Category Manager

Modern Milkman; London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Category Manager to enhance their product offerings and drive sustainable practices. This role involves strategic planning, market analysis, and collaboration across teams to optimize procurement efficiency. As a key player, you will manage supplier relationships, develop pricing strategies, and ensure compliance with sustainability goals. Join a forward-thinking company committed to making a positive impact on the environment while providing a great customer experience. If you're passionate about sustainability and have a knack for negotiation and analysis, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

EMI Share options

Up to 6% matched company pension

Employee discount off products

Enhanced parental leave & pay

Life Insurance

Cycle to work scheme

In-person company events

£300 working from home set up

£300 L&D budget per annum

Qualifications

• 2+ years in procurement or buying role within FMCG, food & beverage, or hospitality.
• Proven track record in developing and executing category strategies.

Responsibilities

• Define customer experience through product quality and range optimization.
• Manage supplier relationships and ensure compliance with quality standards.

Skills

Negotiation Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Project Management

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Excel

G-suite

Retail Analytics Tools

Job description

Role title: Category Manager

Team: Commercial

Location: London or Manchester - minimum of 2 days per week from the office. Part of this role involves travelling to our suppliers too!

Salary: £45k - £55k per year

Join our milk round

Our goal at Modern Milkman is to make the home sustainable, and, to date, we've prevented over 100 million plastic bottles from polluting the planet. Not bad for a business that started as four friends from Lancashire delivering milk from a beat-up truck!

We’re using technology, creative problem solving and innovating historical methods to bring back the milk- round and by doing that we offer our customers the ability to make more planet-positive shopping habits one small, simple and very convenient step at a time.

You can find us across the UK and in the US (Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island)

Your mission

You define the customer experience by the products that arrive on their doorstep. Every product needs to be the best possible quality and sustainable – your job is to optimise the range so that we can be proud of every product delivered and to maximise how much customers spend on each drop.

Key Responsibilities

The role involves a combination of strategic planning, market analysis, and cross-functional collaboration and will address cost inefficiencies, supplier relationship disruptions, and suboptimal inventory levels by implementing effective strategies and managing supplier relationships.

You will manage your own categories and shape the overall range strategy for the UK business.

Working in close partnership with the Trading Lead, they will optimise promotions and pricing to drive category growth. By fostering cross-functional collaboration and ensuring sustainable sourcing, the role enhances overall procurement efficiency and aligns with Modern Milkman's sustainability goals. Additionally, they will utilise data analytics for informed decision-making and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

Supplier Management:

• Build strong relationships with suppliers to negotiate optimum terms, pricing, and promotions
• Source new and develop products and suppliers to enhance category proposition
• Continually monitor supplier performance and ensure compliance with quality and service standards

Category and Range Strategy:

• Create and execute category and range strategies to drive sales and profitability
• Analyse sales data, customer preferences, and market trends to optimise range and pricing
• Identify opportunities for category growth, innovation, and margin improvement

Pricing & Promotions:

• Develop pricing strategies to maximise profitability and competitiveness
• Plan and execute promotional campaigns in collaboration with Trading and Brand teams
• Monitor the impact of pricing and promotional strategies on sales performance

Merchandising:

• Define product assortments based on customer demand and market analysis
• Ensure optimal tile placement in app for customer discovery and trade

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with marketing, operations, and supply teams to execute category initiatives
• Provide insights to senior team on category performance and growth opportunities

Sustainability and Compliance:

• Ensure procurement practices align with the company's sustainability goals and industry regulations

What You’ll Bring

• Strong and relevant experience gained from working in a procurement/buying role within food & beverage, hospitality or FMCG. Ideally 2+ years in a commercial role
• Proven track record of successfully developing and executing category strategies that drive growth and profitability.
• Solid evidence of being an excellent negotiator, influencer, and deal maker, who can obtain value for the business, making the best use of budgets. We are B-corp certified and adhere to a strict code of conduct and standards with our suppliers
• An analytical and methodical approach to problem solving, with great attention to detail. Proficiency in Excel/ G-suite and retail analytics tools
• Great communication skills, whether that's presenting, or taking a flexible and adaptable approach with our suppliers and colleagues.
• Ability to run reports, analyse complex data and make category decisions to drive forward sales and margin.
• A collaborative and supportive coaching style.
• Will be proactive, take the initiative and have a growth mindset
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday, 8 bank holidays (5 flexible ones). Plus, your birthday off too!
• EMI Share options
• Up to 6% matched company pension
• Access to thanksBen, for a range of core & flexible benefits
• Employee discount off Modern Milkman products
• Enhanced parental leave & pay
• Life Insurance
• Cycle to work scheme & Octopus EV salary sacrifice
• In-person company events
• £300 working from home set up
• £300 L&D budget per annum
• £300 Health and Well Being budget
• Endless samples of our stock – Seriously, our category managers have us taste testing food and drinks all the time!
• Up to 4 weeks working abroad
• 2x volunteering days and team volunteering days
• Loads of company clubs to join, from book clubs (Page Churners), Running, cycling and swimming (Trotters and Plodders), 5 aside Football (Modern Milkman FC) and any other pun-related clubs you can think of.

Interview Process: 5 stages (incl. a task)

Talent Screen >Hiring Manager Interview Task with wider team> Ways of working interview> Final interview with our COO

Candidate Experience ️ Due to the high volume of applications, it might take us a little longer to get back to you. Most feedback will be shared via email, and we make every effort to provide specific and constructive insights whenever possible

We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We believe that our team is stronger with a variety of perspectives