Marketing Manager - Self Gifting

GODIVA Chocolatier Inc; Chiswick; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive plan

Health cash plan

Private medical insurance

Enhanced parental leave

Stakeholder pension scheme

Life assurance cover

25 days + bank holidays

Holiday enhancement scheme

Volunteering day

Cycle to work

Discounted gym membership (Chiswick)

Job summary

Godiva Chocolatier is seeking a Category Marketing Manager for Self-Gifting & Impulse to translate category strategy into actionable portfolio plans and market initiatives. You will work closely with the Head of Self-Gifting & Impulse to drive penetration, frequency and relevance across self-treat and impulse occasions.

You will develop category recommendations, deliver innovation projects, strengthen portfolio effectiveness and enable global execution through strategic analysis and

Qualifications

• Experience in FMCG marketing, category management, portfolio management, innovation or a related commercial function.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Commercial acumen with understanding of category growth drivers, business case development and portfolio performance.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating across Marketing, Insights, R&D, Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
• Highly organized with attention to detail and demonstrated ownership, curiosity and resilience.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of category strategies, annual operating plans and growth initiatives for Self-Gifting & Impulse.
• Conduct category, consumer, shopper and competitor analysis to identify growth opportunities and support strategic recommendations.
• Lead and coordinate selected innovation and renovation projects from concept to launch readiness across cross-functional teams.
• Support development and maintenance of portfolio architecture frameworks, ensuring clear roles for product formats and platforms.
• Build consumer and occasion insights around self-treat, self-reward, emotional indulgence, impulse and sharing behaviours to inform category decisions.
• Develop category business cases, commercial recommendations and investment proposals to support profitable growth.
• Partner with regional and local market teams to provide category toolkits, launch materials, presentations and activation support.
• Define category and product communication requirements with Brand and Design teams.
• Support governance processes, including category boards, innovation reviews and performance review forums.
• Monitor category performance, track project delivery and optimize to improve business outcomes.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Organization

Ownership & learning agility

Job description

What will this role achieve?

The Category Marketing Manager, Self-Gifting & Impulse will support the growth of one of Godiva's key strategic category platforms by translating category strategy into actionable portfolio, innovation and market plans. Working closely with the Head of Self-Gifting & Impulse, this role will help drive penetration, frequency and relevance across self-treat, impulse, sharing and everyday premium consumption occasions.

The role will play a critical part in developing category recommendations, delivering innovation projects, strengthening portfolio effectiveness and enabling successful execution across global markets. Acting as a key partner to the Head of Self-Gifting, the role will contribute to building one of God's most important future growth engines through strategic analysis, cross-functional collaboration and operational excellence.

What will be your key deliverables?

• Support the development and execution of category strategies, annual operating plans and growth initiatives for the Self-Gifting & Impulse category.
• Conduct category, consumer, shopper and competitor analysis to identify growth opportunities and support strategic recommendations.
• Lead and coordinate selected innovation and renovation projects from concept through to launch readiness across cross-functional teams.
• Support the development and maintenance of portfolio architecture frameworks, ensuring clear roles for product formats and platforms.
• Build consumer and occasion insights around self-treat, self-reward, emotional indulgence, impulse and sharing behaviours to inform category decisions.
• Develop category business cases, commercial recommendations and investment proposals to support profitable growth.
• Partner with regional and local market teams to provide category toolkits, launch materials, presentations and activation support.
• Define category and product communication requirements in partnership with Brand and Design teams.
• Support governance processes, including category boards, innovation reviews and performance review forums.
• Monitor category performance, track project delivery and recommend optimisation opportunities to improve business outcomes.

Essential

• Experience in FMCG marketing, category management, portfolio management, innovation or a related commercial function.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate data and insights into actionable recommendations.
• Experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Commercial acumen with an understanding of category growth drivers, business case development and portfolio performance.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience working collaboratively across functions including Marketing, Insights, R&D, Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
• Highly organised with a strong attention to detail and a proven ability to drive execution.
• Demonstrated ownership, curiosity, resilience and learning agility.

Desirable

• Experience within premium food, confectionery, snacking or broader consumer goods categories.
• Exposure to global or regional marketing environments and cross-market collaboration.
• Experience supporting innovation pipelines, stage-gate processes and product launch programmes.
• Knowledge of consumer and shopper research methodologies and demand-space analysis.
• Experience in portfolio architecture, category strategy development or assortment optimisation.
• Familiarity with premiumisation, self-gifting, impulse or everyday consumption occasions.
• Experience working within matrix organisations and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.

What does pladis offer you?

• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP)- this is the business's annual bonus scheme.

• Opportunity to self-enrol into Health Cash Plan

• Private medical Insurance (if eligible by grade)

• Enhanced parental leave and a supportive phased return-to-work program to help colleagues balance family and career

• Stakeholder Pension Scheme

• Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme

• 25 days + bank holidays

• Holiday Enhancement Scheme

• 1 Volunteering Day per year

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounted gym membership – Carlisle and Chiswick only

• Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets and services

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme

• Financial Wellbeing Support

• Access to great training and development opportunities

Our Values:

Purpose led - We're energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite

Agile - We're ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers.

Positive - We're highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better

Resilient - We're persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward

Collaborative - We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together__

Best mix of ingredients

pladis is an equal opportunities employer, like every great recipe we're a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive.

Accessibility at Chiswick: Our Chiswick site has step-free access, accessible entrances nad lifts between floors to support with individuals with mobility needs. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to receive other benefits and and privileges of employment, and where possible to perform key job functions.

Godiva and affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.