📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Head of Brand
🔹 Company: bp
🔹 Location: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Retail Group
🔹 Date Posted: July 14, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (office/remote)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving annual Branded standard growth margin (SGM) targets to support the strategy of doubling convenience SGM by 2030.
- Managing partnerships with branded suppliers to optimize commercial terms and margin, including supplier income.
- Determining product ranges across branded categories to meet customer demand, based on data analytics, customer demand, and market trends.
- Developing best-practice category plans for all branded categories using data analytics and customer insights.
- Leading and coaching the country/cluster branded buying team (people, capabilities, and development plans).
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong commercial acumen, and proven leadership skills to drive growth and optimize partnerships with branded suppliers.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Delivery of annual Branded standard growth margin (SGM) targets to support the strategy of doubling convenience SGM by 2030.
✅ Develop and manage partnerships with branded suppliers to optimize all aspects of commercial terms and margin, including supplier income.
✅ Determine product ranges across branded categories to meet customer demand, based on data analytics, customer demand, and market trends.
✅ Develop best-practice category plans (including seasonal ranging) for all branded categories, using data analytics and customer insights.
✅ Play a key role in the development of new offers and new sources of value in country, i.e., Delivered Convenience, Franchising, and Sustainability.
✅ Handle the selling of bp's ACI data to all suppliers to maximize income and ensure suppliers are using bp data to drive decision making.
✅ Develop and maintain a clear pricing and promotions strategy to maximize sales and margin.
✅ Develop strong working relationships with internal partners, namely marketing, strategy, operations, assets, etc.
✅ Lead/coach the country/cluster branded buying team (people, capabilities, and development plans).
✅ Country lead role for Trading - first point of contact and escalation for Trading activities in Optimise markets.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, stakeholder management, and team leadership to drive growth and optimize commercial terms with branded suppliers.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience: Extensive experience (10+ years) working with brands in an FMCG business, with a proven track record in commercial trading environments.
Required Skills:
- Proven negotiation and third-party management experience.
- Category management experience.
- Experienced Team Leader.
- Strong analytical thinking and data interpretation skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in the oil and gas industry.
- Fluency in additional languages.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in FMCG and commercial trading, with proven leadership skills and experience working with branded suppliers.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £80,000 - £120,000 per annum (AI-estimated, based on industry standards for a Head of Brand role with 10+ years of experience in the UK).
Benefits:
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Private medical insurance.
- 25 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays).
- Flexible working arrangements.
Working Hours: Full-time, with some flexibility for hybrid working arrangements.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a Head of Brand role with the required experience level in the UK. Actual compensation may vary based on individual qualifications and company policy.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Oil and Gas. bp is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, producing and trading oil and gas on a global scale.
Company Size: 10,001+ employees. As a large corporation, bp offers extensive resources and opportunities for career growth.
Founded: 1909. With over a century of history, bp has a strong track record of innovation and adaptation in the energy industry.
Company Description:
- bp is committed to delivering energy to the world today and tomorrow, with a focus on sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.
- The company operates in over 70 countries and employs around 70,000 people worldwide.
- bp is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is one of the largest companies in the world by market capitalization.
Company Specialties:
- Upstream – Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
- Subsurface
- Wells Subsea
- Mechanical, Electrical, Process, Civil, Drilling, Completion & Intervention Engineers
- Geoscientists
- Professionals in Finance, Business Development, and Procurement
- Communications etc.
Company Website: bp.com
ASSUMPTION: As a large, multinational corporation, bp offers a diverse range of opportunities and a global presence, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior Management. This role is a senior leadership position within the Retail Group at bp.
Reporting Structure: The Head of Brand reports directly to the Retail Group leadership team and works closely with internal partners, such as marketing, strategy, operations, and assets.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid. This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with a mix of office and remote work.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to more senior roles within the Retail Group or other business units at bp.
- Expansion of responsibilities to include additional markets or categories.
- Development of leadership and management skills through coaching and mentoring opportunities.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within a large, multinational corporation.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid. The Milton Keynes office is one of several bp locations worldwide, offering a mix of on-site and remote working options.
Office Location(s): Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
Geographic Context:
- Milton Keynes is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England, with a population of around 230,000 people.
