At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category insights and support growth targets in a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Hero UKI, known for beloved brands like Deliciously Ella and Organix.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a purpose-driven company focused on good food.
- Qualifications: Experience with sales data and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About Hero UKI
You probably know us best through our beloved brands: Deliciously Ella for our range of plant-based food products and delicious recipes; Organix for our tasty toddler snacking range; and Goodies for fun pre-schooler snacks. This is a unique opportunity to lead the Sales agenda and make a visible impact in a leading company that prioritises growth, high performance and building strong, purpose-led brands. We’re proud of our strong heritage of using business as a force for good in the UK food landscape – building brands that connect deeply with consumers; leading our categories in key retail partners; and offering delicious, better-for-you snacking options to all age groups.
You’ll find our offices in the heart of London and in sunny Bournemouth. We’ve been named a Great Place to Work, and we’re seriously proud of the positive culture and business we’ve built together. We’re part of the Hero Group, a global family of brands united by a shared mission ‘to delight consumers through honest goodness in every bite’.
About Hero Group
Hero is a global food company, founded in 1886 in Switzerland, specialising in branded nutritional products across the Growing Up and Adult categories. With a portfolio of trusted brands like Corny, Semper, Goodies, Beech‑Nut, Organix, and Deliciously Ella, Hero delivers high-quality, great-tasting food rooted in natural goodness. With 4,000 team members worldwide, the company is driven by strong values, high performance, and a commitment to doing the right thing - always, without compromise.
Our Values
- Create Wow – We go beyond expectations and strive to make a meaningful impact
- Everyone Hero – Every individual matters and every contribution counts
- Nourish Others – We support, inspire, and help each other grow
- Take Responsibility – We own our actions and outcomes, individually and as a team
About The Role
This role will be a 12-month Fixed term maternity cover and will provide dedicated category & insights support to fulfil team demands and help deliver company growth targets. Further strengthen the reputation of the category team and the quality of output primarily to internal stakeholders. Providing value‑adding category expertise, encouraging curiosity and inspiring us with new ways‑of‑working as we navigate through an ambitious period for the company. Also, where necessary, stepping in to present 'some' customer‑facing category recommendations to retailers, supporting the wider team across both offices to help achieve, both, sales & category initiatives for all 3 of our brands.
Create capacity within the wider team by taking ownership of our regular reports and analyses. Update the business on our progress in key areas, enabling colleagues to focus on category priorities in baby and snacking. Act as a central point for internal business questions, turning data into clear “so what” recommendations that improve decision‑making across the business.
The Team
You’ll join a high-performing category team at the heart of our commercial function, working across our London and Bournemouth offices. This team plays a critical role in driving category strategy and long-term growth, partnering closely with both internal stakeholders and retail customers. You’ll work alongside experienced, knowledgeable colleagues who bring strong insight, curiosity and commercial focus—offering a collaborative environment where you can both contribute and develop.
Key Responsibilities
- Enable effective & seamless knowledge transfer and capability building across the wider category team during the period of maternity cover.
- Lead and deliver internal category insights and reporting for Hero UK&I primarily for the baby category but also in adult snacking, depending on workload capacity and the demands on the team at the time.
- Leverage our vast breadth of sales and shopper data sources to develop clear, actionable insights that shape internal category strategy and strengthen customer‑facing propositions.
- Drawing from mainstream and familiar sources of EPOS, market data and shopper research to drive our category‑thinking to the next level.
- Taking raw data to deliver meaningful insights and ultimately growth for the business.
- Liaise with our leading external agency partners, developing a regular working relationship to ensure the integrity of our data (and therefore the final output) is being maintained.
- Manage our reporting processes, embracing new technology and support with our adoption of AI to streamline manual reporting, improve our efficiency & output and create more time for value‑added insight generation.
- Take ownership of streamlining our reporting, dashboards and performance tracking to ensure consistency and accuracy – with a more unified approach across Baby & Free‑From/Snacking.
- Support ad hoc analysis and internal requests, translating data into clear recommendations.
- Analyse promotional and NPD performance to identify growth opportunities.
- Make a clear positive contribution to the wider team and culture as we navigate through an exciting and unprecedented period of change resulting from new insight sources, Government influence and up‑ageing ambitions across the UK and global organisation.
