At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive commercial strategies and collaborate with teams to deliver impactful results.
- Company: Dynamic FMCG company focused on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and a supportive environment for personal development.
- Other info: Join a high-performing team with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make your mark in a transforming business and lead exciting projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG, strong analytical skills, and a strategic mindset.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Fixed-term contract: 12 Months. The position sits within the UK&I business unit and the category function. You’ll be working in a high performing, ambitious team – alongside peers always striving to deliver the best for consumers, the brand, and the business – reporting into the Commercial Category Controller. It’s a role for someone who wants the opportunity to make their mark in a transforming business, who wants to be accountable for delivering the plans in collaboration with the wider team.
The Commercial Category Manager is responsible for creation and execution of the commercial strategy across retail accounts - ensuring profitable delivery of the budget while delivering to retailer needs.
What You’ll Do
- Profitable Delivery of the AOP through sales: As part of the Commercial Category team ensure delivery of the current year plan through key forums, including:
- Ownership of commercial category inputs into pre-demand meeting ahead of demand review and sign off.
- Management of category risks and opportunities - ensuring up to date, evaluated and aligned with category strategy ahead of Category performance reviews. Manage and track subsequent implementation.
- Coordination of monthly NAM meetings to ensure engagement and communication of category strategy and assumptions.
- Management of weekly volume calls to understand in month performance drivers and work with sales teams to evaluate options to address.
- Delivery of the bottom-up operating plan: Work with the sales teams on the category bottom-up planning process from customer segmentation and customer surgeries through to signing off plans compatible with the business strategy and AOP.
- Leadership of promotional activation through customers and channels. Ensure compliance with promotional guidelines issued from the category and working in partnership with sales recommend changes where improvement could be made to deliver business unit KPI’s.
- Delivery of Commercial Effectiveness Plans: Lead delivery of the CE agenda - recommendations on promotional strategy and guidelines for the category, detailed ongoing evaluation of impact on category and commercial metrics to ensure continuous improvement.
- Convert Brand & Category Opportunities into selling stories: Working closely with Marketing and Category Development, build the commercial plan for NPD – assumptions on cost price, margin and distribution targets by customer and channel and engage the sales teams in executional delivery of the plan.
- Set out external customer rationale for promotional strategies based on insight.
- Inspire and engage others: Engage and inspire category NAMs and wider Category & Customer teams in delivery of all elements of the plan. Contributor to the direction of the overall Commercial Category Planning and broader sales team function.
What You’ll Need
- Experience in a FMCG commercial environment preferred.
- A highly numerate and strategic thinker with the ability to analyse market, category and financial data to identify key trends and recommend creative solutions.
- Proven track record of problem solving as an owner, taking on entrepreneurial challenges and simplifying the complex.
- Strong Project Management skillset; ability to demonstrate strong influencing and stakeholder development skills.
- Effective analytical, presentation, and communication skills.
- Highly organised with good planning skills and the ability to manage cross functional category projects both within and outside of the company.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
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!
Commercial Manager - Taste Elevation employer: Kraft Heinz
Kraft Heinz in Greater Manchester is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises safety, quality, and innovation. Employees benefit from comprehensive growth opportunities, including professional development and training in cutting-edge maintenance methodologies. With a commitment to fostering a collaborative environment, Kraft Heinz ensures that every team member plays a vital role in enhancing asset reliability and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager - Taste Elevation
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Kraft Heinz. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Kraft Heinz.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Kraft Heinz.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Manager - Taste Elevation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Kraft Heinz and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kraft Heinz
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Kraft Heinz will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Kraft Heinz.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Kraft Heinz.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Kraft Heinz. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
