Category Manager

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS); United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG company in the UK is seeking a passionate individual for a category leadership role to drive growth and innovation. You will develop strategic initiatives, collaborate with retail partners, and utilize data insights. The position offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits including health and wellness support, and a flexible hybrid working environment that promotes work-life balance.

Benefits

Gym memberships

Private medical insurance

Dental cover

Flexible work schedules

Qualifications

• Experience in category development or commercial role within the UK FMCG market.
• Highly analytical with data dissection capabilities.
• Proven ability to build influential business relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead growth through collaborative retail relationships.
• Create data-driven selling stories for category initiatives.
• Monitor category trends and provide actionable insights.

Skills

Category development

Analytical thinking

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Education

Degree-level education or equivalent

Job description

About You

You are ambitious and always taking initiative to make things better and bring others along with you. You are ready for a new challenge and want a career with purpose; to be part of a company actively dedicated to sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development.

This role will be part of Kimberly Clark's International Family Care and Professional (IFP) business—an organization rooted in purpose and innovation that has built a legacy with global impact. As Kimberly-Clark forms a strategic partnership with Suzano to create a world-class international tissue and professional products company, this role is proposed to transfer to the new venture once the transaction closes, anticipated in mid-2026, subject to consultation and other applicable legal requirements. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a new global leader backed by two industry powerhouses. You\'ll be part of a high-potential business that combines Kimberly-Clark\'s iconic brands and commercial excellence with Suzano\'s industrial and sustainability leadership.

Excited yet?

You should be! This is a truly exciting opportunity for people who are passionate about growing their career within the category leadership function.

What are we looking for?

This is a fantastic opportunity for a results-oriented, self-starter with strong leadership and influencing skills. You\'ll thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, matrixed environment, bringing fresh thinking and a problem-solving mindset to every challenge.

In this role, you\'ll be at the forefront of driving category growth by developing and executing strategic, data-driven initiatives aligned with Kimberly-Clark\'s vision. By collaborating closely with key retail partners, you\'ll shape and implement consumer-led category plans that deliver sustainable, mutual growth. Working cross-functionally with Sales and Marketing, you\'ll ensure alignment and flawless execution of strategies that support long-term, profitable success.

The Role

To lead the business in accelerating growth through:

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with retailers. Influence partners to adopt joint business plans, including range reviews, merchandising, and promotional strategies.
• Create compelling, insight-led selling stories using data from Nielsen, Circana and other tools to drive category initiatives and secure retailer buy-in.
• Gaining commitment to joint category plans on key initiatives including range and merchandising
• Monitor and evaluate category, shopper, and competitor trends. Translate insights into actionable recommendations to address opportunities and challenges
• Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, and other internal teams to ensure seamless execution of category plans.

Skills & Experience

• Experience in category development or commercial role, ideally within the UK FMCG market
• Highly analytical with experience dissecting data to build persuasive stories
• Proven ability to build and maintain influential business relationships through strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong time management and prioritisation abilities
• Skilled in Microsoft Office; especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Degree-level educated or equivalent preferred, but not essential

Total Benefits

We offer competitive pay and benefits to employees and reward excellence and performance. Our belief in promoting a healthy work-life balance drives us to support our employees\' total well-being, offering comprehensive benefits not limited to gym memberships, private medical insurance, dental cover, employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme, critical illness cover, travel insurance and a market leading defined contribution pension scheme.

Certain benefits, such as flexible work schedules and parental leave, can be tailored to meet specific individual needs, giving our employees the flexibility to manage their commitments inside and outside of work. We are proud to be rated as a top 100 workplace for working mothers for two years in a row.

We offer a flexible hybrid working environment and welcome a conversation to this approach

To Be Considered

Click the Apply button and complete the online application process. A member of our recruiting team will then review your application and follow up with you if you seem like a great fit for this role

And finally, the small print....

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this role. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position.

Kimberly-Clark is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

KC is a sponsor of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation Good Recruitment Campaign

Primary Location

Walton Oaks

Additional Locations

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time