Category Manager

NJR Recruitment; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Bonus

Pension

Hybrid working

Excellent benefits

Job summary

NJR Recruitment Ltd is partnering with a fast-growing drinks business to hire a Category Manager in Birmingham. The role leads category strategy across wholesale and impulse channels, translating market insights into compelling plans and customer presentations.

Hybrid working is offered with 3-4 days from home, in an entrepreneurial environment focused on growth and impact. You will shape category strategy, strengthen customer relationships and drive profitable growth with Sales, Trade Marketing

Qualifications

• Experience in FMCG category management or insights role.
• Strong analytical mindset with customer-focused approach.
• Proven ability to develop range reviews and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of category performance across accounts and drive growth.
• Develop range reviews and activation plans with customers.
• Build strong customer relationships with commercially relevant support.
• Monitor EPOS trends, distribution gaps, and deadlines.
• Collaborate with Sales, Trade, and Marketing on category plans.
• Ensure actions translate into measurable results.
• Compile weekly/monthly category reports.
• Analyse data using Nielsen/IRI/Kantar/EPOS.
• Evaluate promotions and optimize activity.
• Share insights to inform decisions.

Skills

Category management

FMCG experience

Customer facing

Strategic thinking

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Category Manager

FMCG

Birmingham - Hybrid Working

Competitive Salary + Car Allowance + Bonus + Excellent Benefits

Are you a Category Executive ready to take the next step, or an experienced category professional looking for greater autonomy and impact?

NJR Recruitment is working with a fast-growing drinks business with a dynamic portfolio of challenger brands. As the business continues to expand, it is looking for an ambitious Category Manager to help shape category strategy, strengthen customer relationships and drive profitable growth.

Offering hybrid working with 3-4 days from home, this is an excellent opportunity to join an entrepreneurial environment where you can take ownership, contribute ideas and see the results of your work.

The Opportunity

You will lead category strategy and activity across a portfolio of customer accounts, with a focus on the wholesale and impulse channels. Working closely with Sales, Trade Marketing and Marketing, you will translate market and shopper insights into compelling category plans, range recommendations and customer presentations.

You will act as a key category contact for customers, identifying opportunities to improve range, distribution, availability, space and visibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of category performance across your accounts, identifying opportunities to deliver incremental value and volume growth.
• Develop and present insight-led range review proposals, category recommendations and activation plans.
• Build strong customer relationships, providing commercially relevant category support.
• Monitor range review calendars, EPOS trends, distribution gaps and key customer deadlines.
• Work with Account and Trade teams to develop and deliver joint category plans.
• Ensure recommendations translate into clear actions and measurable results.
• Maintain and distribute weekly, monthly and quarterly market and category reports.
• Analyse market, shopper and customer data using sources such as Nielsen, IRI, Kantar and EPOS.
• Evaluate promotional and commercial activity, recommending improvements.
• Share actionable insights with Sales, Marketing and Trade teams to support decision-making.

About You

You will bring experience in an FMCG or grocery category or insights role, alongside the commercial awareness and communication skills to turn analysis into persuasive customer recommendations.

We are looking for:

• Experience using market and shopper data, including Nielsen, IRI, Kantar or EPOS.
• Proven experience developing range review proposals and engaging directly with customers.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn complex information into clear commercial opportunities.
• Confident presentation and influencing skills.
• High proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong planning, organisation and attention to detail.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and the confidence to work independently.

This role would suit a Category Executive looking for progression, provided you can demonstrate relevant range review and customer-facing experience.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary.
• Car allowance.
• Bonus.
• Hybrid working, with 3-4 days working from home.
• Pension and an excellent wider benefits package.
• The opportunity to help shape a growing portfolio of challenger drinks brands.
• Autonomy, responsibility and the chance to make a tangible commercial impact.