Category Development Manager 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Category Development Manager 12 Month FTC
Blue Chip Food Manufacture
Multiple sites across the UK & Internationally
Top 4 Retailers 

Are you looking to join a global Food Manufacturing business?

• Are you good at project managing with great communication skills?
• Do you have a can-do attitude/ analytical mind set & a passion for the FMCG industry?

The customer marketing team is a focused and dedicated team with a clear ambition to be seen as the #1 category and shopper authority by our customers and a source of competitive advantage by our business. Competitive advantage for category development will come from deeply understanding consumers, customers competitors and shoppers; and objectively translating this into simple insight-based category and commercial propositions that differentiate the customer and unlock incremental volume and value.
 

The category development manager is accountable for providing category leadership and developing and executing plans that deliver category growth, in conjunction with the category controller for the channel.
 

Successful execution of the category insight will result in being the category partner of choice with our customers and translate to the optimisation of range, distribution, space, location, promotions and availability of the p portfolio in the marketplace.

Key Responsibilities:

CATEGORY VISION: Execution of the category vision into a 3-year vision of category growth for the customer(s) that identifies new ways to unlock consumption and purchase for the snacking categories. Effectively communicates and operationalise the plan with the account team(s); bringing it to life in a simple and compelling way that inspires our customers to believe in the growth potential of snacking, whilst making clear what they need to do to unlock the value and reinforcing as the #1 partner to achieve growth.

CATEGORY FUNDAMENTALS: Develop and execute differentiated strategies and tactics for focus customer(s) that maximise range, distribution, location, availability, promotions and space (macro, primary and secondary) for the category and making  the category easier and more enjoyable to shop. Objectively track and evaluate the categories and performance in the focus customer(s), identifying risks or opportunities to the portfolio and proactively communicate suggested course corrections.

INSIGHTS, ANALYSIS AND REPORTING: Effectively interpret all available industry, category, customer and shopper data turning it into actionable insights that are communicated regularly to focus customer(s) and the organisation e.g category health checks, range reviews, promotional analysis and sales fundamentals.

TRANSFORMATION/SIMPLIFICATION: Ensure that workload is prioritised and focused against the biggest opportunities for the business. Implement productivity initiatives and lead the objective evaluation of category development activity against clear business indicators in order to drive continuous improvement on return on investment and significant and quantifiable savings to the business.

BRAND CHAMPIONS: Work closely with the Business Unit and RG&P teams to ensure that there is a clear category, consumer, shopper and retailer rationale for our brands and retailer operational considerations are clearly understood and acted on in the brand planning process.

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS: Build close working relationships with key internal and external customers through developing a detailed understanding of key contacts, their strategy, goals and calendar and use this understanding to proactively identify opportunities of benefit to the categories.

 Essential Attributes
 

-Commercial experience in a blue-chip manufacturing organisation

-Expert understanding of category management principles and execution

-Including a broad numerical & analytical background

- Robust understanding and experience of the UK retail trade across all channels

- Ability to turn complex data sets into actionable insights and communicate recommendations in a clear and positive manner

-Excellent communication, presentation & influencing skills with a proven record of delivery

-Proven experience with developing and deploying 3-year category plans that deliver effective business results

-Good influencing and relationship building skills with stakeholders

-Extensive knowledge of space planning, insights tools and data sets spanning but not limited to JDA, Nielsen, Kantar, Dunnhumby, I2C, HIM!, Precima etc

-Ability to use Microsoft Office products

- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience

For further information please contact Scott Ballantine at D R Newitt for further information on 0131 226 5060