About You – Skills And Experiences
- Extensive experience with and a competent user of Dunnhumby (Tesco) sales & shopper data, with a proven track‑record of taking data‑led insight to drive actions and unlock new growth opportunities.
- Ideally you will bring an agency background with experience of supporting multiple clients, categories or brands.
- Experience of working with other leading sources of continuous data, eg: Cicana (IRI), Numerator (Kantar) and Nectar SIP.
- Strong category management and insight generation experience, ideally within grocery, FMCG or a retail customer‑facing environment.
- Confident turning shopper, market and customer data into clear recommendations for internal stakeholders and retail customers.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, share insight clearly and work collaboratively and cross‑functionally across the different commercial teams.
- Commercially curious, proactive and able to operate effectively in a fast‑moving environment with multiple priorities.
What We Offer
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
- Private Medical Insurance from day one (plus dental and optical fund)
- Life Assurance and Income Protection
- Contributory pension scheme starting with 5% employer contribution, moving to 10% with service, and access to free pension advice.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
- Access to Grocery Aid employee assistance resources.
- Massages & Reflexology when you are in our Bournemouth office
- Psycle Classes when you are in our London office
- Salary sacrificed schemes: Childcare support, Home & Tech, Bike to Work and Electric Car Schemes
- On‑site parking at our Bournemouth Office
- Hybrid Working and Flexible Bank Holidays
- Summer hours in July and August
- Office perks including team breakfasts and lunches and snacks from all our UK brands
- Learning Opportunities and Study Leave
- Free Deliciously Ella App Access for you and five friends and family
Equal Opportunity Statement
Hero UK&I is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected category under applicable laws.
Category Insights Manager (12 month Maternity Cover) in Bournemouth employer: Hero
Hero UKI is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises growth and collaboration within a high-performing category team. With offices in the heart of London and sunny Bournemouth, employees enjoy a range of benefits including private medical insurance, flexible working arrangements, and unique perks like on-site massages and access to wellness classes. The company is committed to employee development and creating a positive impact in the food industry, making it a rewarding place for those seeking meaningful employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Insights Manager (12 month Maternity Cover) in Bournemouth
✨Dive into Local Events
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We think you need these skills to ace Category Insights Manager (12 month Maternity Cover) in Bournemouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Experience with Campaigns:In marketing-communications, it’s all about showcasing your ability to create impactful campaigns. Make sure to include any relevant projects you’ve worked on in your CV, detailing your role, the strategies used, and the results achieved. We're looking for candidates who can demonstrate their creativity and analytical skills!
Tailor Your Writing Samples:For a temporary role, we want to see your versatility and adaptability in communication. Include a couple of writing samples that align with our brand voice or reflect your ability to engage various audiences. This gives us a taste of what you can bring to the team at Hero from day one!
Show Off Your Digital Savvy:Digital marketing is a big part of marketing-communications, so make sure your application reflects your understanding of social media, SEO, and content marketing. Feel free to throw in any certificates you've earned in these areas—it shows your initiative and dedication to learning the latest trends!
Express Your Enthusiasm for the Short-Term Role:In your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in this temporary position at Hero specifically. Share what you hope to learn during your time with us and how you can contribute to our ongoing projects. We're all about passion and potential, so let that shine through!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hero
✨Showcase Your Creative Portfolio
As a candidate for a temporary marketing-communications role at Hero, your portfolio will speak volumes. Bring along samples of your best work—think campaigns you've managed, social media content, and any visuals. Be ready to talk through your creative process and the impact your work had on previous projects.
✨Understand the Latest Trends
We know the marketing-communications field moves at lightning speed. Make sure you brush up on the latest trends—such as digital storytelling or the effectiveness of influencer partnerships. Being able to discuss these trends during your interview will show Hero you're not just up-to-date but also eager to innovate.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to adapt quickly and work on short timelines. Share examples from your past where you had to pivot a strategy or campaign swiftly to meet changing demands. This will reassure Hero that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Ready Your Communication Strategy
Be prepared for questions that assess your communication skills. You might get asked to pitch a marketing idea on the spot or create a quick content plan. This is your chance to shine and show how your unique perspective can solve problems for Hero, so think on your feet and don't hesitate to showcase your creativity!
