At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead ecommerce strategies and drive growth with top retailers in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join McCain, a global family-owned company dedicated to quality and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible holidays, a generous car allowance, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Embrace hybrid working and unlock career growth opportunities in a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fast-paced world of ecommerce and digital innovation.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years in category management or ecommerce, with strong analytical and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Position Type: Regular
Check out the role overview below. If you are confident you have got the right skills and experience, apply today.
About McCain. At McCain, we're feeding the world: from French fries to smiles, we contribute to the important role food plays in people's lives. That's why we're dedicated to ensuring our core values - Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality - shine through every day. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in more than 160 countries, and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that we can work together, along with our business and community partners, to bring sustainable growth and positive change today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
About the role. In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and interested in helping each other create good work experiences. We think about the customer and make doing business with McCain easy. This is a pivotal specialist role at the forefront of ecommerce growth. As Category Manager - Ecommerce Retail, you will shape and execute winning category strategies across key retail ecommerce channels, driving performance with insight-led plans that unlock growth. You'll own the development and delivery of category plans for Tier 1 retailers and pureplay customers, while empowering broader teams to win in Tier 2 and 3 accounts through activation playbooks, training and hands-on support. Beyond today's platforms, you'll help future-proof the business - accelerating digital growth across emerging channels such as Quick Commerce and Aggregators, and leading commercial thinking on ecommerce technology, innovation and retail media. As the ecommerce category expert, you'll partner cross-functionally to ensure plans are practical, compelling and commercially impactful. This is a highly visible, execution-driven role for someone who thrives on turning insight into action and driving growth in fast-evolving digital retail environments.
Accountabilities:
- Drive Ecommerce Category Leadership with Tier 1 Retailers: Deliver tailored, insight-led category plans that accelerate growth with priority ecommerce retailers, working in close partnership with Sales, Marketing and Category Growth teams.
- Influence and support Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with clear, data-driven recommendations that deliver against commercial objectives.
- Build trusted partnerships across customer, category and digital technology teams, acting as a go-to expert for bespoke projects and customer briefs.
- Lead test-and-learn initiatives with Tier 1 customers across evolving digital media platforms to deepen understanding of shopper journeys and improve digital media ROI.
- Build Activation Capability for Tier 2 & 3 Customers: Design and launch customer-centric activation toolkits and training that strengthen ecommerce category management capability across Tier 2 and 3 accounts.
- Create structured processes, tools and reporting to enable Retail customer and category managers to confidently execute and optimise ecommerce plans.
- Ensure all activation activity aligns to McCain's ecommerce strategy and delivers measurable value for both customers and the business.
- Own Category Strategy for Pureplay Retailers: Develop and execute bespoke category strategies for pureplay and online-first retailers, leveraging agility and deep digital insight.
- Provide best-in-class recommendations across media, assortment and execution, grounded in ecommerce analytics and shopper behaviour.
- Shape Growth in Quick Commerce and Aggregator Channels: Identify and unlock category growth opportunities across emerging Quick Commerce and Aggregator platforms.
- Build frameworks that guide resource prioritisation and commercial engagement in fast-moving, high-growth channels.
- Lead Thinking on Ecommerce Technology and Retail Media: Act as the internal authority on ecommerce innovation, including AI adoption, retail ecommerce technologies and retail media evolution.
- Assess risks and opportunities from new tools and platforms, translating insight into clear recommendations and thought leadership for the Commercial team.
Qualifications:
- 3-5 years' experience in Category Management, Ecommerce, Digital Trading or Data Analytics within FMCG/CPG or retail environments.
- A proven track record of delivering category growth, with hands-on experience executing commercial and category plans across both bricks-and-mortar and digital retail channels.
- Strong analytical capability, with confidence interpreting and applying commercial and ecommerce data from sources such as Kantar, dunnhumby, Circana (IRI/Nielsen) and relevant ecommerce data partners.
- Clear and persuasive communicator, skilled at turning complex data and trends into compelling, actionable recommendations for diverse stakeholder audiences - both verbally and visually.
- Highly collaborative and influential, with experience partnering across sales, marketing and category teams, and working directly with external retail and trading partners.
Location: Being in the office every single day is a thing of the past. Here at McCain, we champion hybrid working. This means we don't have a set expectation of exactly when you need to be in the office - however we do encourage our full-time, office-based people to connect in person with others for around half of their working time as that's the best way for us to build and maintain our connections.
The benefits of working for McCain:
- A generous Car Allowance
- An achievable yearly bonus based on personal performance.
- An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay
- Flexible holidays - where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year
- Optional health cash plan
- Cycle to work scheme
- 'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the competitiveness, resilience, and long-term development of McCain communities across the globe
- And of course, being part of a Global business there are great opportunities to shine/thrive should you wish to relocate in the future.
We have an ambitious 5-year growth plan that presents development & progression opportunities for those who seek it out.
The McCain experience. We are McCain: this statement is about our power collectively and our importance individually - your impact is a significant part of the business. Our winning culture focuses on authenticity and trust so we can always bring out the best in our people. Here, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive while being yourself. Join our team to see why we're better together.
Category Manager, Retail Ecommerce employer: McCain Foods Ltd
At McCain Foods, we pride ourselves on being a vibrant and inclusive employer that values the contributions of every team member. Located in Whittlesey, our state-of-the-art plant offers not only competitive pay and an excellent pension scheme but also unique benefits like a volunteering day off and opportunities for career progression within a global family-owned business. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to creating delicious, planet-friendly food while enjoying a supportive work culture that fosters growth and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager, Retail Ecommerce
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on 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 McCain's values and recent projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their mission and how you can contribute to their growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Category Manager in Retail Ecommerce. Highlight your analytical skills and past successes in driving category growth.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the McCain family.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager, Retail Ecommerce
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in ecommerce and category management, and show how your skills align with McCain's values and the job description.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role requires strong analytical capabilities, don’t shy away from sharing specific examples of how you've used data to drive growth in previous roles. We want to see your ability to turn insights into actionable strategies!
Be Clear and Persuasive:Your written application should reflect your communication skills. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. Remember, you’re not just applying for a job; you’re showcasing your ability to convey complex ideas simply.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly 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 the McCain family!
How to prepare for a job interview at McCain Foods Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Category Manager in Retail Ecommerce, you'll need to be comfortable with data. Brush up on your analytical skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive category growth in the past. Prepare specific examples that showcase your ability to interpret commercial and ecommerce data.
✨Understand McCain's Values
Familiarise yourself with McCain's core values: Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality. Think about how these values resonate with your own experiences and be prepared to share examples of how you embody these principles in your work.
✨Prepare Insight-Led Strategies
Since this role involves shaping winning category strategies, come prepared with ideas. Think about potential insight-led plans you could propose for Tier 1 retailers. Show them you can think big and plan ahead by presenting a few innovative strategies tailored to their business.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
This position requires strong collaboration across various teams. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully partnered with sales, marketing, and category teams in the past. Highlight your ability to influence and build trusted partnerships, as this will be key to your success at McCain.
