Category Development and Shopper Execution Manager (1 year)

Karo Healthcare; Maidenhead; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic personal-care company in Maidenhead is seeking a Category Development and Shopper Execution Manager for a 1-year maternity cover. This role requires strong analytical and strategic skills to shape category strategy and influence key retail partners. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of experience in a blue-chip environment and proven skills in category management and analysis. You'll thrive in a fast-paced setting, leading to significant impact in an international team.

Benefits

Flexible schedule

Growth opportunities

Positive work environment

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a blue-chip, fast-moving environment.
• Proven experience in category management.
• Strong understanding of category analysis and key growth drivers.
• Hands-on experience with key analytical tools.

Responsibilities

• Own and elevate category management relationships with retailers.
• Analyse data for actionable in-store improvements.
• Translate growth drivers into sales opportunities and execution tactics.
• Drive Karo distribution strategy across retailers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Category analysis

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Degree educated

Tools

Nielsen

Space Planning

Dunnhumby

Kantar

Job description

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Karo Healthcare, a dynamic and growing personal-care retail company, is all about making smart choices for everyday healthcare. With a wide-ranging portfolio across seven categories including medical products, we own and sell over 80 brands in about 90 countries. Our portfolio includes such brands as E45, Pevaryl, Lamisil, Nutravita, Decubal and many others. Our core belief in empowering people to make intelligent health decisions drives our growth strategy, blending organic expansion and M&A.
Join us at Karo Healthcare on our exciting journey. We're currently looking for a Category Development and Shopper Execution Manager for our office in Maidenhead. This role is a maternity cover for 1 year.

What's in it for you?

You'll join a fast-growing, international business where your expertise directly shapes category strategy, shopper experience and commercial impact. This is a role for someone who thrives in fast-moving environments and wants real ownership, cross-market exposure, and the chance to influence key retail partners. Expect a hands-on remit, strong visibility, and plenty of room to grow.

What you'll be doing

In this role, you'll blend category development with shopper execution to ensure the shopper sits at the heart of every decision. You'll deliver best-in-class insights, partner closely with retailers, and drive strategies that unlock sustainable growth for both Karo and our customers.

• Own and elevate the category management relationship across assigned retailers/channels, ensuring Karo is recognised for integrity, objectivity, and deep shopper understanding.
• Analyse and interpret data to recommend actionable in-store improvements that strengthen category performance.
• Identify key category growth drivers and translate them into clear sales opportunities and execution tactics.
• Drive Karo distribution across retailers - in-store and online - focusing on depth, breadth, and shelf optimisation during range reviews and throughout the year.
• Maintain an objective, insight-led perspective while clearly articulating commercial implications and recommendations.
• Partner with NAMs to design and deliver standout Shopper Execution plans across all channels - managing the full cycle from concept to in-store activation, including agency collaboration and ROI assessment.
• Build strong internal relationships, bringing external market and shopper insight into the organisation to level up ways of working.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory and compliance standards.

Requirements

Required

• Degree educated
• Minimum 3 years' experience in a blue-chip, fast-moving environment
• Proven experience in category management
• Strong understanding of category analysis and key growth drivers
• Hands-on experience with tools such as Nielsen, Space Planning, Dunnhumby, Unify, SIP, Kantar or similar

Preferred

• Experience within the Health & Beauty Care sector (not essential)
• Multichannel experience across Pharmacy, High Street and Grocery

Personal characteristics

• Highly analytical, objective and commercially aware
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to turn insight into action
• Excellent relationship builder and communicator with strong presentation skills
• Self-motivated, energetic, proactive and resilient
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-paced environments
• Effective planner with a positive, delivery-focused mindset
• Aligned with Karo values: Challenge, Act, Connect, Care

Benefits

• Opportunity to create, grow, and encourage
• Apart from a competitive salary pack, there are lots of growth opportunities to meet your personal ambitions
• Flexible schedule, hybrid model with the primary work place in the office, and life-work balance
• Responsibility for exciting and challenging projects that have a direct, visible impact on our customers and the industry
• Very positive work environment in a dynamic, international, and motivated team
• Start-up spirit while being a part of the large international organization with strong values

Karo Healthcare has a Diverse & Inclusive environment. We are looking for qualified candidates irrespective of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion, national origin, disability or age.