Category Development Manager - 12 month FTC - Leeds

Arla Group; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bupa healthcare

Hybrid work

Pension 6% matched

Life assurance 4x salary

Onsite gym

Staff Shop discounts

Training & development

Christmas cheese hamper

26 days holiday

Job summary

Arla Foods Leeds Head Office is seeking a Category Development Manager to turn category strategies into clear retail execution plans that unlock sustainable growth. You will build understanding of Arla’s performance, identify opportunities and translate insights into practical recommendations.

Working with Sales, Marketing, Brand and the wider Category team, you will influence decisions with compelling insights, contribute to post-launch analysis, and lead strategic projects such as channel

Qualifications

• Experience in category or commercial roles using industry data systems.
• Ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Strong commercial judgement across retailer and channel dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Develop category strategy by channel and execution toolkits.
• Identify distribution, pack-size and portfolio opportunities.
• Lead channel research, shopper segmentation and business planning input.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Brand and Category teams.
• Provide insights to influence the business planning cycle and decisions.

Skills

Category management

Shopper insights

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Tools

Kantar

Nielsen

IRI

Job description

Are you a passionate and strategic category and shopper expert with a keen eye for developing excellence in category execution plans? Do you want to be part of a growing team that will be leading the direction around how to unlock category and commercial growth? Do you thrive with high levels of autonomy and have a hunger for delivering commercial results from thorough category and shopper understanding? We are now looking for a Category Development Manager to join us at the Arla Foods Leeds Head Office.

How you will make an impact

Reporting to the Senior Category Development Manager, you will turn category strategies into clear retail execution plans that unlock sustainable category and commercial growth. As the expert for your aligned categories and projects, you will build a deep understanding of Arla’s performance, identify opportunities and risks, and translate complex shopper, channel and market insights into practical recommendations.

Working closely with Sales, Marketing, Brand and the wider Category team, you will influence decisions through compelling, commercialised insights. You will also contribute to innovation with robust category rationales and post-launch analysis, while coaching colleagues and helping the team deliver its business objectives.

You will define category strategy by channel and develop execution toolkits across range, price, promotion and placement. This includes identifying distribution, pack-size and portfolio opportunities, addressing underperformance, creating shopper-led range, fixture, space and promotional plans, and tracking long-term category performance against growth ambitions. You will lead strategic projects such as channel research, shopper segmentation and category input to the business planning cycle, while acting as a trusted business partner across Arla.

What will make you successful

You bring established experience from category or commercial roles and are confident using Kantar, Nielsen, IRI and retailer data systems. You can connect strategic thinking with excellent execution, distil multiple data sources into a clear and persuasive story, and navigate both retailer and business challenges with strong commercial judgement.

Naturally curious and passionate about shoppers and categories, you combine strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a performance mindset. You are adaptable, comfortable working with ambiguity and able to build trusted relationships at all levels. Most importantly, you are a collaborative team player who takes ownership, inspires confidence and turns insight into action.

What do we offer?

We offer a competitive salary, 26 days' holiday plus bank holidays, Bupa healthcare, hybrid and flexible working, a pension contribution matched up to 6%, and life assurance of four times your annual salary. You will also have access to our free onsite gym, discounted products in the Staff Shop, and internal and external training and development opportunities - plus our much-loved Christmas cheese hamper.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.