Food Category Manager

Do you want to be a valued part of the critical infrastructure that serves communities across Europe and beyond? Are you looking for a position in which you can set direction and help shape our company? If so, then you could be the newest addition to our team as a Food Category Manager.

Be part of the movement – and play your part.

About the role

This role plays a key part in driving the success of our food and beverage strategy, using data-driven insights and strong cross-functional collaboration to deliver compelling onboard experiences. The successful candidate will blend commercial awareness with a passion for customer trends, ensuring that our offerings are both innovative and operationally sound. With a focus on continuous improvement, stakeholder alignment, and commercial performance, this position provides a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact and grow within a forward-thinking organisation.

You will be responsible for:

• Developing and refining category strategies by leveraging data analysis, consumer trends, and supplier insights.
• Managing stock levels across warehouse locations to ensure operational readiness and minimise waste.
• Producing regular commercial reports, tracking margins, and providing actionable insights to improve profitability.
• Overseeing the end-to-end rollout of new menus and offerings, ensuring all relevant teams are briefed and fully equipped.
• Working closely with onboard teams to gather feedback, resolve issues, and update product specifications for continuous improvement.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and you may be required to undertake other duties requested by your Senior Managers.

About you

You bring over four years of experience in category management within the food, food service, or a closely related sector. With a strong commercial mindset and a passion for delivering great food experiences, you understand what excellence looks like—particularly in quick service restaurants and coffee shop environments. You’re highly organised, thrive when managing multiple projects, and are skilled at working across teams and agencies to drive results.

A confident communicator and natural collaborator, you can influence and lead effectively, especially when implementing change across diverse ship teams. You possess a deep understanding of food preparation standards and food safety legislation, ensuring all offerings meet high-quality and compliance benchmarks. You also bring a keen awareness of customer needs, consumer food occasions, and operational challenges—especially within fast-paced passenger ferry or hospitality settings.

Analytically minded and detail-oriented, you’re comfortable working with data to inform decisions, drive top and bottom-line growth, and support the execution of category strategies. Above all, you’re proactive, solutions-focused, and passionate about creating food and beverage experiences that delight customers.

We think the strongest teams are built on diversity and inclusivity. Contrasting opinions, varied skills and strong characters bring out the best in us all. And we cannot wait for you to join.

Working at DFDS

Join the movement and grow with us.

Be a valued member of a diverse team at DFDS and help drive change together.

While you’re with us, we want you to develop. At DFDS, we believe that development happens first and foremost through activities in the workplace. We will also offer training courses that can support you in your role, if needed.

Now about what we can give you:

• Life assurance cover
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Free ferry travel for up to 4 guests between routes.
• Full employee assistance programme including:
• Proactive financial, emotional, mental, and physical health care support.
• Huge range of retail discounts from high street and online retailers
• Cashback on health care including dental, optical, physiotherapy, prescriptions, specialist consultations and much more.
• Access to Breeze, our award-winning Wellbeing platform.
• Access to mental health first aid and opportunity to join support webinars with a focus on all areas of positive wellbeing.

Are we a match? Then what are you waiting for? Apply now.

If you think your personality, skills, experience, and desire match this role, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us your CV as soon as possible, as we’re keen to meet potential candidates on an ongoing basis.

We look forward to hearing from you.