure modern trade campaigns are tailored to each key account's format, customer profile, and commercial agreement.
• Review campaign performance with key accounts and translate learnings into future joint plans.

Stakeholder & Team Management

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Trade Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Retail Operations to ensure seamless account execution.
• Guide and support Modern Trade Executives/Campaign Specialists working on assigned accounts (where applicable).
• Represent the company in senior-level engagements with retail partner leadership teams.

Requirements

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field;
• Experience in key account management, modern trade, or business development — Telco, FMCG, or Consumer/Retail industry experience strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of managing major modern trade accounts and delivering commercial growth.
• Experience in contract negotiation and joint business planning with national retail chains.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial and negotiation skills; comfortable engaging senior stakeholders at retail partner organizations.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on execution mindset — able to move between high-level planning and on-ground problem-solving.
• Strong analytical skills; comfortable working with sales data, trade spend analysis, and P&L management.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, both internal and external.
• Entrepreneurial drive for identifying and closing new business opportunities.
• Proficiency in Excel/PowerPoint and sales reporting/CRM tools.
• Willingness to travel for account visits, negotiations, and market reviews.

Nice to Have

• Existing relationships with major modern trade retailers in the market.
• Experience launching telco products/services (SIM, devices, digital services) through modern trade channels.
• Experience managing a small team of account executives or campaign specialists.

What We Offer

• High-visibility role with direct exposure to senior leadership and major retail partners.
• Opportunity to shape the modern trade growth strategy for a leading telco/FMCG portfolio.
• Clear career path toward Head of Modern Trade / National Channel Sales leadership roles.