Category Lead

Blue Light Card Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Moments that Matter day

Bonus scheme

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

Hybrid working

EV charging

Free parking onsite

Job summary

Blue Light Card is seeking a Category Lead to own the commercial performance of the Experiences category, shaping strategy and driving delivery through partner relationships and a small team.

You will lead top-tier opportunities, negotiate with key partners, and coordinate cross-functional projects to deliver meaningful change while maintaining a focus on member value and commercial outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in partnership or account management with a track record of delivering commercial results.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing a team, with the ability to build a high-performing culture.
• Strong commercial judgement for structuring deals and negotiating outcomes.
• High data literacy to translate metrics/insights into delivery plans.
• Experience contributing to cross-functional projects and influencing multiple teams.
• Strategic mindset across a broad category with market awareness.
• Excellent senior stakeholder management skills, internally and externally.

Responsibilities

• Own the commercial performance of the Experiences category, including member savings, revenue, and retail media targets.
• Execute and adapt the category strategy using data and market insight to identify growth opportunities.
• Lead and develop a small team, coaching strategic thinking and accountability.
• Own top-tier new business opportunities, leading deals from identification to close.
• Lead senior commercial negotiations with key partners for value and performance.
• Oversee delivery across trading moments and seasonal campaigns with cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead at least one cross-functional project with clear communication and shared ownership.
• Build and sustain relationships with senior partner stakeholders as a trusted strategic partner.

Skills

Partnership management

Account management

Team leadership

Commercial judgement

Data literacy

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Job description

The Role and the Team

The Experiences category sits at the heart of what makes Blue Light Card membership feel genuinely rewarding. Days out, attractions, live events, cinema, entertainment - these are the moments members look forward to, and the Experiences team is responsible for making those moments accessible and meaningful. As the category grows in both scale and strategic importance, this is a role for someone who wants to shape what that looks like in practice.

As Category Lead, you'll own the commercial performance of Experiences end-to-end - translating strategy into delivery, building and nurturing the partner relationships that matter most, and leading a team to do the same. You'll work closely with the Head of Experiences, the Blue Light Tickets team, and stakeholders across the business, sitting at the intersection of commercial rigour and cross-functional collaboration.

This is a senior role with real breadth. Alongside day-to-day category leadership, you'll personally own the most complex partner relationships and new business opportunities, and lead at least one cross-functional project that drives change beyond your immediate team.

What You'll Do

• Own the commercial performance of the Experiences category, with member savings, revenue, and retail media as your guiding metrics, and accountability for delivery against targets agreed with your Head of Department
• Execute and adapt the category strategy using data, consumer insight, and market awareness, proactively identifying growth opportunities and feeding insight back to shape broader direction
• Lead and develop a small team, coaching them to think strategically and independently, holding them accountable for their objectives and supporting their growth through regular feedback
• Take personal ownership of top-tier new business opportunities, leading deals from identification through to close and keeping senior stakeholders informed on pipeline progress
• Lead senior commercial negotiations with key Experiences partners, securing outcomes that put member value first while delivering strong performance across commission, offer quality, and media investment
• Own delivery across key trading moments and seasonal campaigns, working collaboratively across functions to ensure partners are represented strategically and plans are joined up
• Lead at least one cross-functional project, bringing together stakeholders from across the business to deliver meaningful change with clear communication and shared ownership
• Build and sustain strong relationships with senior partner stakeholders, positioning BLC as a trusted strategic partner rather than simply another affiliate channel

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience in partnership or account management within a consumer, marketplace, leisure, entertainment, or digital business, with a track record of delivering commercial results
• Demonstrated success leading and developing a team, with the ability to build a high-performing culture and coach others to grow their own strategic thinking
• Strong commercial judgement, including confidence leading complex negotiations and structuring deals that deliver sustainable, long-term value
• High data literacy, with the ability to use performance metrics and consumer insight to identify risks and opportunities and translate them into clear delivery plans
• Experience owning or contributing significantly to cross-functional projects, with the ability to influence and align stakeholders across multiple teams
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to think across a broad category, spot emerging opportunities, and respond to a fast-moving market
• Excellent senior stakeholder management skills, both internally and externally, with a collaborative and responsive approach to working across the business

Our Culture

Our mission is simple: make heroes happy. Our members are real-life heroes who keep us all safe, cared for, and thriving. It's what gets us up in the morning, what makes us want to think bigger, and create something that truly matters. By focusing on their happiness, we create amazing experiences, deliver unrivalled discounts, innovative products, and world-class service.

We don't just follow the usual path - we look for smarter, bolder ways to deliver real impact. We take ownership, move fast, and work shoulder to shoulder to build something special.

We promote hybrid working, and value in-person collaboration so encourage time in our offices - either the HQ in Leicestershire, or London, Holborn office. The frequency and office location will vary depending on the role and team. We aim to be flexible, but we aren't able to offer fully remote working.

Blue Light Card is an equal opportunities employer. We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team where different perspectives and experiences help us grow, innovate, and better reflect the communities we serve. We make recruiting decisions based on your experience and skills. In the event of a high number of applications, we'll prioritise candidates who meet both the essential and desirable criteria for the role.

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays and an additional day off for your birthday
• A Moments that Matter day - one extra day of leave each year to use for something that matters to you
• Buy and sell holiday scheme of up to 5 daysA volunteering/fundraising day - one paid day each year to give something back to the community
• Annual company bonus scheme - linked to both company and individual performance
• Your own Blue Light Card and exclusive access to thousands of discounts
• Personal growth fund of £450 per year to invest in your development
• Private Medical Insurance that includes cover for pre-existing conditions
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme via salary sacrifice, with 100% of employer NI savings reinvested into your pension
• Enhanced Maternity, Partner, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave
• Healthcare cash-back plan
• Colleague Assistance Programme - 24/7 confidential support whenever you need it
• Hybrid working and flexible hours
• EV charging and free parking onsite at HQ
• Relaxed dress code and modern office space (games area, chill-out areas, book club, free drinks and well stocked snack drawers!)
• On-site gym including free HIIT and stretch classes at HQ

#LI-Hybrid