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- Tasks: Lead category management for Jack Link's in the UK & Ireland, driving growth and strategy.
- Company: Join a family-owned business known for innovative protein snacks like Jack Link's and Peperami.
- Benefits: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping the future of savory protein snacking while influencing major retailers.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in FMCG/Food, strong retail relationships, and expertise in data tools required.
- Other info: Ideal for energetic leaders who thrive in fast-paced, action-oriented settings.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
Jack Links is a family-owned and value-driven business dedicated to crafting protein-packed snacks that are loved by consumers worldwide. They have an array of brands which includes some of the fastest growing and innovating protein snack brands such as Jack Link’s, BiFi and Peperami. The business is seeking a dynamic Head of Category Management to lead the UK & Ireland division. This key appointment will oversee the integral and expanding category management function. The successful candidate will drive the continued success of Jack Link’s in the savoury protein snacking category – specifically Peperami. They will excel in an international, vibrant, and action-oriented environment, adeptly managing multiple priorities and collaborating with colleagues to achieve shared goals., To be an expert in the category and a trusted advisor to the trade, bringing the voice of the retailer, shopper, and consumer to the heart of the business ensuring we build plans that grow the category, our brands, and our retailers., * Lead the creation/re-fresh of our category vision and growth drivers and embedding the driver’s strategies and key actions both internally in marketing planning and externally with retailer’s strategy to drive category growth
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Build and deliver credible, insight led and actionable recommendations to support the growth of a ‘triple win’ – category, customer and Jack Link’s
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Develop our category relationships with strategic accounts across and take our customer relationships to the next level, being a trusted advisor for omni-channel growth
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Advise retailers through key decision-making periods, effectively influence retailers during key decision-making periods relating to range, space distribution and promotional planning
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Develop the priorities for sales and sales force (where applicable per market): perfect store, perfect shelf, optimized channel assortment and promotions guidelines
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Lead the development of consumer/shopper and category centric compelling sell-in stories in close collaboration with the marketing teams and then tailor this to core customers
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Regularly providing proactive retailer/brand/ competitor perspective on performance on periodic basis to the country business teams and the board
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Internally identifying gaps, challenges and opportunities for growth and working collaboratively with sales & marketing to input into business strategy
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Look for ways to streamline reporting to deliver clear, accessible ways to report on KPI’s
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Lead category team on approach to become thought leaders in the marketplace and the ‘chosen’ supplier of choice to work with for buyers
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Minimum 8yrs relevant experience in FMCG/Food, in retail or manufacturing companies
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Experience working and building category relationship with key retailers
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Experience of agency management and working knowledge of data tools (Nielsen/Circana, Kantar, Dunnhumby, GfK, etc)
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Energetic and enthusiastic with a ‘hands-on’ mentality
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Display a commercial mindset, with proven experience in category management
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Able to manage short term deliverables in parallel to developing long term plans
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Stakeholder management and influencing at different levels of seniority
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An analytical thinker with exceptional communication and influencing skills
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A storyteller, with a passion for converting data into actionable insight
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A relationship builder building rapport cross-functionally & externally
Head of Category Management employer: Nigel Wright Group
Contact Detail:
Nigel Wright Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Category Management
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the latest trends in the savoury protein snacking category. Understanding what drives consumer preferences and how brands like Peperami are positioned in the market will help you stand out as a knowledgeable candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the FMCG sector, especially those who have experience in category management. Building relationships with key retailers can provide you with insights and potentially valuable referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on data tools like Nielsen and Kantar. Being proficient in these tools will not only enhance your analytical skills but also demonstrate your capability to leverage data for actionable insights.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to showcase your storytelling abilities. Think about how you can convert data into compelling narratives that resonate with both internal teams and external partners, as this is crucial for influencing decision-making.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Category Management
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Company: Dive deep into Jack Link's values and mission. Familiarize yourself with their product range, especially in the savoury protein snacking category, to tailor your application to reflect your alignment with their goals.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasize your 8+ years of experience in FMCG/Food, particularly in category management. Provide specific examples of how you've successfully built relationships with key retailers and driven category growth.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Demonstrate your analytical thinking by including examples of how you've used data tools like Nielsen or Kantar to inform decision-making and strategy development in previous roles.
Craft a Compelling Narrative: Use storytelling techniques to present your experiences. Highlight how you've turned data into actionable insights and how this has positively impacted previous employers, making sure to connect these stories to Jack Link's objectives.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nigel Wright Group
✨Show Your Expertise in Category Management
Be prepared to discuss your extensive experience in FMCG and how you've successfully managed category relationships with key retailers. Highlight specific examples where your insights led to actionable recommendations that drove growth.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Since the role requires an analytical thinker, come ready to showcase how you've used data tools like Nielsen or Kantar to inform your strategies. Prepare to discuss a time when you turned data into compelling insights that influenced decision-making.
✨Emphasize Your Collaborative Approach
This position involves working closely with marketing and sales teams. Share examples of how you've effectively collaborated across departments to achieve shared goals, particularly in developing consumer-centric sell-in stories.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Scenarios
Expect questions about how you've managed relationships with various stakeholders. Be ready to discuss your approach to influencing senior-level decision-makers and how you've navigated challenges in building rapport with retailers.
