Head of OTC (Director)

Company description:

Thornton & Ross

Job description:

STADA UK Thornton & Ross is on an exciting growth journey with more than 700 employees being fully committed to our purpose of Caring for People's Health as a Trusted Partner. Together we are shaping the future of Thornton & Ross by living our values of Integrity, Entrepreneurship, Agility and One STADA. If you want to work in an open culture where your uniqueness is valued, join our Marketing Team.

STADA UK Thornton & Ross – Head of OTC (Director)
Find out more about this role by reading the information below, then apply to be considered.
Reading | U.K. | Full-time | Permanent

Role Purpose

As Head of OTC (Director), you will be the Marketing Business Unit Lead for STADA UK's Consumer Health portfolio, taking end-to-end strategic and commercial leadership for a high-profile, multi-brand business.

This is much more than a traditional marketing leadership role. You will own the Business Unit agenda, setting the strategic direction and bringing together portfolio, brand, commercial and innovation priorities to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.

Reporting directly to the VP CHC Marketing, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our Consumer Health business in the UK — identifying new growth opportunities, strengthening our portfolio, driving innovation and ensuring we continue to win in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving consumer environment.

You will operate at the heart of the business, working closely with Sales, Finance, Supply, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Digital, E-commerce and Global teams. Your ability to bring people together, influence senior stakeholders and turn strategy into action will be critical to your success.

How You Will Make Impact:

Lead the Business and Shape the Strategy

• Act as the Business Unit Lead for the portfolio, setting the long-term strategic direction and translating ambition into clear business priorities.
• Own the full Business Unit agenda, including revenue, profit, market share, brand equity and long-term value creation.
• Shape portfolio and category strategy, making clear choices on where and how we invest across brands, channels and growth opportunities.
• Identify and size new growth opportunities across categories, channels, adjacencies and emerging business models.
• Partner closely with the VP CHC Marketing to shape UK business performance and the long-term growth agenda.

Drive Commercial Performance

• Take ownership of Business Unit commercial performance, partnering closely with Sales, E-commerce, MS&P and Supply to translate strategy into results.
• Lead the 4Ps strategy and drive portfolio and profitability optimisation.
• Establish a strong performance culture through clear KPIs, robust dashboards and fact-based decision making.
• Anticipate market dynamics, competitive shifts and changing consumer needs, ensuring the business remains agile and responsive.
• Work with Finance and cross-functional partners on forecasting, scenario planning and strategic business planning.

Build the Future Through Innovation and Growth

• Own the long-term innovation and renovation agenda, shaping a compelling pipeline in partnership with Global teams.
• Ensure innovation is rooted in consumer needs, category opportunities and clear commercial priorities.
• Lead major launches, ensuring strong cross-functional preparation and outstanding execution.
• Drive portfolio transformation through lifecycle management, brand architecture and long-term equity building.
• Champion breakthrough thinking, new business models and future-fit capabilities that will strengthen our competitive position.

Lead Through Influence and Collaboration

• Lead the Business Unit cross-functional team, creating a clear vision, strong culture and effective ways of working.
• Build trusted partnerships across Sales, E-commerce, Supply, Procurement, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Finance and Digital.
• Influence Global teams to secure resources, shape strategy and ensure UK priorities have a strong voice.
• Build and lead high-performing agency partnerships across media, creative, PR, shopper and digital.
• Create alignment around the business strategy and foster a culture where teams are empowered to deliver.

Develop People and Build Capability

• Lead, inspire and develop the marketing team, from Brand Managers through to Marketing Managers, while bringing the wider cross-functional organisation with you.
• Create a culture of high performance, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen capabilities across strategy, digital, insights, commercial acumen and leadership.
• Develop future leaders, support succession planning and play an active role in building our talent pipeline.
• Role-model STADA's values through an entrepreneurial, hands-on, positive and inclusive leadership style.

What We Are Looking For:

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded marketing leader who is ready to operate as a true Business Unit leader.

You will bring significant experience from Consumer Health, FMCG or a similarly fast-paced consumer environment, together with a track record of leading complex portfolios and cross-functional organisations.

You will be someone who can move comfortably between the strategic and the practical — setting a compelling long-term vision while staying close enough to the detail to make things happen.

You will bring:

• 10–15+ years of relevant experience in Consumer Health, FMCG or a related consumer-facing environment.
• Proven experience leading a significant portfolio and/or Business Unit, with full P&L ownership or equivalent commercial accountability.
• Strong strategic, commercial and financial acumen, with experience operating as a Marketing Business Unit Lead or equivalent.
• A track record of delivering growth across brands, categories and channels in competitive markets.
• Experience leading and influencing large, cross-functional teams, including Sales, Supply, Finance, Regulatory, Medical and other specialist functions.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence using consumer, market, digital and performance data to make decisions.
• A proven ability to shape long-term strategy, identify new growth opportunities and translate strategy into action.
• Experience leading innovation, portfolio transformation and major launches.
• Strong senior stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to navigate complex matrix and international organisations.
• Experience developing people, building high-performing teams and creating future leaders.
• A high-energy, hands-on and solution-oriented approach, with the agility to thrive in an entrepreneurial, performance-focused environment.
• Above all, you will bring an entrepreneurial mindset, commercial curiosity and the ability to inspire others around a shared ambition .

How We Care For You

At Thornton & Ross our purpose “Caring for people's health as a trusted partner” motivates us every day. And what would be a better place than starting with our own employees. Which is why we give much in return:

?? Competitive salary and annual bonus scheme.

?? Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme offering 8% employer contribution rates.

? Hybrid working – we spend three days of your choice in the office, with the remaining days working at home.

?? 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays with the potential to buy up to 5 additional days.

?? Free winter flu jab.

?? Wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme and KYAN Wellbeing – offering free coaching and counselling services for you and your family.

? Electric Car Scheme through Octopus Energy, plus free on-site EV charging.

?? Cycle to Work Scheme.

?? Enhanced Family Leave.

?? Plus, many more employee benefits & celebration events.

STADA Group values and promotes its diverse culture, regardless of gender, age, social or ethnic origin, disabilities, religion, ideology, or sexual orientation. We use the strength of our uniqueness to develop creative ideas, expand our experience and increase innovative strength. Our focus is on equal opportunities, respectful cooperation, and the promotion of an inclusive working environment. xwwtmva We are looking forward to your application and welcome applications without a pharmaceutical background.

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