Category Manager

Category Manager (BasedHeathrow - Hybrid Working: in the office 60% and WFH 40%)

Basic Salary to £55,000 plus Car Allowance £7200 and up to 18% annual bonus. PLUS Amazing Benefits!

In this role you will be

• Responsible for the development of the category partnership within grocery multiple accounts to drive their premium confectionery offering through category management tools – specifically market data analysis and insight, research analysis and insights, and ranging and merchandising
• To support in the development of the Brand as Category Experts in the premium confectionery market
• Able to work flexibly across grocery multiple accounts as required

Key Responsibilities include:

• Category analysis, insight and reporting
o Ongoing analysis and interpretation of key account level and channel level data from retailer systems (e.g. Retail link) and market data (Nielsen, Kantar, Dunnhumby, Aimia etc) to identify category opportunities.
o Tracking of customer performance vs. KPIs including risks and opportunities
o Provide Account teams with regular category/performance updates, insights and opportunities within the key account/channel.
o Provide key accounts with regular performance updates and insights to drive category growth - create a regular meeting forum for category updates
o Expand customer contact matrix and drive customer contact strategy forward to increase depth of influence
o Provide analytical support in the development of category plans and range reviews in other retailers if required
o Support the Brand internal selling 

• Managing and supporting customer category range reviews
o Build ongoing relationships with key retail contacts (commercial (buyer & buyers assistants), seasonal planners, category, marketing, merchandising)
o Identification of retailer performance gaps and opportunities through data analysis
o Use of insights from data analysis to influence range and distribution, from breadth and depth perspective, by format and affluence tier as required
o Application of Brand category management approach to influence range, space and merchandising 
o Gain confidence of buyers and other retailer contacts as category rather than sales focused resource
o Work collaboratively with sales team to drive recommendations with customers

• Implement Category Plans with customers
o Support the development of category plans with key customer
o Lead the implementation of category projects in the key customer
o Use insight and work with Customer Marketing to develop ease of shop planograms, fixturisation, POS and other in-store initiatives

• Brand merchandising strategy
o Support the merchandising strategy and vision in all customer projects.
o Work with UK Category Strategy teams to continue to maintain relevant Category Vision & Perfect Store principles for UK

What experience you’ll bring
• Previous experience in a customer facing category management role, FMCG environment
• Strong numeracy, analytical and data interpretation skills including use of Nielsen/IRI, TNS, Dunnhumby/Aimia data, and qualitative research interpretation
• Working knowledge of merchandising and planogramming systems
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills (all) – especially Excel & PowerPoint
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to build relationships and influence at all levels
• Confident, assertive with previous experience of face to face communications with retailers
• A self-starter, with drive for results and highly motivated