Our client is a leading FMCG business with a strong presence across the UK grocery market and a portfolio of well-established brands. Operating as a category leader, the business is known for its insight-led approach, collaborative culture and ability to build high-impact retail partnerships.
They are recognised as the number one partner for objective, data-driven category insight within their core category, and continue to invest heavily in strengthening customer relationships and driving category growth.
Overview of the Role
This is a pivotal Category Manager role with ownership of a highly strategic UK grocery retail account. Acting as the lead Category Advisor, you will play a critical role in influencing customer decision-making, shaping category strategy and delivering measurable growth.
The role requires an established Category Manager who can confidently operate at a senior level with customers, particularly within range reviews and category planning. You will combine strong analytical capability with commercial acumen and storytelling to influence outcomes and deliver win-win solutions.
In addition to customer ownership, you will lead a key internal project focused on expanding seasonal opportunities across the product range, driving incremental growth and unlocking new consumption occasions.
Responsibilities
Customer & Category Leadership
- Act as the lead Category Advisor for a major grocery retailer, building strong, trusted relationships across Buying, Merchandising and Category teams.
- Influence and shape customer decisions through best-in-class category insight and strategic recommendations.
- Lead category input into range reviews, with a strong focus on delivering successful outcomes and winning space.
- Develop and execute category growth plans aligned to both customer strategy and internal objectives.
- Embed a clear category vision that identifies long- and short-term growth opportunities.
Insight & Analysis
- Analyse market, shopper and customer data to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
- Translate complex data into clear, compelling and actionable recommendations.
- Develop category reporting, scorecards and performance tracking tools.
- Leverage multiple data sources to build robust, insight-led selling stories.
Commercial & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Sales teams to deliver insight-led customer presentations and support commercial negotiations.
- Act as the voice of the customer internally, ensuring insights shape business decisions and planning cycles.
- Collaborate with Brand, Marketing and Insights teams to align category strategy with wider business objectives.
Strategic Projects
- Lead a high-profile internal project focused on expanding seasonal opportunities within the product portfolio.
- Identify new occasions, formats and activation opportunities to drive incremental category growth.
- Work cross-functionally to deliver seasonal initiatives from concept through to execution.
Capability & Influence
- Upskill internal stakeholders on category thinking, tools and insight application.
- Share best practice across the wider commercial organisation.
- Support senior stakeholders with category input into business reviews and strategic planning.
Qualifications
- Degree educated or equivalent.
- Proven experience operating at Category Manager level within FMCG.
- Strong track record of influencing UK grocery retailers, particularly within range reviews.
- Advanced analytical capability with experience using market data (e.g. Nielsen, Kantar or similar).
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate insight into action.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Advanced Excel and data manipulation capability.
- Strategic thinking and problem solving
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Ability to communicate complex data in a clear, compelling way
- High levels of drive, resilience and accountability
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