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- Tasks: Drive growth by managing key grocery customer relationships and delivering actionable insights.
- Company: Join a leading food manufacturer in London known for career development and job satisfaction.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, car allowance, 25 days holiday, health care, and pension scheme.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team influencing major retail decisions and shaping category strategies.
- Qualifications: Minimum 3 years FMCG category management experience, strong UK grocery knowledge required.
- Other info: Ideal for motivated individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments and love data-driven insights.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Our client, a well-established and forward-thinking food manufacturer in London, is looking for an experienced Category Manager. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a company known for offering excellent career development and job satisfaction. You will play a crucial role in delivering ambitious growth targets and be instrumental in positioning the company as a category leader and strategic partner to its major grocery retail customers.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and strengthen category relationships with key UK grocery customers by acting as a trusted adviser or challenger.
- Deliver clear, data-driven, and actionable category insights to support both customer and business growth.
- Influence key retailer decisions regarding range, space, and distribution.
- Adopt a comprehensive category approach that considers both brand and retailer brand dynamics.
- Collaborate with Marketing to:
- Offer an external perspective on consumer, shopper, retailer, and competitor trends.
- Identify strategic questions, category gaps, and growth opportunities.
- Contribute to consumer/shopper-led NPD and category initiatives.
- Craft compelling sell-in stories.
- Represent the voice of the shopper internally and externally.
Candidate Profile:
You are a highly motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced, agile environment. You are passionate about turning data into insight and enjoy collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver outstanding commercial outcomes.
Required Background:
- Proven experience in FMCG category management (minimum 3 years), ideally within the UK market.
- Strong working knowledge of UK grocery retail landscape.
Key Skills & Attributes:
- Deep understanding of category management principles and commercial strategy.
- Advanced analytical thinking and interpretation of data.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Ability to simplify insights into compelling, action-oriented strategies.
- Highly organised, capable of managing multiple projects and timelines.
- Collaborative, with strong internal and external relationship-building skills.
- Skilled in using insight platforms such as Circana/Nielsen, Kantar, and Dunnhumby.
- Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
Personal Attributes:
- A proactive ‘can-do’ attitude – willing to roll up sleeves and get involved.
- Dynamic, creative, and analytically robust.
- Naturally curious, always asking “why?” and exploring beyond the data.
- Confident in expressing opinions and contributing to constructive challenge.
Benefits & Package:
- Competitive salary + car allowance
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Company sick pay
- Life assurance
- Health care
- Permanent Health Insurance
- Pension scheme
If you would like to apply for this role, please send an up to date copy of your CV to Kate Evans as soon as possible quoting reference GP292.
FMCG Category Manager employer: Planet CIC
Contact Detail:
Planet CIC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land FMCG Category Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in the UK grocery retail landscape. Understanding current market dynamics will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your expertise as a Category Manager.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the FMCG sector, especially those who have experience in category management. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to build connections that could provide insights or even referrals for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've used data to drive category growth in previous roles. Being able to articulate your analytical thinking and the impact of your strategies will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your collaborative skills by preparing examples of successful cross-functional projects you've led or contributed to. Highlighting your ability to work with marketing and other teams will resonate well with the hiring managers at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace FMCG Category Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in FMCG category management, particularly within the UK market. Emphasise your analytical skills and any relevant tools you've used, such as Circana or Nielsen.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for data-driven insights and your ability to influence retailer decisions. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams in the past.
Highlight Key Skills: In your application, clearly outline your understanding of category management principles and your advanced analytical thinking. Use bullet points to make these skills stand out.
Showcase Your Proactive Attitude: Demonstrate your proactive 'can-do' attitude in your application. Share examples of how you've taken initiative in previous roles, especially in fast-paced environments.
How to prepare for a job interview at Planet CIC
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
As a Category Manager, your ability to turn data into actionable insights is crucial. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used data to influence decisions in previous roles, particularly within the FMCG sector.
✨Understand the Retail Landscape
Demonstrate your knowledge of the UK grocery retail landscape during the interview. Familiarise yourself with current trends, key players, and challenges in the market, and be ready to discuss how these factors impact category management.
✨Prepare Compelling Sell-In Stories
Craft narratives that highlight your achievements and how they align with the company's goals. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, making them clear and impactful.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working closely with cross-functional teams, be sure to highlight your collaborative experiences. Share examples of how you've successfully built relationships and influenced stakeholders in past projects.
