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- Tasks: Lead a high-performing team to drive grocery category growth and influence major retail decisions.
- Company: Global FMCG drinks brand with a focus on innovation and strategic partnerships.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership development, and the chance to shape industry strategies.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment and lead the future of soft drinks.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in category management or sales, with strong grocery experience.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to develop a best-in-class team.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
Home Based
Global FMCG Drinks brand
We are looking for an experienced Category Management Lead – Grocery to lead a high-performing team and deliver best-in-class soft drinks category management across key UK grocery customers. This role is responsible for building deep, strategic partnerships with major grocery retailers, driving category growth ahead of the market, and delivering “perfect store” execution with a strong focus on main placement.
You will operate at senior customer level, influencing Buying Managers, Heads of Merchandising and Category Directors, while shaping long-term category strategy and future-facing thought leadership.
Key Responsibilities- Lead & Coach the Grocery Category Team
- Lead, coach and develop a team of 4 Grocery Category Managers (overall team of 8)
- Build technical category expertise and coach individuals to their strengths.
- Create a strong talent pipeline for future category and commercial roles.
- Develop & Deliver Grocery Category Strategy
- Own and lead the grocery-specific category strategy in partnership with the Grocery Channel Manager.
- Develop category principles, projects and plans and deploy them across the channel.
- Drive availability and distribution agendas using store-level data and insights.
- Soft Drinks Category Expertise
- Be the soft drinks expert across core and emerging sub-categories.
- Use world-class shopper and sales insights to grow total category performance ahead of market.
- Stay ahead of market trends, regulation and industry changes (e.g. HFSS, DRS, Soft Drinks Industry Levy).
- NPD & Innovation
- Lead the delivery of the NPD pipeline within grocery.
- Use channel-specific data to influence innovation strategy.
- Ensure strong, insight-led selling stories and competitive distribution at launch.
- Senior Customer Engagement
- Build and manage multi-tier relationships across key customers, including: Buying Managers, Heads of Merchandising, Category Directors.
- Influence long-term, strategic decisions that go beyond individual sub-categories.
- Leadership Within Customer Marketing
- Be a key leader within the Customer Marketing leadership team.
- Contribute to overall commercial strategy, team culture and people development.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in category management, sales or retail.
- Strong customer-facing background.
- Grocery experience is essential.
Skills & Attributes:
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen.
- Confident senior-level influencer.
- Excellent coaching and people leadership skills.
- Highly analytical with strong insight capability.
Why This Role?
This is a high-impact leadership role with national responsibility, offering the opportunity to shape the future of the soft drinks category in one of the most competitive retail environments. You’ll work at the forefront of category strategy, influence major commercial decisions, and develop a best-in-class team.
Category Controller - Grocery - Global FMCG Drinks in Southampton employer: New Chapter Consulting
Contact Detail:
New Chapter Consulting Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Controller - Grocery - Global FMCG Drinks in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their category strategies and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth in the grocery sector.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of your past successes in category management to the table. Use data and insights to demonstrate how you've driven growth and influenced decisions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Controller - Grocery - Global FMCG Drinks in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Category Management Lead – Grocery. Highlight your experience in category management and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to drive growth and influence at a senior level.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific examples of how you've led teams or developed successful category strategies in the past.
Showcase Your Soft Drinks Expertise: Since this role focuses on soft drinks, make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have in this area. Discuss your knowledge of market trends and how you've used insights to drive category performance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at New Chapter Consulting
✨Know Your Category Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the soft drinks category. Familiarise yourself with current trends, key players, and market dynamics. This will not only show your passion but also your expertise, which is crucial for a role that demands strategic thinking and insight capability.
✨Prepare to Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team, be ready to discuss your leadership style and past experiences. Think of specific examples where you’ve successfully coached or developed team members. Highlight how you’ve built strong talent pipelines in previous roles.
✨Understand the Customer Landscape
Research the major grocery retailers you'll be working with. Understand their business models, challenges, and how they approach category management. This knowledge will help you articulate how you can build strategic partnerships and influence key decision-makers effectively.
✨Craft Insight-Led Selling Stories
Prepare to discuss how you’ve used data and insights to drive category performance. Be ready to share examples of successful NPD launches or innovative strategies you've implemented. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to deliver results in a competitive environment.
