Category Marketing Manager

pladis Global; Chiswick; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Godiva seeks a Category Marketing Manager, Gifting to shape and deliver global gifting growth. This role translates strategy into portfolio plans, innovation programmes and seasonal initiatives, partnering with regional teams to bring them to market.

Combining consumer understanding, commercial analysis and project leadership, you will develop compelling gifting propositions across boutiques, cafés, premium retail and Global Travel Retail, contributing to growth and premiumisation in the premium

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in FMCG marketing in premium segment, category management, innovation or portfolio management, particularly in chocolate or confectionery.
• Strong analytical skills; translate consumer, market and performance data into actionable recommendations.
• Understanding of gifting behaviour, occasion-based marketing and seasonal planning.
• Experience developing innovation pipelines and taking products from concept to launch.
• Commercial acumen with understanding of sales, profitability and drivers of category growth.
• Collaborative approach across functions, markets and cultures.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and execution focus.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and managing multiple priorities through to delivery.
• Knowledge of portfolio architecture, assortment planning and pricing.
• Experience in a global or regional marketing role within a matrix organisation.
• Interest in premium brands, consumer trends and distinctive gifting experiences.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Translate category strategy into actionable portfolio plans, innovation programmes and seasonal initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional projects across Design, Insights, R&D, Commercialisation and Supply Chain to meet scope, timeline and commercial goals.
• Develop gifting collections and seasonal programmes for boutiques, cafés, premium retail and Global Travel Retail.
• Build business cases, assess sales potential, profitability and portfolio implications.
• Adapt global propositions to local needs with regional marketing and commercial teams.
• Track portfolio performance against KPIs and suggest improvements to assortment, execution, and productivity.
• Prepare category reviews and stakeholder updates with clear visibility of progress and risks.

Skills

FMCG marketing

Premium gifting

Category management

Innovation

Portfolio management

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Project leadership

Job description

The Category Marketing Manager, Gifting will help shape and deliver Godiva's global gifting category growth agenda. Reporting to the Director, Gifting, Boutique and Premium Experiences, the role translates category strategy into actionable portfolio plans, innovation programmes and seasonal initiatives, partnering with regional teams to bring them to market.

Combining consumer understanding, commercial analysis and project leadership, the role will develop compelling gifting propositions across boutiques, cafés, premium retail and Global Travel Retail. It will contribute to category growth and premiumisation, strengthening Godiva's position in premium chocolate gifting.

What will be your key deliverables?

• Consumer and market insight: Partner with Insights team to analyse consumer behaviour, shopper needs, competitor activity and category trends, translating findings into clear portfolio and innovation recommendations.
• Innovation and renovation: Lead selected projects from concept through to launch, coordinating cross-functional teams across Design, Insights, R&D, Commercialisation and Supply Chain to deliver against agreed scope, timelines and commercial objectives.
• Seasonal and channel propositions: Develop gifting collections and seasonal programmes, including boutique-exclusive and café propositions, and assortments tailored to Global Travel Retail.
• Commercial evaluation: Develop business cases and assess sales potential, profitability and portfolio implications to inform investment and prioritisation decisions.
• Market deployment: Partner with regional marketing and commercial teams to adapt global propositions to local needs and support launch readiness and execution.
• Performance and optimisation: Track portfolio, innovation and seasonal performance against agreed KPIs, combining results with market feedback to recommend improvements to assortment, execution and portfolio productivity.
• Governance and stakeholder alignment: Prepare category reviews, project updates and decision materials, ensuring stakeholders have clear visibility of progress, risks and required actions.
• Relevant experience in FMCG marketing premium segment, category management, innovation or portfolio management, particularly within chocolate or confectionery.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate consumer, market and performance data into actionable recommendations.
• Understanding of gifting behaviour, occasion-based marketing and seasonal planning.
• Experience developing innovation pipelines and taking products from concept to launch.
• Commercial acumen, including an understanding of sales, profitability and the factors that drive category growth.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively across functions, markets and cultures.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and a focus on execution.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and managing multiple priorities through to delivery.
• Knowledge of portfolio architecture, assortment planning and pricing.
• Experience in a global or regional marketing role within a matrix organisation.
• An interest in premium brands, consumer trends and creating distinctive gifting experiences.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to build clear recommendations and influence stakeholders without direct authority.