Category Manager

Job Type:  Category Manager
Location: Birmingham    
Sector/Industry: FMCG
Job reference: VAC-24092

Are you looking to work for one of the UK’s fastest growing, award winning companies? Somewhere you can work cross-functionally and collaboratively to achieve success? Somewhere where you can be part of leading innovator brand in the FMCG market? If that interests you, please read on!

The company:
Based in the Midlands, my branded FMCG client is well known in their field and going through an exciting period of growth. They are seeking exceptional individuals to join their entrepreneurial team and develop the Category’s vision and strategy for long term success.
 
The role:
 
●     To lead and work directly with the sales team to develop category influence though:
o      The development of the category vision & strategy into customer specific plans
o      The development and management of ‘best in class’ category partnerships, growing the category & share of space & sales.
o      The development of strong business relationships with contacts across our trade customers
o      The development of ongoing category insights to deliver continuous category development in our customers; demonstrating a proactive attitude.
●     To create compelling, insight led category sells to our customers independently
●     To support the sales team in the delivery of sales, distribution & brand initiative objectives.
●     To behave as an empowering leader engaging hearts and minds to deliver our brand promises
●     To act as the lynchpin to connect channel strategies and category strategies.
●     To review, develop and implement (in conjunction with the Category Controller) a medium to long term category strategy taking in to account the commercial goals set by the business.
 
The successful candidate:

• Working within the sales team structure the Category team’s role is to deliver compelling category insights & sells to drive incremental growth in the market within the trade customers; and to provide shopper, customer & category insight internally to enable effective planning & execution.
• To provide insight to the Marketing team to ensure plans are relevant to our customers & shoppers.
• To execute a category strategy to grow both the category, and share within it.
• To extend our horizon of ‘future thinking’ beyond the current year in range, display & shopper facing communications.  

Experience Required:

• Candidates will demonstrate a good, all round understanding of category management
• Experience of technical skills such as managing / creating planograms, data management through to developing compelling, insight led category arguments
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in an FMCG company with marketing, sales promotion and sales management experience. Broad experience of field and head office account management covering all sectors of the FMCG market
• Excellent communication and management skills
• Ability to generate and evaluate creative ideas and produce and implement a rolling activity plan
• Applicants will need strong working knowledge of Power Point, Word & Excel

To apply directly please send a copy of your CV to kathryn.p.a4lkbc5j8dca@advocate-group.aptrack.co.uk or alternatively please apply via the link below.

Whilst we will always endeavour to respond to you, due to the high levels of applications we receive this isn’t always possible. If you are not contacted within 3 working days, you have unfortunately not been shortlisted for this role.
Please note The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency & business.