Category Specialist

JDE Peet's; Maidenhead; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

JDE Peet's is seeking a Category Specialist to own strategic relationships across convenience and discounter channels, shaping the coffee category's growth in the UK. You will partner with Sales, Marketing, RGM and Category teams to deliver data-driven recommendations and drive category performance.

In this highly visible role, your analytical thinking, storytelling and stakeholder management will influence customers and internal teams alike, with travel as required and a hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Degree educated or equivalent.
• Minimum 4 years' experience in Category Development, Category Management or Category Strategy within FMCG.
• Strong understanding of UK shoppers, retailers and category management principles.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Sales and Marketing teams.
• Advanced knowledge of category and shopper data tools such as NielsenIQ, Circana/IRI, Kantar, Dunnhumby or similar.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to turn complex data into simple, actionable recommendations.
• Excellent presentation and storytelling skills, with confidence engaging customers and senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to influence, challenge and build credibility at all organisational levels.
• Highly self-motivated, organised and results-driven.
• Willingness to travel for customer meetings as required.
• Full right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy and range review initiatives for a portfolio of strategic convenience and discount customers.
• Develop customer-specific category growth plans aligned to customer objectives and JDE Peet's commercial strategy.
• Deliver insightful recommendations based on shopper, market and performance data.
• Analyse promotional effectiveness to improve ROI and category performance.
• Influence distribution, assortment and space decisions to maximise growth opportunities.
• Create and present engaging category stories to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Produce regular performance reviews, action plans and market insight presentations.
• Deliver quarterly coffee market updates covering trends, competitors and opportunities.
• Support annual customer planning cycles and tailored customer brand planning sessions.
• Collaborate with Brand, Marketing, Sales and Category Strategy teams to launch innovation and drive execution.
• Contribute to the development of JDE Peet's convenience and discounter growth strategy.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial mindset

Presentation skills

Influence and credibility

Travel willingness

UK market knowledge

Education

Degree educated or equivalent

Tools

NielsenIQ

Circana/IRI

Kantar

Dunnhumby

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of strategic customer relationships across the convenience and discounter channels while helping shape the future growth of the coffee category.

You'll work closely with Sales, Marketing, Revenue Growth Management and Category teams, partnering directly with customers to deliver insight-led recommendations that drive sales, profit and category growth.

This is a highly visible role where your ideas, analysis and influence will make a tangible impact on both our customers' businesses and our own.

What You'll Be Doing

As Category Specialist, you'll be responsible for delivering best-in-class category leadership and becoming a trusted advisor to both internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy and range review initiatives for a portfolio of strategic convenience and discount customers.


• Develop customer-specific category growth plans aligned to both customer objectives and JDE Peet's commercial strategy.


• Deliver compelling, insight-led recommendations based on shopper, market and performance data.


• Analyse promotional effectiveness, identifying opportunities to improve return on investment and category performance.


• Influence distribution, assortment and space decisions to maximise growth opportunities.


• Create and present engaging category stories to customers and internal stakeholders.


• Produce regular performance reviews, action plans and market insight presentations.


• Deliver quarterly coffee market updates covering trends, competitors and future opportunities.


• Support annual customer planning cycles and tailored customer brand planning sessions.


• Collaborate closely with Brand, Marketing, Sales and Category Strategy teams to successfully launch innovation and drive execution excellence.


• Contribute to the development of JDE Peet's convenience and discounter growth strategy, a key pillar of our future success.

Qualifications;

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a commercially minded category professional who combines strong analytical thinking with outstanding stakeholder engagement skills.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Degree educated or equivalent.


• Minimum 4 years' experience in Category Development, Category Management or Category Strategy within FMCG.


• Strong understanding of UK shoppers, retailers and category management principles.


• Experience working cross-functionally with Sales and Marketing teams.


• Advanced knowledge of category and shopper data tools such as NielsenIQ, Circana/IRI, Kantar, Dunnhumby or similar.


• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.


• Strong analytical capability with the ability to turn complex data into simple, actionable recommendations.


• Excellent presentation and storytelling skills, with confidence engaging customers and senior stakeholders.


• Proven ability to influence, challenge and build credibility at all organisational levels.


• Highly self-motivated, organised and results-driven.


• Willingness to travel for customer meetings as required.


• Full right to work in the UK.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you'll become the trusted category expert for your customers, helping them unlock growth opportunities while strengthening JDE Peet's position as a category leader.

You'll combine commercial curiosity, customer understanding and data-driven insight to create strategies that deliver sustainable growth for both our brands and our retail partners.

Our Culture

At JDE Peet's, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to be themselves.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Hybrid Working

The future of work is hybrid. We believe great collaboration happens when we come together, while flexibility helps us do our best work. That's why we combine office connection with the benefits of working from home.

Ready to Unleash Your Possibility?

Join a business built around some of the world's most loved coffee brands and become part of a team that's shaping the future of coffee in the UK.

Shape the Future of the UK's Coffee Category!

At JDE Peet's, we believe it's amazing what can happen over a cup of coffee.

As the world's leading pure-play coffee company, our iconic brands including L'OR, Tassimo, Kenco and Douwe Egberts are enjoyed by millions of consumers every day. Driven by passionate people and a commitment to exceptional quality, we're on a mission to become the world's number one coffee company.

If you're passionate about turning data into compelling stories, influencing customer strategy, and making a real commercial impact, we'd love to hear from you.