Customer Category Manager

Customer Category Manager
Location: Uxbridge (Hybrid)
Position: Full-time, FTC to permanent (12 months)
Reporting to: Category Strategy Manager
Job Band: Senior Professional
Pay Grade: 60
Package: £45 000 - £66 000, 13% bonus, car allowance, health insurance, dental insurance, 25 days of annual leave

The Customer Category Manager is the lead customer-facing role in enabling the Company’s ability to win in store through the delivery of customer(s) specific range, space, distribution, targets as well as opportunities to delivering cross supplier shopper category activation.
This role is the centre of the organisation playing a crucial role in the delivery of the financial performance of the business.

Key Responsibilities
External Responsibilities

• Develop independent category customer relationships in order to work towards achieving collaborative Category Business Strategies, goals and targets by focussing on shopper, retailer and category trends
• Utilise the UK Category Strategy and Point of Purchase Vision to develop and own Customer centric account specific plans
• Key influencers in range and merchandising recommendations in order to enhance visibility at the POP
• Develop a clear plan on how to unlock these opportunities, identifying and influencing what internal support is required in order to be successful.
• Expert in customer specific knowledge, through the application of several data and insight sources

Internal Responsibilities

• Be the lead on sharing Category & Shopper knowledge internally to help support the Sales & Marketing teams shape future brand and consumer strategies
• Sell in the annual plan to customers through annual Customer, Category & Brand Plan process, as well as in ongoing customer interaction
• Track and report on progress to targets
• Act as an ‘early warning radar’ through ongoing key metrics analysis/monitoring

Position Criteria

• Experience (3+ years) in Category Management and Shopper Insights
• Excellent story-telling skills, which include a clear call to action
• Self-motivated with an ability to stimulate an agenda
• Action-focused mindset with proven ability to deliver through others
• Proven ability to lead, challenge and deliver change in a matrix organisation
• Collaborates effectively across market and functional boundaries
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Strong commercial acumen