Head of Modern Trade & ecommerce
HEAD OF MODERN TRADE AND ECOMMERCE Salary: Competitive and based on experience Location: Ho Chi Minh City Key Skills: Modern Trade, Ecommerce, Channel Strategy, Customer Engagement, Team Management, Growth Initiatives, Talent Development, Strategic Planning, Relationship Building, Execution Excellence
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly skilled professional to take on the pivotal role of Head of Modern Trade and Ecommerce, based in vibrant Ho Chi Minh City. This position offers you the chance to shape and execute the modern trade strategy across the country, translating business unit and category strategies into actionable plans that drive growth and customer satisfaction. You will be at the forefront of channel development, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams and leading a talented group of Key Account Managers and Executives. The organisation is committed to fostering talent, supporting your professional development, and providing a collaborative environment where your expertise in negotiation, relationship management, and strategic execution will be highly valued. If you are passionate about delivering results, nurturing talent, and making a significant impact within a supportive team culture, this is the perfect next step in your career.
* Play a key role in shaping nationwide modern trade and ecommerce strategies by translating high-level business objectives into effective channel and customer plans that deliver measurable results.
* Lead a dedicated team of professionals while driving talent development initiatives, ensuring both business growth and individual progression within a supportive environment.
* Enjoy flexible working opportunities and access to ongoing training programmes designed to enhance your skills and support your long-term career ambitions.
What you'll do:
As Head of Modern Trade and Ecommerce, you will play an instrumental role in steering the direction of modern trade operations throughout Vietnam. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve close collaboration with various stakeholders to translate strategic objectives into practical action plans tailored for specific channels and customers. You will provide essential support during contract negotiations, ensuring that all agreements reflect both commercial priorities and customer needs. By taking charge of deploying innovative growth initiatives—ranging from new product introductions to targeted campaigns—you will help capture emerging opportunities in the marketplace. Your ability to build lasting relationships with key customers will be crucial in maintaining alignment between their expectations and organisational goals. Leading a dynamic team of account managers and executives, you will set clear targets while nurturing their professional development through ongoing feedback and support. In addition to defining comprehensive modern trade strategies for both immediate impact and sustained success, you will oversee the delivery of critical KPIs such as sales growth, market share gains, profitability enhancements, operational excellence standards, and superior customer experiences. Your leadership will also extend to facilitating cross-functional collaboration internally as well as supervising field teams responsible for executing plans on the ground.
* Collaborate with business unit channel strategy planning leads and customer business managers to transform overarching business unit and category strategies into detailed channel and customer plans using frameworks such as CFCS, CBP, and JBP.
* Support commercial leads from each business unit during negotiations by providing insights and guidance on BU-specific terms within master contracts to ensure optimal outcomes for all parties involved.
* Take ownership of deploying growth initiatives across business units or categories, including thematic campaigns, new product launches, price adjustments, and capitalising on growth opportunities arising from special events or new store openings.
* Build strong relationships with key customers by business unit through regular engagement, understanding their needs, and ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
* Manage a team of Key Account Managers and Executives by setting clear objectives, providing coaching, monitoring performance, and fostering an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration.
* Define, align, and implement both long-term and short-term modern trade strategies across the country to ensure consistent execution that meets market demands.
* Deliver key performance indicators for modern trade channels—including turnover growth (offline and online), market share expansion, profitability improvement, flawless execution standards, and enhanced customer satisfaction levels.
* Own strategic customer engagement processes such as customer business planning (CBP), top-to-top meetings (T2T), and joint business planning (JBP), overseeing their successful implementation across all relevant accounts.
* Facilitate internal collaboration between different functions and business units to ensure seamless execution of agreed plans while maintaining open communication channels.
* Supervise the field execution team to guarantee high standards of operational excellence in every aspect of modern trade activities.
What you bring:
To excel as Head of Modern Trade and Ecommerce, your background should reflect substantial experience within fast-moving consumer goods or retail sectors where managing large-scale channel operations is second nature. Your academic credentials—ideally anchored by a degree in Business Administration or Marketing—will be complemented by hands-on expertise gained over several years in comparable roles. You bring an empathetic approach to negotiation that balances assertiveness with consideration for all stakeholders’ interests. As someone who thrives when working collaboratively within diverse teams, your interpersonal skills foster trust among colleagues at every level. Your analytical mindset ensures that every decision is grounded in careful evaluation of available data; meanwhile your ability to plan strategically allows you to anticipate challenges before they arise. Whether guiding junior staff members towards their next milestone or spearheading major commercial initiatives yourself, your focus remains firmly on collective achievement rather than individual accolades.
* A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing or a related discipline provides you with a solid academic foundation for this multifaceted role.
* At least five years’ experience in a similar capacity equips you with deep industry knowledge required for success in managing complex modern trade environments.
* Exceptional negotiation skills enable you to secure favourable terms during high-stakes discussions with commercial partners while maintaining positive relationships.
* Proven ability to manage teams ensures that you can inspire others towards shared objectives while fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect.
* Excellent strategic planning capabilities allow you to develop actionable roadmaps that align with broader organisational goals while adapting quickly to changing market conditions.
* Strong analytical abilities empower you to interpret data effectively so that decisions are always informed by robust evidence rather than assumptions or guesswork.
* Outstanding relationship-building skills help you connect authentically with both internal colleagues across departments as well as external partners or clients.
* Demonstrated experience in deploying growth initiatives means you are comfortable leading projects from conception through execution while measuring their impact along the way.
* A track record of delivering key performance indicators such as sales growth or increased market share shows your commitment to achieving tangible results for the organisation.
* Experience in talent development highlights your dedication not only to personal achievement but also to uplifting those around you through mentoring or coaching.
What sets this company apart:
This organisation stands out for its unwavering commitment to nurturing talent at every stage of your career journey. Here you’ll find an inclusive culture where collaboration is celebrated—ensuring everyone’s voice is heard regardless of background or tenure. Flexible working opportunities mean you can balance professional aspirations with personal commitments without compromise. Comprehensive training programmes are readily available so that continuous learning becomes part of everyday life rather than an occasional event. The company’s reputation for operational excellence is matched only by its dedication to employee wellbeing; here you’ll benefit from supportive leadership focused on helping each team member realise their full potential within a thriving network built on trust, respect, and shared purpose. With ambitious plans for future growth underpinned by sustainable practices—and a genuine desire to make a positive difference both locally and globally—this is an environment where your contributions truly matter.
What's next:
If you are ready to take on this rewarding challenge where your expertise can make a real difference within a collaborative team environment, we encourage you to apply now!
Apply today by clicking on the link provided—your next career adventure awaits!
Due to the high volume of applications we are experiencing, our team will only be in touch with you if your application is shortlisted.
About the job

Contract Type: FULL_TIME
Specialism: Sales
Focus: Modern / General Trade Sales
Industry: FMCG
Salary: Attractive benefits
Workplace Type: On-site
Experience Level: Director
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
FULL_TIMEJob Reference: MKOIE6-6110D338
Date posted: 19 June 2025
Consultant: Trang Tran
ho-chi-minh-city sales/modern-general-trade-sales 2025-06-19 2025-08-18 fmcg Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City VN Robert Walters https://www.robertwalters.com.vn https://www.robertwalters.com.vn/content/dam/robert-walters/global/images/logos/web-logos/square-logo.png true