At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape category growth with major retail and online partners using market insights.
- Company: Join Highland Spring, the UK's favourite water brand committed to sustainability.
- Benefits: 12-month fixed term contract with opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on teamwork, pride, and care for the community.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a visible role while working with a passionate team.
- Qualifications: FMCG experience, strong background in category management, and data analysis skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
At Highland Spring, we’re proud to be the UK’s favourite water brand. Every drop of our natural source water is drawn from protected, organic land in the Ochil Hills, and we’re committed to caring for the land, our people, our customers and the communities around us. We’re looking for a Category Manager to join the team on a 12 month fixed term contract. This is a great opportunity to play a highly visible role in shaping category growth with major retail and online partners.
You’ll use insight to identify growth opportunities, influence customer plans, support range and merchandising decisions, and help bring Highland Spring Group’s category strategy to life across key customers.
What you’ll be doing
- Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations and Commercial Finance to turn market, shopper and customer data into clear, compelling growth opportunities.
- Lead customer-facing category management, building strong relationships and translating insight into compelling recommendations to help our customers grow their Water and Soft Drinks categories.
- Deliver actionable market, category, customer and brand insights.
- Build strong relationships with key external category contacts.
- Lead range reviews for allocated retail, online and route-to-market customers.
- Develop recommendations on merchandising, planograms and shelf layouts.
- Support the commercial delivery of NPD, including insight, rationale and selling stories.
- Partner with Sales and Brand teams to ensure plans are commercially strong and brand-aligned.
- Act as a brand guardian, ensuring all activity aligns with Highland Spring Group brand objectives and guidelines.
What we’re looking for
- FMCG experience, ideally within food or drink, who understands how to use insight to influence commercial decisions.
- A strong background in category management, shopper insight or category-led marketing, with experience of leading or supporting customer range reviews.
- Confidence working with data sources such as Nielsen, IRI/Circana, Kantar and customer-specific data, and able to turn complex information into simple, persuasive recommendations.
- Strong commercial judgement and a growth mindset.
- Excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- Confident communication and presentation skills.
- The ability to work at pace across multiple customers and priorities.
- A collaborative style, working closely with Sales and Brand teams.
- A proactive, self-starting approach with strong ownership and follow-through.
Our values
At Highland Spring Group, how we work matters. Our values are at the heart of everything we do: We’re a Team – we work together, support each other and know that everyone’s role matters. We’re Proud – we take pride in our brands, our work and making things happen. We Care – we care for each other, our customers, our environment and making sure everyone has a voice.
For this role, we’re especially interested in people who take ownership, build strong relationships, communicate with impact, solve problems thoughtfully and work collaboratively to deliver great outcomes. If you could be our next Category Manager, please apply today.
Category Manager (12 month fixed term contract) employer: Highland Spring Group
Highland Spring is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises teamwork, pride in our products, and a commitment to caring for our people and the environment. As a Category Manager, you will have the opportunity to shape category growth while collaborating with passionate colleagues in a supportive atmosphere, all within the stunning backdrop of the Ochil Hills. With a focus on employee development and meaningful contributions to both the company and the community, Highland Spring is dedicated to fostering a rewarding career path for its employees.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager (12 month fixed term contract)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand Highland Spring's mission and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you care about their brand!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be clear and confident when explaining how your skills can help drive category growth. Use specific examples from your past experiences to back up your claims.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager (12 month fixed term contract)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Category Manager. Highlight your FMCG experience and any relevant insights you've used to influence decisions. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the role and how your background aligns with our values. Show us that you care about making an impact at Highland Spring.
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role involves working with data sources like Nielsen and Kantar, make sure to mention any experience you have with these tools. We love candidates who can turn complex data into simple, persuasive recommendations!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Highland Spring Group
✨Know Your Insights
Make sure you come prepared with insights related to the FMCG sector, especially in water and soft drinks. Familiarise yourself with data sources like Nielsen and Kantar, and be ready to discuss how you've used insights to influence commercial decisions in your previous roles.
✨Build Relationships
Highlight your experience in building strong relationships with stakeholders. Think of examples where you’ve successfully collaborated with sales, marketing, or finance teams to achieve common goals. This will show that you understand the importance of teamwork in category management.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Judgement
Prepare to discuss specific instances where your commercial judgement led to successful outcomes. Be ready to explain how you identified growth opportunities and translated them into actionable recommendations for customers.
✨Communicate with Impact
Practice your communication and presentation skills before the interview. You might be asked to present a case study or a recommendation, so ensure you can convey complex information clearly and persuasively. Remember, confidence is key!
