Strategic Category Lead: FMCG Growth & Shopper Insights

Strategic Category Lead: FMCG Growth & Shopper Insights

Full-Time 55000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Nestlé

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead category strategies for major retailers, driving growth and shopper insights.
  • Company: Join Nestlé Nutrition & Health, a leader in the FMCG sector.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, generous holidays, and personal development opportunities.
  • Other info: Embrace diversity and enjoy a flexible work environment with great career prospects.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on category growth while working with top retailers.
  • Qualifications: Experience in category management within FMCG and strong analytical skills.

The predicted salary is between 55000 - 55000 £ per year.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Customer Category Manager to join our Commercial Development Team (CDT) within Nestlé Nutrition & Health. This is an exciting and pivotal role where you will be directly responsible for the development, management and execution of our Customer Category Plans for Asda & Sainsbury's.

You will be responsible for developing and deploying tailored channel and category plans at a customer level, including point of purchase solutions to deliver overall category growth resulting in market share growth for Nestlé, whilst ensuring impartiality with the customer.

  • Build great external relationships by being the first port of call and a trusted source for Buying/Merchandising Teams relating to any category questions, insight and recommendations.
  • Execute Nestlé Category Strategy, personalising the Category Strategy to meet the retailer's needs and generate engagement and commitment.
  • Successfully execute the category drivers for the channel within your customer via the delivery of the point of purchase (POP) Vision, through adjacency and flow recommendations to retailers at range reviews and throughout the year.
  • Deliver best in class insight, engaging retailers with promotional insight to influence the effective use of promotions, developing and implementing best in class examples of latest online and in store executions.
  • Have a deep understanding of the role of the shopper within your customer.
  • Lead the Category agenda within the integrated commercial planning (ICP) process, ensuring our internal plans are fit for purpose for our Customers.
  • Closely monitor industry and competitor activity, to ensure our strategic commercial vision is in line with market demands in a constantly changing, competitive environment.

We are looking for an experienced category professional with the ability to always 'put the category first' ensuring we operate as a real impartial strategic partner to our customers. What's key is that we deliver value add insight that drives category growth for the long term with our customers.

To be successful you will already have significant category and commercial experience, with a demonstrable record of success in delivering in a category management role within the FMCG sector. You will be passionate, tenacious, results focused and enjoy working in a highly energetic and exciting environment. Acting as an ambassador for our Nestlé brands, you will have commercial capability and have experience of influencing across all levels internally and externally, ideally within a matrix structure. It's a given that you will know the importance of being able to flex your style whilst working in an environment that can be, at times, ambiguous.

  • Have a real analytical approach with a great data analysis and insight generation mindset.
  • Be curious to understand the changing shopper dynamics, and have an energy to translate insights into recommendations to drive category growth.
  • Ideally, have experience of creating and selling winning category plans within an FMCG environment.
  • Be adaptable, demonstrating agility to use your initiative to solve challenges rapidly and often in a creative way.
  • Understand the importance of working in a customer centric way.
  • Be courageous, we're not afraid to think differently and embrace new ideas.
  • Love of learning, understanding 'why?' and ability to share this both externally and internally in a compelling way.

For more than 155 years, our Nutrition products have been welcomed into homes around the world, and our long history has established us as the nutritional partner of choice for families and individuals. We provide a wide range of products and services across every life stage - from newborn to adult - to support lifelong health and well-being for all.

Across Nestlé, we are creating an environment where we all feel we belong, we are the best we can be, and we win together. We want people to feel they can be themselves, dare greatly and believe their best is yet to come. We will actively encourage you to gain different experiences in a wide range of roles across both Category Sales and Marketing.

At Nestlé, our values are rooted in respect and we believe that embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment allows everyone to reach their full potential and drives innovative thinking. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all gender identities, ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, parents, carers and members of the LGBT+ community. Please let us know if we can provide accommodations to ensure your full participation in the application process.

Salary: c £55,000 dependent upon experience. Some of our other fantastic benefits include:

  • Car Allowance
  • Potential, discretionary annual bonus
  • Generous pension scheme
  • 12 flexible days on top of 25-day holiday entitlement
  • 2 paid volunteering days
  • A focus on personal development and growth

Although this is a full-time permanent opportunity, please speak to us about what flexibility means to you as we are always open to discuss individual's flexible working needs.

Strategic Category Lead: FMCG Growth & Shopper Insights employer: Nestlé

Nestlé is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, encouraging employees to be their authentic selves while driving innovation. With a strong focus on personal development, employees have access to industry-leading training programmes and diverse career opportunities across various roles, ensuring they can achieve their full potential. Located in the heart of the UK, Nestlé offers competitive benefits, including a generous pension scheme, flexible working options, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, making it a rewarding place to build a meaningful career.

Nestlé

Contact Details:

Nestlé Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Strategic Category Lead: FMCG Growth & Shopper Insights

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the FMCG sector. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews by researching Nestlé’s values and recent projects. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for category management and how you can contribute to our growth. Tailor your responses to reflect our commitment to innovation and customer-centric strategies.

Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers. Focus on articulating your experience in category management and how it aligns with our goals at Nestlé. The more comfortable you are, the better you’ll perform when it counts.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team. Keep an eye on our careers page for the latest opportunities and updates!

We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Category Lead: FMCG Growth & Shopper Insights

Category Management
Customer Relationship Management
Data Analysis
Insight Generation
Promotional Strategy
FMCG Experience
Commercial Acumen

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in category management, especially within the FMCG sector. We want to see how your skills align with our needs for the Customer Category Manager role.

Showcase Your Insights:Demonstrate your analytical approach by including examples of how you've used data to drive category growth. We love candidates who can translate insights into actionable recommendations, so don’t hold back!

Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value diversity and want to know what makes you unique. Share your passion for the industry and how you can contribute to our team culture.

Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can't wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Nestlé

Know Your FMCG Inside Out

Before the interview, dive deep into the FMCG sector, especially focusing on category management. Familiarise yourself with current trends, shopper insights, and how they impact customer relationships. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.

Tailor Your Examples

Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that align with the job description. Highlight instances where you've successfully executed category plans or influenced buying teams. This will showcase your ability to deliver results and adapt strategies to meet customer needs.

Build Rapport with Interviewers

Remember, building relationships is key in this role. During the interview, engage with your interviewers by asking insightful questions about their experiences and the company culture. This not only shows your interest but also helps you assess if the company is the right fit for you.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Since the role requires a strong analytical approach, be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive category growth in the past. Bring examples of how you've translated insights into actionable recommendations, demonstrating your capability to think critically and strategically.