Category Development Manager

Lactalis Ltd.; Redhill; Vor Ort; GBP 65.000 - 75.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Lactalis UK is looking for a Category Development Manager (G7) in Redhill, Surrey. The role focuses on delivering insight-led category recommendations and executing customer-facing category plans across cheese and wider dairy categories.

Hybrid working with 2 days from home per week, reporting to Senior Category Manager, no direct reports. You will work with Commercial, Marketing, RGM & Innovation to build category stories, support range reviews and NPD, driving commercial outcomes with key

Qualifikationen

• Category development experience in UK grocery/retail
• Ability to influence through insight-led recommendations
• Strong analytical capability translating data to actions
• Understanding of shopper/category/customer dynamics
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to tell compelling internal/external narratives

Aufgaben

• Develop and deliver category strategies for selected retailers aligned to Lactalis UK’s commercial plan
• Translate market, shopper and customer insight into category, ranging and space recommendations
• Develop category knowledge across cheese and dairy categories for decision-making
• Support IBP inputs and delivery across volume, net sales and contribution targets
• Contribute to Sales Strategy & Development with insights and best practices

Kenntnisse

Category development

Influence stakeholder

Analytical ability

Written and verbal communication

Excel

PowerPoint

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Jobbeschreibung

Title:Category Development Manager (G7)

Location:Redhill, Surrey (Hybrid working - 2 days working from home per week)

Summary: Deliver insight-led category recommendations and execute customer-facing category plans across cheese & wider dairy categories; supporting the development of category strategies. Translate them into actionable range, space and in-store recommendations. Work closely with Commercial, Marketing, RGM & Innovation to build compelling category stories, support range reviews & new product launches helping to drive measurable commercial outcomes with key retail customers.

Reporting Line: Senior Category Manager

Direct Reports:None

Key Responsibilities

Category Development & Commercial Leadership

• Support the development and delivery of category strategies for selected retailers by owning defined workstreams, analysis and outputs aligned to Lactalis UK’s commercial plan.
• Translate market, shopper and customer insight into clear category, ranging and space recommendations that improve performance and support sustainable growth.
• Develop strong category knowledge across cheese and relevant dairy categories, using insight to support internal decision-making and deliver credible recommendations to customers.
• Support the category commercial agenda across range optimisation, distribution, space and NPD, partnering with RGM to inform pricing, promotion and trade investment recommendations across branded and own label portfolios.

Customer & Stakeholder Influence

• Support the customer category agenda by developing and delivering evidence-based category rationales, insights and recommendations to customer stakeholders.
• Prepare analysis and recommendations for listings, relisting & range reviews, ensuring proposals are insight-led, robust & commercially sound.
• Work cross-functionally with Commercial, Marketing, RGM & Innovation to embed category recommendations into customer plans and support delivery through the plan cycle.
• Communicate recommendations clearly through strong storytelling and insight, tailoring messages to different stakeholders and escalating risks and opportunities as needed.

Integrated Business Planning & Delivery

• Support category inputs into the Integrated Business Planning process, including demand assumptions, risks, opportunities, and scenario analysis in line with the annual budget.
• Deliver agreed category initiatives and actions that support volume, net sales and contribution targets for owned sub-categories, tracking performance and highlighting corrective actions.
• Ensure category insight and thinking inform brand planning, portfolio prioritisation and account planning processes.

Capability & Team Contribution

• Build personal capability in category management by seeking feedback, adopting best practice tools and continuously improving the quality of analysis and recommendations.
• Contribute to the Sales Strategy & Development team by sharing learnings, supporting peers and maintaining high standards in insight, data accuracy & executional delivery.

Key Performance Indicators

• Strategic delivery of Cheese Category Strategy with selected customers
• Improvement in customer perception of Lactalis as a category growth leader and trusted partner
• Delivery of volume, net sales and contribution targets for owned subcategories
• Successful delivery of NPD distribution and ranging objectives
• Quality and robustness of category inputs into the IBP process

Essential Skills, Experience & Knowledge

• Category Development experience in the UK grocery market or a similarly developed retail environment
• Ability to influence customer and internal stakeholders through insight-led, evidence-based recommendations
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate data into commercial action
• Good understanding of shopper, category and customer dynamics
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to create clear, compelling narratives internally and externally

Desirable Experience

• Experience leading category relationships with Top 5 grocery retailers or Co-op
• Working knowledge of retailer insight platforms such as Dunnhumby & Nectar

The job description is intended to reflect the broad responsibilities of the role. While not exhaustive, variations will be consistent with the seniority and expectations of a G7 position.

Please be advised that we can only accept applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK