Head of Trade Non-Food

At Metcash Food, we’re the power behind local business, proudly supplying over 1600 independently owned stores in every corner of Australia and New Zealand. With a range of trusted independent brands like IGA, Foodland and Campbells/C-Store, our stores sit at the heart of their communities, providing locals with the products and homegrown produce they love most.

About the Opportunity

We’re looking for a proven ‘Head of’ level leader to drive category performance at scale.

You’ll set the commercial agenda across range, pricing, promotions and supplier partnerships—leading a high-performing team, negotiating standout supplier outcomes, and embedding smarter ways of working across the network to keep retailers competitive.

This is a hands-on leadership role where strategy meets execution—delivering sustainable growth for retailers, the business and the communities they serve.

What you’ll do 

• Own category performance - lead category planning and execution to deliver wholesale sales, income targets and improved COGS outcomes for retailers.
• Set the commercial agenda - define and drive the strategy across range, pricing and promotions, expanding into high‑growth segments and supporting share growth.
• Build high‑impact supplier partnerships - negotiate commercial outcomes across range, price, promotion and compliance - leveraging scale, insight and strong relationships to deliver mutual value.
• Lift execution at scale - partner with Channel and State teams to embed new ways of working that improve execution consistency, shopper outcomes and retailer performance.
• Lead people and performance - develop a high‑performing team, lift execution standards and build a performance culture that accelerates network growth.

What you’ll bring

• Established track record of leadership at this level with the skills and confidence to hit the ground running and make an immediate contribution.
• Strong commercial acumen, with a deep understanding of the levers behind category P&L performance.
• Proven experience delivering category strategies that are clearly communicated, enabled and executed in dynamic retail or FMCG environments.
• A track record as a tenacious, creative negotiator who builds effective supplier partnerships.
• The ability to translate strategy into action across complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.
• A collaborative leadership style, paired with the confidence to drive change and challenge the status quo.
• Experience in trade, sourcing, category or commercial leadership, ideally within retail, wholesale or FMCG.

What’s on offer

We’re proud to offer a workplace that supports your well-being, growth, and belonging:

🏖️ Extra Leave: Enjoy a 5th week of annual leave, 2 well-being days, plus 1 volunteer day annually

📚 Career Growth: Endless learning and development opportunities

👶 Parental Leave: 12 weeks of gender-neutral paid leave for primary carers

🌈 Inclusive Culture: Bronze Employer for LGBTQ Inclusion

⚖️ Neutral Pay Gap: Gender pay gap under 5% (WGEA 2024–2025)

🧠 Mental Health: Gold accreditation by Mental Health Australia

🏡 Flexibility: Flex Ready and Family Friendly Workplace accredited, Hybrid working arrangements available!

About Us 

Join us and be part of something bigger!

Metcash is Australia’s leading wholesale distribution company, with $19.5 billion in sales (FY25) and a proud spot in the ASX Top 125.

We believe in the power of independent, family-owned businesses to shape vibrant communities. Through our food, liquor, and hardware pillars, we help retailers become the ‘Best Store in Their Town’ by providing merchandising, operational and marketing support.

We’re committed to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability — and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including First Nations. If you need support during the application process, just let us know. Your privacy and dignity are always respected.

Please note: This role is being managed directly by our internal Talent Acquisition team. We respectfully request that recruitment agencies do not submit profiles or make contact regarding this opportunity.