- The town is located approximately 56 kilometers northwest of London and is well-connected by road and rail.
- Milton Keynes is known for its modern architecture, extensive parkland, and thriving cultural scene.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with some flexibility for hybrid working arrangements.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid working arrangement offers a balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility, allowing employees to optimize their productivity and work-life balance.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission.
- Phone or video screening to assess cultural fit and basic qualifications.
- In-depth interviews with hiring managers and/or team members to discuss the role, responsibilities, and fit with the company.
- Background checks and reference checks for final candidates.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Commercial acumen and strategic thinking.
- Leadership and team management skills.
- Stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Analytical thinking and data interpretation skills.
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant experience working with branded suppliers and driving growth in FMCG environments.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your fit with the required skills and qualifications for this role.
- Prepare examples of your achievements in driving growth, optimizing commercial terms, and managing teams.
ATS Keywords: Branded, FMCG, Commercial, Trading, Category Management, Supplier Management, Leadership, Strategy, Growth, Margin, Data Analytics, Customer Insights, Team Development.
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's commercial acumen, leadership skills, and cultural fit within the Retail Group at bp.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Excel).
- Project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Asana, Trello).
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are standard for a senior leadership position within a large corporation, with a focus on data analysis and project management.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Safety: Always prioritizing safety and well-being.
- Respect: Valuing diversity and inclusion, and treating everyone with dignity and respect.
- Excellence: Striving for high performance and continuous improvement.
- Courage: Encouraging creativity, challenging the status quo, and taking calculated risks.
- One Team: Working together collaboratively and supporting each other's success.
Work Style:
- Collaborative: Working closely with internal partners and stakeholders to drive growth and optimize commercial terms.
- Data-driven: Using data analytics and customer insights to inform decision-making and strategy.
- Adaptable: Embracing change and responding to evolving market trends and customer demands.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with bp's company values, particularly in the context of this role?
- How comfortable are you working in a hybrid environment, balancing on-site collaboration and remote flexibility?
- How do your personal work style and leadership approach fit with the requirements of this role and the broader Retail Group at bp?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should assess their fit with bp's company values and work style, as well as their comfort with a hybrid working arrangement, to ensure a successful transition into the role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple stakeholders and competing priorities in a large, multinational corporation.
- Balancing short-term commercial targets with long-term strategic goals and sustainability objectives.
- Adapting to evolving market trends and customer demands in the FMCG and retail sectors.
- Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with branded suppliers, while also driving growth and optimizing commercial terms.
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth within a large, multinational corporation, requiring strong leadership, commercial acumen, and adaptability.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role differs from other branded buying or category management positions in its focus on driving growth and optimizing commercial terms with branded suppliers, rather than managing day-to-day category performance.
- In the context of the broader oil and gas industry, this role is unique in its focus on the retail and convenience sectors, rather than upstream or downstream operations.
- Career progression in this role could lead to senior leadership positions within the Retail Group or other business units at bp, with potential opportunities for expansion into additional markets or categories.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of strategic, commercial, and leadership responsibilities, with opportunities for career growth and development within a large, multinational corporation.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and implementing a new pricing strategy to maximize sales and margin for a specific branded category, based on data analytics and customer insights.
- Negotiating and optimizing commercial terms with a key branded supplier to drive growth and improve profitability for a specific product range.
- Leading a team project to identify and capitalize on new growth opportunities in the convenience retail sector, such as Delivered Convenience, Franchising, or Sustainability initiatives.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, commercial, and leadership aspects of the Head of Brand role, with a focus on driving growth and optimizing commercial terms with branded suppliers.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader Retail Group strategy, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
- What is the structure and composition of the branded buying team, and how does this role support their development and growth?
- How does bp support work-life balance and employee well-being, particularly in a hybrid working arrangement?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured and evaluated?
- How does bp approach sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint, and what role does this role play in supporting those objectives?
ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to assess the candidate's understanding of the role, the company, and the broader industry, as well as their fit with the required skills and qualifications.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the following link: Apply Now
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience working with branded suppliers and driving growth in FMCG environments.
- Prepare examples of your achievements in driving growth, optimizing commercial terms, and managing teams.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications for the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
