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
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues 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 the company and its culture. Understand their recent campaigns and how they align with audience-first strategies. This will help you showcase your knowledge and passion during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Global Category Lead. Highlight your expertise in communications planning and your ability to drive audience-led strategies.
✨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 Global Category Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Global Category Lead. Highlight your experience in communications planning and audience-first strategies, and don’t forget to mention any relevant multi-market exposure you've had!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain how your skills align with our needs at StudySmarter. Be specific about your experience with global platforms and how you can contribute to our evolving operating model.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, focus on achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact in previous roles, especially in driving audience-led communications.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Poole & Partners
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, research the company’s audience-first approach and how it applies to their global strategy. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their communications planning excellence, especially in the Beverages and Foods categories.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples from your past experience where you've successfully translated a strategy into actionable frameworks. Highlight your ability to lead end-to-end category campaigns and how you’ve enabled local markets with clear guidance.
✨Build Relationships
Demonstrate your skills in building trusted relationships with agency partners and local market leads. Share specific instances where your emotional intelligence helped you influence stakeholders and achieve high-quality outputs.
✨Embrace Ambiguity
Be ready to discuss how you thrive in ambiguous situations. Share experiences where you shaped future-state models or contributed to evolving operating frameworks, showcasing your adaptability and strategic mindset.
