Category Manager

SCA is a leading global hygiene and forest products company. The Group develops and produces sustainable personal care, tissue and forest products. Sales are conducted in about 100 countries under many strong brands, including the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and regional brands, such as Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo and Vinda. As Europe’s largest private forest owner

An exciting opportunity at SCA has arisen for a Category Manager to work within the Customer Marketing Department, at our Manchester office.

The successful candidate will help deploy the category vision and identify relevant category opportunities for growth and have the tools in place to develop these appropriately for each of your assigned customers.

In this role you will deliver UK objectives across Consumer Tissue categories by improving retailer category performance and ensuring SCA deliver on our objectives.

Main Tasks

• Help deploy the category vision and identify relevant category opportunities for growth. Have the tools in place to  develop these appropriately for each of your assigned customers
• Deliver range review recommendations to assigned customers, utilising Category Management as an everyday way of working both internally and externally
• Provide data based rationale to steer and support new product development and positioning, as well as identifying greatest customer and consumer opportunities
• Secure preferred supplier status with key customers
• Provide proactive support for chosen customers strategies, advising them on what to do for the category
• Cascade out to the business monthly reports tracking the market, brands, retailer performance, causes and effects
• Interpret the data to include actionable recommendations for corrective action or optimisation versus targets

Experience and qualification requirements

• Degree education or equivalent with previous working experience in Category Management.
• Experience of IRI/ Nielsen/ Kantar databases (Retail Link & Dunhumby an advantage)
• Range review and merchandising skills an advantage
• Able to develop and deploy category strategies
• Strong data analysis skills and the ability to summarise effectively
• Excellent communication skills
• Customer focused and proactive approach to work.
• Good understanding of the retail market
• Understanding of shopper / customer insight.