At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage category performance and develop profitable business plans in a dynamic retail environment.
- Company: Join a global energy company with a focus on convenience food and soft drinks.
- Benefits: Competitive pay rate of £400 - £435 per day for a 6-month contract.
- Other info: Work in a diverse, multicultural team with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced industry while collaborating with major UK retailers.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG Convenience Food or Soft Drink Retail is essential.
Exciting opportunity for a Category Manager - Convenience Food & Soft Drink Retail to join this global energy company for a 6 month initial contract. Pay Rate: £400 - £435 per day, PAYE/ Umbrella.
As a Non-Fuel Retail business, the Convenience Retail Team sources goods and services across a broad spectrum of own-label and consumer packaged goods across 13 product categories. The team has a core offer of products and services complemented with a food-for-now proposition. This is enhanced with a food-for-later and top-up convenience offer developed in close collaboration with major UK Retailer Alliance partners. To drive long term sustainable growth, the business is focused on developing an ever-evolving offer that satisfies the needs of a diverse customer base. Each service station must provide customers with the best mobility offer and must cater to customers with different retail shopping missions.
The Role
- Manage the Category performance and P&L against key KPI deliverables.
- Thorough analysis and understanding of the category and market dynamics - measuring the category performance and maintaining an optimal balance between the long-term view and business demands of the annual targets.
- Developing profitable category business plans and ensuring all performance levers are optimized e.g. range, merchandising, price, promotions, operational excellence etc.
- Owning the relationships and negotiation of trading terms with suppliers or alliance partners and identifying opportunities to drive efficiencies.
- Building appropriate JBPs with the supply base.
- Work collaboratively with the global category management team to unlock broader opportunities.
- Develop and implement appropriate seasonal or event driven activities to maximise incremental sales and revenue.
- Effectively manage relationships with broader stakeholders and other teams within the business to deliver against our objectives.
- Provide an agile response when required to respond to changing market and business dynamics.
The Candidate
- Experience as a Category Manager / Buyer in a FMCG Convenience Food / Soft Drink Retail environment is essential.
- Result driven mindset; able to deliver against or support delivery of stretching business targets.
- Strong commercial acumen, strong understanding of sales, margin and profitability metrics, supported with understanding of all factors that can influence performance.
- Robust analytical skills demonstrable across different tools with high attention to detail.
- A willingness to take ownership to deliver against the targets set.
- Excellent relationship management skills; able to adapt approach to different audiences or circumstances.
- Strong interpersonal skills, able to communicate, engage, influence or challenge different stakeholders where required.
- A positive attitude and an ability to work within a large, globally dispersed project team in a multi-cultural environment.
- A self-starter, a logical thinker and a quick learner, with strong initiative and excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills, able to write clearly and concisely.
Category Manager: Convenience Food & Soft Drink Retail: World Energy Co in City of London employer: Energy Jobline ZR
World Energy Co is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of the City of London. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, the company provides opportunities for professional advancement within a globally recognised brand. The collaborative culture fosters innovation and inclusivity, ensuring that every team member can contribute to meaningful projects while enjoying competitive pay and benefits.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager: Convenience Food & Soft Drink Retail: World Energy Co in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their products and market dynamics, especially in the convenience food and soft drink sector. This will help you showcase your knowledge and passion during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience as a Category Manager aligns with their needs. Highlight your analytical skills and relationship management abilities, and don’t forget to share specific examples of your past successes.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, get your application in and let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager: Convenience Food & Soft Drink Retail: World Energy Co in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG, especially in Convenience Food and Soft Drinks. We want to see how your skills match the job description, so don’t hold back!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific achievements that demonstrate your commercial acumen and analytical skills. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since the role requires strong analytical skills, make sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. We want to see your attention to detail and how you measure performance against KPIs.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at World Energy Co!
How to prepare for a job interview at Energy Jobline ZR
✨Know Your Categories
Before the interview, dive deep into the convenience food and soft drink categories. Understand current trends, key players, and market dynamics. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your analytical skills and show that you're ready to manage category performance effectively.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss how you've driven profitability in previous roles. Bring examples of how you've optimised pricing, promotions, or product ranges. This will highlight your result-driven mindset and ability to meet stretching business targets.
✨Build Relationships
Since relationship management is key for this role, think of examples where you've successfully negotiated with suppliers or collaborated with stakeholders. Be ready to explain how you adapt your communication style to different audiences, showcasing your interpersonal skills.
✨Demonstrate Agility
The role requires an agile response to changing market dynamics. Prepare to discuss a time when you had to pivot quickly in your strategy or approach. This will illustrate your ability to think on your feet and respond effectively to challenges.
