Head of Category Management

L'OREAL GROUP; London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global beauty company in London seeks a Head of Category Management. This pivotal role involves driving the category management strategy, leading range reviews, and fostering customer relationships with major retailers. The ideal candidate should possess strong category management experience and excellent communication skills, as well as a solution-oriented mindset. Competitive benefits are included, ensuring professional growth and well-being.

Benefits

60% off iconic beauty products

Private medical and dental insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Enhanced family leave

Qualifications

• At least +3yrs of experience within a leadership position.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics in the consumer beauty market.
• Ability to analyze data and draw accurate conclusions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the range review process ensuring sales and marketing alignment.
• Build and nurture strategic customer relationships.
• Manage category strategy and support the business in achieving partner status.

Skills

Strong category management experience

Excellent communication skills

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Stakeholder management experience

Planning and organization skills

Job description

HEAD OF CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

As a pivotal member of the BD team, you will be responsible for driving the Division's category management strategy & transformation. A self-starter who relishes working in a fast-paced environment and is comfortable building professional relationships with key stakeholders.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

- THE RANGE REVIEW PROCESS

o Formalise & lead the range review process ensuring full alignment & co-operation between sales, marketing & category teams

o Deliver clear tracking of SOF / SOD KPIs across all key retailers

o Communicate strategic & transactional objectives of each RR ensuring all teams are driving to deliver a winning outcome for CPD

o Work with RGM to optimise the integration of RGM tools into the RR process (e.g. Centropy)

- BEAUTY ELEVATION

o Be the go-to partner for our customers for Total Beauty Elevation

o Lead all total Beauty elevation projects & develop a OneBeauty Elevation Vision with clear recommendations internally & externally

o Lead the evaluation on all CPD elevation projects looking at both shopper & P&L KPIs & provide a clear recommendation on roll out including clusterisation

o Share all UKI Beauty Elevation best practice with global teams

- CUSTOMER CENTRICITY

o Support the RCMs in translating the CPD category strategies to individual retailer strategies

o Build and nurture strategic customer relationships, supporting the business in achieving #1 partner status

o Foster strong relationships with senior stakeholders within the Food Channel, specifically Tesco & Sainsbury's

- TEAM MANAGEMENT

o Be the go to category expert within the BD team, upskilling the wider RCM community on core catman skills

o Liaise with the learning teams to ensure a strong catman training programme

WHO YOU ARE

- Strong category management experience: clearly understands the role & impact catman can play within CPD

- At least +3yrs of experience within a leadership position: can develop a clear vision & roadmap to drive the influence of the function within the day to day business

- A strong understanding of market dynamics and commercial, E-commerce and category strategies, associated with robust knowledge of the consumer beauty market.

- Excellent communication and influencing skills with experience of building relationships across an organisation.

- A solution orientated mindset with the ability to work accurately at pace and cope with ambiguity.

- Experience of managing change - through rapid growth.

- A strong stakeholder management experience and the ability to influence at all levels.

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen eye for detail

- Ability to analyse data, draw accurate conclusions and communicate key messages succinctly.

- Strong planning and organisation skills - with an ability to appropriately re-prioritise and change as required to meet deadlines.

- Is risk aware and builds contingency into plans.

- Can work to a high degree of accuracy and meet deadlines.

WHAT WE OFFER

Our industry-leading award-winning benefits package shows how much we value our people. We know they're at the heart of L'Oréal's success, so we offer a fair and competitive package to help you thrive.

Enjoy perks like money-saving offers, free mortgage advice, share options and an enhanced pension plan. Love our brands? You'll get up to 60% off iconic names like YSL, CeraVe, Armani, Kiehl's and Garnier! Because health matters, we offer private medical and dental insurance, discounted gym memberships, and onsite mental health support. We also provide enhanced family leave for all and up to 8 weeks of paid fertility leave, so you can prioritise what matters most.

Learning is in our DNA at L'Oréal. We'll help you master your role, build skills, and access top-notch leadership programs and monthly expert talks. And there's lots more too!

WHO WE ARE

L'Oréal is present in 150 markets on five continents. For more than a century, L'Oréal has devoted itself solely to 'Create beauty that moves the world'; it is now the industry world leader with €29 billion consolidated sales. Together, we solve complex challenges at scale, while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet. Experience the excitement of agility to shape the future of beauty, where diversity and purpose come together to create meaningful impact.

In the L'Oréal Consumers Products Division, our mission is to democratize the best of beauty, which means bringing beauty to all. And for us, beauty must be sustainable. The Consumer Product Divisions holds the world's #1 beauty brand with L'Oréal Paris, the #1 makeup brand with Maybelline New York, the #1 natural brand with Garnier, and NYX Professional Makeup. Beyond our four iconic global brands, we have a unique brand portfolio including others like Essie and Carols Daughter.

HOW WE RECRUIT

At L'Oréal, we take pride in creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where everyone is welcome, and their contributions are valued. When we recruit, hire, train, promote or engage in any other employment practice, we are committed to being an inclusive employer regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, socioeconomic status, medical condition or disability, or any other protected status. When we look for talent, we welcome difference - different backgrounds, experiences, personalities, and perspectives. The beauty we find in our differences gives us the freedom to go beyond. That's the beauty of L'Oréal.