At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic category partnerships and drive growth for Consumer Health brands.
- Company: Join STADA UK Thornton & Ross, a dynamic company in the health sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, and extensive employee benefits.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and innovation in a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on brand visibility and customer relationships.
- Qualifications: Degree in Marketing or related field; experience in FMCG preferred.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
The Senior Category Manager will join STADA UK Thornton & Ross at a time of strong momentum, portfolio expansion, and organisational transformation. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in accelerating the growth of our Consumer Health brands by driving category leadership, strengthening customer partnerships, and improving execution across in‑market activity. You will develop and lead category partnerships with key customers, drive category growth, enhance Thornton & Ross brand visibility, and increase share of distribution across channels.
How You Will Make Impact
- Build & Lead Strategic Category Partnerships
Establish and independently manage strong category relationships with key customers, ensuring regular engagement supported by objective market and competitor insights. Deliver clear, commercially focused recommendations that drive action across:- Range reviews and assortment optimisation
- Different retail and store formats
- Online and e‑commerce environments
- Trade and promotional planning
- Build Category & Shopper Insight Advantage
Create a competitive advantage for Thornton & Ross by developing best‑in‑class category and shopper insight for key customers. Shape and adapt the insight agenda to meet both customer and category needs, including loyalty card data, shopper behaviour, and purchase drivers. Develop efficient processes for regular, timely insight delivery and continuously evaluate the ROI of insight investment across customers and categories. - Define & Drive Category Performance Metrics
Define, set, and track category KPIs and performance objectives across all key customers and brands, including:- Category and brand growth vs market
- Thornton & Ross share of distribution
- In‑store and online brand visibility
- Influence Customers Through Insight‑Led Storytelling
Develop and deliver compelling category narratives that shape customer thinking around shopper needs and market opportunities. Influence key stakeholders by:- Presenting clear, insight‑led category recommendations
- Demonstrating what good looks like in‑store and online
- Building impactful visual merchandising concepts and planograms
- Translating data into engaging, actionable stories that drive change
- Drive Trade & Commercial Initiatives
Support the delivery of Thornton & Ross commercial priorities, including channel strategy and sales objectives. Work closely with Account Managers to maximise category opportunities and leverage strong customer relationships to support overall business growth.
What We Are Looking For
At STADA UK Thornton & Ross, we embrace uniqueness—recognising the value that diverse perspectives bring to our work. Our core values—entrepreneurship, integrity, agility, and one STADA—guide how we collaborate and innovate. We are looking for a candidate who aligns with these values and brings the following:
- University degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field (preferred)
- Experience in FMCG, Consumer Health, or a fast‑paced commercial environment
- Strong drive, ambition, and results‑oriented mindset
- High adaptability and ability to thrive in change
- Strong numerical and analytical capability
- Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail
- High energy, proactive approach, and eagerness to learn and develop
- Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills
How We Care For You
- Competitive salary and annual bonus scheme.
- Salary sacrifice pension scheme offering 6% employer contribution rates.
- Hybrid working – we spend three days of your choice in the office, with the remaining days working at home.
- 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays with the potential to buy up to five additional days.
- Wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme and KYAN Wellbeing – offering free coaching and counselling services for you and your family.
- Electric car scheme through Octopus Energy, plus free on‑site EV charging.
- Enhanced family leave.
- Plus many more employee benefits and celebration events.
STADA Group values and promotes its diverse culture, regardless of gender, age, social or ethnic origin, disabilities, religion, ideology, or sexual orientation. We use the strength of our uniqueness to develop creative ideas, expand our experience and increase innovative strength. Our focus is on equal opportunities, respectful cooperation, and the promotion of an inclusive working environment. We are looking forward to your application and welcome applications without a pharmaceutical background.
Senior Category Manager in Reading employer: STADA Thornton & Ross
STADA UK Thornton & Ross is an exceptional employer that champions diversity and innovation, offering a dynamic work environment in Reading. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, competitive salaries, and flexible hybrid working arrangements, we empower our team members to thrive and grow within their roles. Join us to be part of a collaborative culture that values unique perspectives and drives meaningful impact in the Consumer Health sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Category Manager in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching STADA UK Thornton & Ross and their Consumer Health brands. Know their products, values, and recent news so you can show you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've driven category growth or influenced customer decisions in past roles. Make it engaging and relevant to the Senior Category Manager position.
✨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 take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG and Consumer Health, and showcase how your skills align with our core values like entrepreneurship and agility.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how you can drive category growth for Thornton & Ross. Be sure to include specific examples of your past successes.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role requires strong numerical and analytical capabilities, make sure to highlight any relevant experience. Share examples of how you've used data to influence decisions or improve performance in previous roles.
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 don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at STADA Thornton & Ross
✨Know Your Category Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Consumer Health category. Understand current trends, key competitors, and market dynamics. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show how you can drive category growth for STADA UK Thornton & Ross.
✨Prepare Insight-Led Stories
Craft compelling narratives around shopper insights and market opportunities. Think about how you can translate data into engaging stories that influence customer decisions. This will showcase your ability to develop impactful category recommendations during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience with KPIs and performance metrics. Prepare examples of how you've used numerical data to drive category performance in previous roles. This will highlight your strong analytical capability, which is crucial for the Senior Category Manager position.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
STADA values cross-functional collaboration, so be prepared to share examples of how you've worked with different teams to achieve common goals. Highlight your communication skills and how they’ve helped you build strong relationships with customers and stakeholders.
