Overview
Own the category. Shape the shelf. Influence two of Europe’s most important retail markets. At WaterWipes, category isn’t a support function — it’s a growth driver. We’re hiring a Category Development Manager to take end‑to‑end ownership of category performance across the UK and France, working directly with retail buyers, range & space planners, and internal commercial teams to grow the total category not just the brand. This is a hands‑on, specialist category role for someone who lives and breathes in‑store execution, insight‑led selling and retailer partnership.
The Opportunity This role has been created as part of the next phase of our commercial evolution.
We’ve Made Strong Progress With Major UK Retailers In Recent Years. Now We’re Looking For a Category Expert Who Can
Take a clear global category vision, regionalise it intelligently, and land it brilliantly in store across the UK and France.
You’ll spend 70% UK / 30% France, acting as a trusted category partner to retailers and a commercial thought‑leader internally.
What You’ll Be Accountable For
This is not a strategy‑only role. You will own execution.
- Lead category vision and strategy for UK & France
- Translate insight into 5P execution (Presence, Placement, Pricing, Promotion, POP)
- Build and land planograms and range reviews
- Work directly with buyers, range & space planners and category teams
- Drive rate of sale, weighted distribution and shelf productivity
- Use data (Nielsen / IRI / POS / retailer data) to create compelling category stories
- Partner with Sales, Insights, Shopper Marketing and Commercial teams
- Support Amazon and eCommerce category execution where relevant
You’ll be measured on real outcomes — distribution, ROS, shelf presence and category growth.
Who This Role Is For
We’re looking for a true Category specialist — someone who has done this job before and wants more scope, more ownership and more impact.
You Must Have
- Solid FMCG experience in Category Management / Category Development
- Hands‑on experience with:
- Planograms
- Range reviews
- In‑store execution
- Direct retailer exposure (buyers, category planners, space teams)
- Strong commercial and analytical capability
- English (non‑negotiable), French fluency (Would set you apart)
You Are Likely Coming From
- A Category Development / Category Manager role
- A Customer Category or Shopper & Category role
- A specialist category team within FMCG (not Brand, not pure Sales)
Category background could be baby, personal care, health, wellness, or other FMCG categories — depth of category craft matters more than product type.
What Will Make You Successful Here
You’ll thrive if you:
- Love being close to the shelf and the customer
- Are confident influencing without authority
- Enjoy balancing data, insight and pragmatism
- Are commercially curious and outcome‑driven
- Can flex between UK and French retail dynamics
- Prefer ownership over hierarchy
This role will not suit someone looking for a desk‑based strategy role or a step away from execution.
Why Join WaterWipes
- Own a category across two major European markets
- Work on a premium, purpose‑led brand with strong momentum
- Be visible, trusted and listened to at senior levels
- Operate in a business that values insight over noise
- Have real autonomy to shape how the category wins in store
Location
- UK‑based (flexible on exact location)
- Regular travel across the UK and to France
- French fluency is desirable
Interested? If you’re a Category Development Manager who wants broader scope, deeper ownership and the chance to shape category performance across two markets — we’d love to hear from you.
Apply directly
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