At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global communications planning for iconic food and beverage brands across multiple platforms.
- Company: Join a major global media network with a dynamic and innovative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to influence and lead across categories.
- Why this job: Shape audience-first strategies and make a real impact on global campaigns.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in strategic planning, with expertise in audience-led communications.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
This is a senior strategic planning role sitting at the centre of a major global media network's EMEA HQ. The Global Category Lead drives audience-first communications planning across global platforms, connecting category leadership, brand teams, agency partners, and local market leads. The remit covers both Beverages and Foods for one of the world's most recognised consumer goods brands, applying scalable frameworks and best practices across both categories. The role is evolving toward a broader multi-category leadership model, making it a pivotal moment to step in.
Purpose of the Role
- Anchor communications planning excellence at category level
- Translate global growth strategy into audience-led, channel-agnostic media frameworks
- Act as central orchestrator across strategy, activation, performance, measurement, and partner ecosystems within key programmes
- Enable markets with clear 'how to' guidance, not just high-level ambition
- Build consistency, quality, and efficiency across category planning while preserving local flexibility
Key Responsibilities
- Global Category Strategy and Planning Leadership
- Lead end-to-end category-led campaign strategies for global platforms and priority initiatives (spanning major sports sponsorships, entertainment properties, and global beverage and food campaigns), covering audience design, channel roles, communications architecture, sufficiency frameworks, personalisation models, and measurement principles
- Own the global paid media guidance embedded within brand and category playbooks
- Shape category inputs into Annual Operating Plans (AOPs), including sufficiency tiers, channel weighting, and market maturity considerations
- Ensure global strategy is deployable, with clear intent and application guidance for local markets
- Central Activation and Platform Enablement
- Partner with Global Enablement Teams to deliver central strategy and activation models for priority global platforms (e.g., major football and beverage programmes)
- Define the global strategic role of priority channels and platforms, including best practices and guardrails for local activation
- Agency and Ecosystem Leadership
- Act as primary strategic counterpart to key agency partners across the client ecosystem, including strategic and activation agencies, performance teams, and PR/specialist partners
- Build and maintain trusted senior-level relationships to enable faster alignment and higher-quality outputs
- Local Market Enablement and Knowledge Sharing
- Maintain strong relationships with anchor market and local planning leads
- Lead cross-market category learning cadences, synthesising insights to inform global optimisation and future planning
- Leadership in Evolving Operating Models
- Contribute to the evolution of the global operating model across Beverages and Foods
- Help define how category-led thinking scales across multiple categories
Skills and Experience Required
- Deep expertise in communications planning and audience-first strategy
- Proven ability to translate strategy into scalable frameworks
- Experience working across matrixed global organisations
- Confidence operating as a senior partner to category leads, brand teams, agencies, and platform partners
- High emotional intelligence and the ability to influence without direct authority
- Comfort working in ambiguity while shaping future-state models
- 7+ years' experience in a senior planning or strategy role
- Multi-market exposure; UK planning and client-handling skills essential
- Experience with digital platforms (TikTok, Meta, Google) and offline CPG/FMCG brand experience and familiarity with global platform campaigns (sports/entertainment sponsorships) desirable
Global Category Lead in London employer: Poole & Partners
As a Global Category Lead at our EMEA HQ, you will be part of a dynamic and innovative team within one of the world's most recognised consumer goods brands. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative work culture that values creativity and strategic thinking, offering extensive opportunities for professional growth and development. With a focus on audience-first communications and a commitment to excellence, this role not only allows you to shape global strategies but also empowers you to make a meaningful impact across diverse markets.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Category Lead in London
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Poole & Partners and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Poole & Partners are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Poole & Partners on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Poole & Partners. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Global Category Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Poole & Partners. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Poole & Partners:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Poole & Partners’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Poole & Partners
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Poole & Partners will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Poole & Partners, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
