Senior Group Category Manager - Maternity Cover

Senior Group Category Manager

Job Summary:

Leads the category management function for food and beverage retail products; covering, group wide product and range management, procurement and supplier management for food and beverage, supported by TCL where applicable.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead process development, optimisation, formalisation and cross-group take-up of category management best-practice
• Work with TCLs to define centrally purchased skus and/or brands versus retail-bought products, to maximise return for the company. 
• Create best practice for ways of working with the central group procurement function and embed with within the CM team
• Manage Bistro category managers on a day to day basis, covering development, workload management etc.
• Act as primary escalation point for supplier disputes, issues and performance management; alongside the category managers
• Engender within the team maximization of retail contribution at lowest operational cost.
• Act as key liaison with account directors to deliver a compelling retail product range which meets each airline customers’ strategic and financial brief.  
• Coordinate account demands to manage workload and output quality for the category managers
• Engage with new suppliers and create strategic partnerships with key suppliers, across accounts, to maximise the benefit for the business
• Define and implement “best retail” practices and processes throughout the GRO business.
• Support Client services division in the creation and delivery of budget measures for retail ranges.
• Manage the team of Category Managers and Range managers to develop innovative products and services to drive performance to achieve all agreed targets, especially SPH and margin per head.
• Proactive management of range development and change including purchasing and product proposals to achieve budget.
• Manage the team to deliver not only the lowest cost price but also provide insight in to performance of the range, secure marketing support and ensure products/range are aligned with the customer airlines brand positioning and customer demographics, as per Client Services brief
• Support the development of specific and brand conscious airline solutions whilst optimizing return and margin.
• Ensure legal compliance and process adherence to protect the commercial interests of the business, including contract optimisation and management and A&P claiming and reporting

Qualifications

• Full driving License.

Education:

• A degree level education.

Work Experience: 

• Retail experience ideally incorporating both high street and travel retail
• With a proven track record in buying, merchandising or category management gained from working for a large retail business

Technical Skills: (Certification, Licenses and Registration)

• CIPS or CIM Qualification desirable

Language / Communication Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written English skills
• Ability to speak a foreign language is an advantage.