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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: Join a collaborative culture that values talent development and strategic thinking.
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 Stockport 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 Stockport
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Knowing their market position and challenges will help you stand out as a strategic thinker.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role, especially in category management and grocery. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Controller - Grocery - Global FMCG Drinks in Stockport
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 grocery expertise. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your strategic thinking and leadership skills. Tell us why you’re passionate about the soft drinks category and how you can drive growth for our brand.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; highlight your achievements! Use specific examples that demonstrate your impact in previous roles, especially in driving category growth or managing teams. We love numbers and results!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Let’s get started on this journey together!
How to prepare for a job interview at New Chapter Consulting
✨Know Your Category Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends in the soft drinks category. Understand key metrics, market shifts, and consumer preferences. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how you can drive category growth and influence strategic decisions.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led and developed teams in the past. Highlight your coaching style and how you've built talent pipelines. This role requires strong people leadership, so be ready to discuss your approach to nurturing talent and fostering a high-performing team.
✨Build Relationships Before the Interview
If possible, connect with current or former employees of the company on LinkedIn. Understanding their experiences can give you valuable insights into the company culture and expectations. Plus, it shows your proactive approach to building relationships, which is crucial for this role.
✨Prepare Insight-Led Selling Stories
Think about how you can use data and insights to craft compelling selling stories. Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've influenced category strategy or driven innovation based on shopper insights. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to make data-driven decisions.
