Category Development Controller - Sauces

We have an excellent opportunity available for an experienced Category Development Controller to make a difference at Kraft Heinz. The position lies within the UKI business unit based in the Shard, London. You’ll be working with some of the largest and most loved UK Heinz products – our Sauces – reporting into our Head of Category Development. You’ll be working in a high performing team, alongside peers always trying to reach the next level.

The relationship with external retailers, analysis of category performance and owning the range in some of the top 4 UK retailers will be your primary responsibilities. In brief, you will be responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining strategic relationships with UK retailers to establish Kraft Heinz as the partner of choice.
• Leading your team to develop insight-led opportunities, driven by shopper needs to be able to drive and deliver category growth.
• Ownership of the range and planograms in the trade to ensure optimum distribution and space allocation.
• Liaising with internal Category and Sales Leads to land NPD externally and effectively manage range rationalization across the trade.
• Leading the rhythm of reporting and analyses of retailer, sub-category and product performance providing recommendations to improve.
• Being the voice of the customer internally to agitate, shape and influence future business agenda.
• Bring compelling, actionable insights to influence our internal innovation pipeline and help validate innovation business cases with market data.
• Create a category growth vision plan to influence the direction of Sauces Category in next 5Y, present and collaborate with retailers to shape this view.
• Partner with UK retailers to help overcome challenges eg: new HFSS regulation.

Qualifications

Hard Skills

• Experience in category management/development (ideally 5+ years).
• Familiar with JDA, IRI, Kantar, retailer data systems eg: Dunhumby, Retail Link.
• Line management experience to coach and grow a team.
• Highly numerate and strategic thinking with the ability to analyze market, category and financial data to identify key trends and recommend creative solutions.
• Evidence of agility and use of initiative to solve challenges.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (or similar).

Professional Attributes

• Consumer and Customer Focus: You demonstrate a passion for the consumer and a genuine curiosity for the customer, thinking of innovative solutions to drive performance.
• Communication Skills: At Kraft Heinz you’ll easily be exposed to senior management, no matter your level. Therefore, it’s important you have excellent communication skills, to deal with all kinds of different stakeholders.
• Relationship building: You demonstrate a passion for people and can build strong collaborative relationships built on empathy and trust.
• Analytical: We’re a very data driven company. You know how to translate complex data into a simple solution with your analytical mindset.
• Project management skills: You’re organized and structured and know how to bring multiple projects to a successful ending within the given timeframe.
• Team player: You’re a team player, which means you’re sometimes a leader, sometimes a follower but always working towards the same common goal together with your teammates.

What we offer you

• An ambitious employer; we only want to the best for our people!
• Trainings and coaching to help develop your skills and behaviours.
• A career track like only few other companies can match.
• Flexible and hybrid working approach (3 from the office or with customers / 2 from home).
• Family-friendly and inclusive work environment.
• Competitive benefits package to support mental, physical, financial and social well-being.
• A competitive salary and excellent bonus structure (above market).
• Always room for new ideas; if you have a good idea, please let us know, and we can set it in action!

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.

Kraft Heinz is a global food company with a delicious heritage. With iconic and emerging food and beverage brands around the world, we deliver the best taste, fun and quality to every meal table we touch. We’re on a mission to disrupt not only our own business, but the global food industry. A consumer obsession and unexpected partnerships fuel our progress as we drive innovation across every part of our company. Around the world, our people are connected by a culture of ownership, agility and endless curiosity. We also believe in being good humans, who are working to improve our company, communities, and planet.

We grow our people to grow our business. We champion great people who bring ambition, curiosity, and high performance to the table as the guardians of our beloved and nostalgic brands. Good isn't good enough. We choose greatness every day by challenging the ordinary and making bold decisions. All while celebrating our wins - and our failures – as we work together to lead the future of food. Challenging the status quo takes talent. We invest in your purpose and potential by developing skills and nurturing strengths that leave a legacy on our business and a lasting impact on your career. Because great people make great companies, and we’re growing something great here at Kraft Heinz.

Everyone is welcome at our table. In fact, we thrive on learning and growing from our diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or who makes your heart sing. We want you to show up as your authentic self, excited to work with amazing colleagues to solve complex challenges and innovate in an ever-changing industry. We’re committed to:

• Hiring and growing talent from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Growing our Business Resource Groups — vibrant, celebrated communities that enhance our business through thought leadership employee engagement and professional development opportunities.
• Providing our managers and leaders high quality learning experiences to explore how to foster inclusion and belonging.