Product & Brand Manager - 18m FTC in Northampton

What's in it for you

At Booker, along with being a great place to work and giving you an opportunity to get on in your career, we also offer the following fantastic package of benefits:

• A Booker colleague card with 10% off purchases at Booker and double discount events up to three times a year.
• After 3 months service, a Tesco colleague discount card with 10% increasing to 15% off most purchases at Tesco for a 4 day period after every four-weekly pay day, ie. thirteen times a year. In addition to 10% off at Tesco Cafe and 20% off all F&F purchases.
• 10% off pay monthly & SIM only deals with Tesco Mobile for yourself, along with further great deals throughout the year.
• Up to 30% off car, pet and home insurance at Tesco bank. Terms and conditions apply.
• Free eye test when you spend £50 or more. You can also save 30% when you spend £50 or more on glasses, prescription sunglasses and contact lenses.
• 50% off health checks at Tesco Pharmacy.
• Exclusive access to discounted RAC breakdown cover rates.
• An exclusive deals and discounts website saving you money on everyday purchases including a cycle to work scheme.
• After 3 months service, you can join our annual Save As You Earn share scheme which allows you to buy Tesco shares in the future at a discount.
• Retirement savings plan (pension) - save up to 5% and Booker will match your contribution.
• Life Assurance - You are covered for death in service life cover of up to three times annual pay.
• Health and Wellbeing support and resources including our 24/7, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and Virtual GP for you and your family.
• A great holiday package.

About the role

Do you have a passion for product? Are you looking for an opportunity to deliver new products from inception to development and to launch? If the answer is yes then Booker could have the perfect role for you!

Booker Group are looking for a Product Development Manager (known internally as Product & Brand Manager), on an 18 month fixed term contract to support our Own Brand Projects.

In this role, you will define & deliver the proposition for your product area in line with the overarching brand plan as well as support the strategic roles and intent/category planning process to drive growth.

You'll be a custodian for our Own Brand, owning and developing, implementing and overseeing the brand guidelines, proactively assessing and driving the quality agenda of our ranges and have accountability for the end to end delivery of any new products.

There will be some flexibility to work from our other Support Centres (Watford, High Wycombe, & Eccles) as well as some limited home working. Where applicable, the role also comes with a car allowance, due to this role requiring regular travel to business locations including our test kitchen. More details about this can be discussed at interview.

You will be responsible for:

• Defining, developing & driving the proposition for your product area in line with the overarching brand plan.
• Supporting the strategic roles and intent/category planning process to drive growth.
• Being a custodian for our Own Brand, owning and developing, implementing and overseeing the brand keys and guidelines.
• Proactively assessing and driving the quality agenda of our ranges.
• Being accountable for the end to end delivery of any new products.
• Creating and supporting compelling and insight led concepts.
• Working with cross-functional teams to turn concepts into propositions across the 6P's.
• Supporting the roles and intent planning process for category building pipelines and platforms for growth.
• Visiting our supplier partners to understand their production capabilities for future opportunities.
• Keeping updated with trends in product & packaging, competitor activity & market dynamics & sharing with the team.
• Actively using the Tesco platform of Insight Out as a key data source.
• Leading the natural work teams to lead and deliver the propositions in your work area.
• Leading the product development process with my natural work team & suppliers, ensuring quality for customers and all new products have clear customer & business rationale.
• Ensuring all our products are formulated in line with our product rules, corporate initiatives & brand guidelines.
• Owning & managing the critical path and artwork process using our product development systems, effective stakeholder management and communication to ensure all products are launched on time.
• Being an advocate for Booker brands, sharing expertise and passion for product through actively participating in events and initiatives.
• Proactively seeking opportunities to elevate the customer & colleague exposure and understanding of our brands.
• Establishing clear project plans and budgets to ensure successful delivery (proactively managing risk).
• Actively leading design agencies from briefings through to delivery, developing the design strategy and always ensuring creative excellence.
• Ensuring projects follow Booker design process and milestone process.
• Managing and prioritising workflow.
• Actively assessing and actioning the quality of own brands in conjunction with the natural work team.
• Govern any changes in the packaging to be implemented by the packaging team.
• Championing diversity and inclusion ensuring everyone feels welcome at Booker.

You will need:

• Previous experience of working in the FMCG industry within Product Development.
• A true passion for products (we'd love to see it in your application too!).
• Strong data analysis to deliver a data led and informed proposition.
• A natural passion and curiosity for products evidenced by up to date knowledge of market, competitor and industry trends and activity.
• Understanding the importance of brand standards and how to apply them and drive consistency in compliance.
• The ability to effectively engage stakeholders, continually managing expectations.
• Be proactive and self-driven and able to motivate and mentor others.
• Highly organised and able to manage different priorities and workflows.
• Project management experience with focus on continuous improvement.
• The ability to manage, influence and negotiate with all levels.

About The Company

Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, 8 distribution centres, 5 Best Food Logistics sites, as well as 6 support centre locations across the UK.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we’re a place where Everyone’s Welcome.

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers; some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.

We can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles.

On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.