Category Manager

TalentPool; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Group Income Protection

Pension

25 days Holiday + Bank Holidays

Sabbatical

Maternity and Paternity benefits

Job summary

TalentPool in London is seeking a Category Manager to join a fast-growing international consumer brand. You will lead category analysis, develop insights-driven recommendations and support retailer strategy. This role blends hands-on data storytelling with cross-functional collaboration across sales, marketing and innovation to drive growth.

Hybrid working with three days in the Central London office, and exposure to senior leadership in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Category Management, Category Insights or Category Development within FMCG or consumer goods.
• Strong understanding of retailer and shopper data, with experience using customer-specific data (Kantar, IRI, or Dunnhumby).
• Commercially minded with the ability to turn complex information into clear, compelling recommendations.
• Experienced in influencing internal and external stakeholders through data-led storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Lead category analysis and performance reporting across sales channels, identifying trends and opportunities.
• Develop category-led recommendations that support growth strategies and retailer partnerships.
• Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders and external partners using insight to influence decisions.
• Support key customer discussions with data-driven storytelling and category expertise.
• Build presentations, range recommendations and category reviews to shape retailer strategy.
• Manage multiple data sources ensuring insight is accurate and commercially focused.
• Partner with sales, marketing and innovation to embed category thinking across the organisation.
• Monitor competitor performance and translate findings into business recommendations.

Skills

Category Management

Data storytelling

Stakeholder influence

Retail data familiarity

Presentation skills

Tools

Kantar

IRI

Dunnhumby

Job description

Central London office | Hybrid Working with the expectation to be in the office 3 days per week

We're partnering with a international consumer brand on the appointment of a Category Manager to join their commercial team.

Acting as the category and insights expert across multiple UK channels, you'll play a pivotal role in helping the organisation better understand performance and growth opportunities through a category lens, further strengthening relationships with key retail partners.

Reporting into the Sales and Category Director, and working cross-functionally with the Commercial and Brand teams, you'll turn complex data into actionable recommendations that influence strategy, support customer conversations and drive business growth.

What you'll be doing

• Lead category analysis and performance reporting across a variety of sales channels, identifying trends, opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Develop category-led recommendations that support growth strategies, customer partnerships and long-term business planning.
• Act as a trusted advisor to both internal stakeholders and external partners, using insight to influence decision-making and strengthen commercial outcomes.
• Support key customer discussions with compelling, data-driven storytelling and category expertise.
• Build impactful presentations, range recommendations and category reviews that help shape retailer strategy.
• Manage and maximise value from multiple data sources, ensuring insight is accurate, relevant and commercially focused.
• Partner closely with sales, marketing and innovation teams to ensure category thinking is embedded across the organisation.
• Monitor competitor performance and market developments, translating findings into clear business recommendations.
• Help establish and evolve best-in-class category capabilities within the international business.

About you

• Proven experience in Category Management, Category Insights or Category Development within an FMCG or consumer goods environment.
• You could also be someone that is a Client Director or Consultant working for a agency data provider that would like to move to a branded consumer business.
• Strong understanding of retailer and shopper data, with experience using customer specific data (Kantar, IRI, or Dunnhumby for example)
• Commercially minded with the ability to turn complex information into clear, compelling recommendations.
• Experienced in influencing both internal and external stakeholders through data-led storytelling.
• Confident working with multiple data sets and balancing strategic projects alongside regular reporting requirements.
• Highly organised, naturally curious and comfortable operating within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage audiences at all levels.

why this opportunity?

• This is a opportunity to join a growing international consumer brand with ambitious plans.
• Take ownership and leadership to shape a category function that is receiving investment and visibility with exposure to leaders within the business.
• Blend strategic thinking with hands-on execution and real business impact.
• Collaborative, open and impactful driven culture
• Life Assurance and Group Income Protection
• Pension
• 25 days Holiday + Bank Holidays
• Sabbatical after a period of service
• Excellent Maternity and Paternity benefits