Category Development Manager

Vertical Advantage; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertical Advantage is partnering with a category-leading FMCG business in Greater London to drive category value with top retailers. The role translates market data into actionable plans and builds strong relationships with external contacts.

You’ll collaborate with brand marketing, Innovation and MS&P to ensure category, consumer, shopper and retailer rationale informs planning and NPD, supporting growth and profitability across core grocery accounts.

Qualifications

• Experience in category / Category Insight within FMCG or data-led agency.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Solid understanding of category development.

Responsibilities

• Establish the category by developing and executing a long-term plan and strategy
• Work with commercial and marketing teams to support NPD initiatives per category and customer focus
• Generate key category insights by analyzing consumer behaviours and market trends
• Optimise ranges by leading Category Management projects
• Help deliver financial and strategic objectives
• Unlock category growth in the grocery channel with strategic accounts

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Greater London - Commutable from South/Central London in 30/35 mins

The Business:

We've partnered with a category-leading FMCG business working in the Food & Drink industry that owns some of the most well-known brands in the category. The company generates a turnover of well over £1 billion globally and is a business that offers loads of great benefits, an exciting culture, training, and progression opportunities.

The Role:

You will be focused on unlocking category value and growth opportunities with retailers through the translation of market data & insight into actionable plans. You will need to broaden the sphere of influence and build close relationships with key external contacts with the retail customers.

Work closely with the brand marketing, Innovation, and MS&P teams and ensure clear category, consumer, shopper, and retailer rationale for the brands and retailer considerations are operated on in the planning/innovation process.

Main Responsibilities

• Establish the category by developing and executing a long-term plan and strategy
• Work with the commercial and marketing teams to support NPD initiatives according to category and customer-centric thinking
• Generate key category insights by overlooking and analysing consumer behaviours and market trends, identifying new business opportunities
• Optimise ranges by developing and leading Category Management projects
• Help deliver financial and strategic objectives
• Unlock category growth in the grocery channel within 2 of the most strategic accounts

Key Requirements

• Experience in category / Category Insight within the FMCG sector or a strong data lead agency (e.g. Nielsen, Kantar, IRI, dunnhumby)
• Proficient skills in Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Effective interpersonal skills and a strong ability to negotiate
• Strong understanding of category development