Senior Category Manager - Cosmetics in Bracknell

Albert Roger Group is one of Europe’s leading Beauty & Personal Care distributors, partnering with globally recognised brands and emerging innovators to accelerate growth across 15 European markets. As our business continues to scale, we are looking for an experienced Senior Category Manager to lead commercial category strategy across a portfolio of Beauty & Cosmetic brands — driving sustainable growth across retail and ecommerce channels while leading and developing junior team members within the function.

This is a highly commercial role suited to someone who thrives in fast-paced retail environments, understands the complexity of multi-market category management, and is passionate about delivering exceptional execution across every customer touchpoint.

The Opportunity

As Senior Category Manager, you will take ownership of category strategy, retailer activation, assortment planning, pricing, and commercial execution across key European markets. Acting as a critical link between brand partners, retailers, and internal teams, you will help shape how leading beauty brands grow, scale, and win within increasingly competitive retail environments.

You’ll work cross-functionally with Commercial, Ecommerce, Supply Chain, Data & Digital, Brand, and Trade Marketing teams to deliver category growth, strengthen retailer partnerships, and improve overall commercial performance.

This role also offers leadership responsibility, including coaching and supporting more junior members of the Category and Trade Marketing team while helping build scalable processes and best-in-class ways of working across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead category growth strategy and commercial planning across assigned Beauty & Personal Care portfolios
• Translate global brand priorities into impactful local market and retailer activation plans
• Develop and manage 12-month category, launch, and activation roadmaps
• Drive assortment strategy including SKU optimisation, launches, rationalisation, and lifecycle management
• Develop pricing strategies aligned to market conditions, retailer positioning, and profitability objectives
• Lead retailer activation plans across promotions, launches, secondary placements, and in-store visibility initiatives
• Analyse market performance, sales trends, retailer insights, and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities
• Monitor ROI and effectiveness of trade investment and activation activity
• Build strong relationships with brand partners through category reviews, customer meetings, presentations, and store visits
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Purchasing teams on forecasting, stock planning, and new product launches
• Support onboarding and integration of new brands into the European distribution network
• Coach, mentor, and support junior team members, helping elevate capability across the wider function

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a commercially minded category professional with strong leadership capability and experience operating within Beauty, Cosmetics, FMCG, or Retail environments.

You’ll likely bring:

• Significant experience within Category Management, Trade Marketing, Buying, or Commercial functions
• Proven success managing complex category portfolios across retail and ecommerce channels
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to turn data and insights into actionable growth strategies
• Experience leading retailer engagement, category reviews, and customer presentations
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Strong understanding of shopper behaviour, retail execution, and omnichannel activation
• Advanced analytical capability including Excel and PowerPoint proficiency
• Experience managing multiple brands and large SKU portfolios within fast-moving environments
• Confidence influencing both customers and senior internal stakeholders
• Leadership experience with the ability to coach and develop junior team members
• Fluent English communication skills; additional European languages are highly advantageous

Why Join Albert Roger Group?

At Albert Roger, you’ll join a business that combines entrepreneurial energy with deep expertise in beauty retail and distribution. We partner with some of the industry’s most exciting brands — helping them grow faster, smarter, and more effectively across Europe.

You’ll have the opportunity to make a visible commercial impact within a growing international business while working alongside talented teams who are passionate about beauty, innovation, and operational excellence.

Benefits

• Modern office facilities with café and free onsite gym, paddle tennis & parking
• Exposure to leading international beauty brands and European retail markets
• Genuine opportunity to influence category strategy and business growth

If you’re ready to take the next step in your category management career and play a key role in shaping the future growth of beauty brands across Europe, we’d love to hear from you.