Category Brand Manager

MacGregor Black; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consumer manufacturing firm in the UK is seeking a dynamic Category Brand Manager to bridge marketing creativity with commercial reality. In this role, you will drive brand growth through strategic insights and execution across two world-class brands. Ideal candidates should have FMCG marketing experience and a track record in brand management and category insights. The position offers a competitive salary of £50k plus benefits.

Qualifications

• Experienced FMCG marketer or category manager from a food or beverage background.
• Proven experience in brand management and category insights.
• Commercially astute with analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual brand plans to drive awareness and sales.
• Manage campaign planning and digital activation.
• Own the NPD process from ideation to launch.
• Develop compelling customer sell-in stories.

Skills

FMCG marketing

Category management

Brand management

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Job description

Category Brand Manager

Are you able to bridge the gap between marketing creativity and commercial reality — turning consumer insight and data into actions that drive category growth?

Can you seamlessly collaborate across brand, marketing, NPD, and insights teams — aligning strategy, innovation, and execution to deliver launches that truly resonate with consumers?

Do you have the curiosity, resilience, and ambition to take ownership of two leading brands and shape their next chapter of growth?

MacGregor Black are partnering with a global market leading consumer manufacturing business, looking for a Category Brand Manager. This is a permanent role.

We’re looking for a dynamic Category Brand Manager to join our UK and I team — a unique opportunity that blends classic brand management with hands‑on category ownership. You’ll work across two world‑class, market‑leading brands, driving brand growth through strategic insight, commercial excellence, and creative execution.

This is a role for someone who loves both big‑picture brand building and rolling up their sleeves to deliver results at shelf. You’ll shape strategy, lead innovation, and ensure our brands remain category leaders today — and into the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of annual brand plans to drive awareness, penetration, and sales.
• Manage day‑to‑day brand activity including campaign planning, agency management, social media, PR, and digital activation.
• Take full ownership of the NPD process — from ideation, business case development, and consumer testing through to production and launch.
• Brief and manage creative, media, and shopper agencies to deliver best‑in‑class brand communication.
• Use category insights, shopper data, and market trends to identify growth opportunities and shape strategic direction.
• Build strong relationships with key retailers — leading category reviews, presenting insights, and influencing range and merchandising decisions.
• Partner with sales and commercial teams to develop compelling customer sell‑in stories and promotional strategies.
• Track performance across key metrics and recommend data‑driven actions to optimise brand and category performance.
• Collaborate with supply chain, finance, and operations teams to ensure commercial viability and seamless execution of NPDs and promotions.
• Act as the voice of the consumer and the category across the business, championing insight‑led decision making.
• Support the Head of Marketing and senior leadership with strategic recommendations and business cases.

What We're Looking For

• You’re an experienced FMCG marketer or category manager, ideally from a food or beverage manufacturing background.
• You have proven experience in brand management, category insights, or shopper marketing — ideally with exposure to both.
• You’re highly analytical, commercially astute, and confident translating data into actionable growth strategies.
• You’re equally comfortable discussing P&L drivers as you are briefing a creative agency.
• You thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment where you can make a real, tangible impact.
• You’re a natural relationship builder — both internally and with retail partners.

Salary - £50k plus benefits

If you want more information, please contact Alice Redmond.