Head of Category

TN United Kingdom; St Albans; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Ein ambitioniertes, wachsendes Unternehmen sucht einen Head of Category, der ein dynamisches Team leitet und strategische Einblicke für das Wachstum bietet. In dieser Schlüsselrolle sind Sie verantwortlich für die Entwicklung der Kategorievision und -strategie sowie für die Förderung von Beziehungen zu wichtigen Kunden. Sie bringen eine Leidenschaft für Daten und strategisches Denken mit, um die Leistung zu steigern und den Markt zu beeinflussen. Wenn Sie eine inspirierende Führungspersönlichkeit sind, die in einem schnelllebigen Umfeld gedeiht, ist dies Ihre Chance, einen echten Einfluss zu nehmen und das Unternehmen weiter voranzubringen.

Qualifications

• Erfahrung als Senior Category Development Manager oder Head of Category in einem FMCG-Umfeld.
• Fähigkeit, komplexe Daten zu nutzen, um strategische Pläne zu entwickeln.

Responsibilities

• Leitung des Category-Teams und Entwicklung klarer Ziele für das Wachstum.
• Nutzung von Daten zur Unterstützung von Geschäftsentscheidungen und strategischen Planungen.

Skills

Datenanalyse

Strategisches Denken

Kommunikationsfähigkeiten

Führungsqualitäten

Kommerzielle Einschätzung

Education

Bachelor in Betriebswirtschaft

Master in Marketing oder verwandten Bereichen

Tools

Nielsen

Circana

Kantar

Dunnhumby

SIP

Job description

We are seeking a passionate new Head of Category to join an ambitious, high-performing business that has achieved continuous double-digit growth over the past three years. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead a team of three to deliver outstanding category advice to our key customers, while internally providing insights, reporting, and category strategies to unlock growth.

Key Responsibilities & Objectives

Leadership and Team Empowerment

1. Lead the category team for BEAR and Peter’s Yard in the UK by setting clear direction, encouraging your team and the wider business to deliver exceptional results, and empowering them through trusted leadership and personal development.
2. Set clear objectives and develop plans for three Category Managers to support their personal growth.
3. Collaborate with colleagues across the business to identify and deliver insights to the UK and Global Brand Marketing teams, informing and shaping strategy.
4. This is a customer-facing role. While you may not handle retailer accounts daily, you will need to build and maintain strong relationships with key contacts to ensure our strategy and vision are understood and supported.
5. Maintain a strong understanding of retailer strategies and the broader environment to keep the business customer and shopper-centric.
6. Leverage your external network to gain perspectives from other categories and businesses.

Strategic Insights

1. Utilize data effectively to enable better business decisions and be an integral part of the MD’s leadership team, representing the voice of the category.
2. Develop the UK Category Vision and Strategy for BEAR and Peter’s Yard, translating these into actionable, executable plans within each retailer.
3. Lead and own the Revenue Growth Management strategy.
4. Initiate annual planning with brand and category diagnostics to ensure brand plans are insight-led.
5. Ensure relevant data is available and used appropriately to inform strategy, internal planning, and retailer relationships.
6. Manage continuous data collection and regular reporting on category performance, including monthly KPIs for MD leadership meetings.
7. Oversee the UK BEAR and Peter’s Yard category budget, ensuring maximum value from data investments.

Profile

You are likely an existing Senior Category Development Manager or Head of Category within an FMCG environment.

We value individuals who:

• Are passionate about data and proficient with tools like Nielsen, Circana, Kantar, Dunnhumby, SIP.
• Are problem solvers experienced in using complex insight data to craft strategic short- and long-term plans.
• Possess excellent communication skills, especially inspiring presentation abilities.
• Can build strong internal and external relationships, offering collaborative solutions and being recognized as a trusted expert.
• Can prioritize effectively in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Have proven commercial acumen, understanding how category strategies impact sales and profitability.
• Are inspiring leaders who contribute positively to the company culture, willing to get hands-on, and passionate about the brand and wider business.