Junior Category Manager

Location: Hull

Reports to: Senior Commercial Manager

Salary: £ Negotiable

Hours of work: Mon-Fri, 8-4

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious person with a passion for career development within manufacturing. As a Junior Category Manager at Copernus, you will play a leading role in managing our customer relationships with major retailers. You will be in charge of all market data and presentations and be involved in a small team with other commercial management activities in a rapidly growing business – domestically and internationally! The right candidate will have the opportunity to own, direct and drive the category function as well as marketing the company through social media. This role has been created to support business growth with the full intention of career progression

Role:

• Manage specific product portfolios and categories within specified accounts, liaising regularly with the customer.
• Use and Own Kantar Market data to support the commercial team & customer
• Control and map the market category – tracking RSP’s, flavours, products in order to identify gaps and opportunities as required & make suitable recommendations on market strategy
• Assist in the Development and execution of strategic plans within the product category to drive sales and profitability.
• Support NPD teams to define briefs and communicate internally & externally
• Plan, evaluate viability and track promotional activity including special buys (products & RSP). This includes the maintenance, control, planning and distribution of a promotional calendar
• Monitor competitor activity
• Developing and maintaining relationships with vendors, clients, and other organisations
• Support & Lead as required the management of internal product launch projects & processes
• Support with any Customer-specific tenders, including coordination of internal sign-off.
• Create and maintain company presentations
• Control company website information
• Introduce and manage social media outputs & Activity

Ad hoc

• To act in accordance with the core values of the business at all times
• To undertake any other relevant duties as and when requested by management

Mandatory qualifications and experience:

• Proven experience in similar roles, ideally in Chilled Food but not a pre-requisite
• Category or Commercial management experience with UK retailers
• Experience in managing internal and external stakeholders cross-functionally
• Ability to showcase and launch new products to key stakeholders

Skills and knowledge:

• Knowledge & experience in presenting Market Data having worked with Kantar data
• Knowledge of FMCG markets and mapping / monitoring regularly
• Ability to identify market gaps and make product recommendations
• Identify trends & upcoming NPD from different markets that could be applicable to ours
• Strong negotiation and communication skills
• Proficient IT user in all packages and retail web portals
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills

Behaviours:

• Customer and Business Focus
• Making effective decisions
• Competence and Knowledge
• Leading and Motivating
• Managing and Developing
• Communicating and influencing