Marketing Manager - Self Gifting

pladis Foods Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive plan

Private medical insurance

Enhanced parental leave

Pension scheme

Volunteer day

Cycle to work

Discounted gym membership

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Godiva is seeking a Category Marketing Manager, Self-Gifting & Impulse to translate category strategy into actionable portfolio, innovation and market plans across global markets. You will help drive penetration, frequency and relevance across self‑treat, impulse, sharing and premium occasions.

Working with the Head of Self‑Gifting & Impulse, you will develop category recommendations, lead cross‑functional projects, and build tools and communications to support launches and performance reviews.

Qualifications

• Essential experience in FMCG marketing, category management, portfolio management, or related commercial function.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking; translate data into actionable recommendations.
• Experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders in fast-paced environments.
• Commercial acumen with understanding of category growth drivers and portfolio performance.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; able to influence cross-functional teams.
• Experience collaborating with Marketing, Insights, R&D, Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
• Highly organized with attention to detail; demonstrates ownership and resilience.
• Desirable experience within premium food, confectionery, snacking or related consumer goods.
• Experience in global or regional marketing environments and cross-market collaboration.
• Experience supporting innovation pipelines and product launches.
• Knowledge of consumer and shopper research methodologies and demand-space analysis.
• Experience in portfolio architecture, category strategy or assortment optimization.
• Familiarity with premiumisation, self-gifting, impulse or everyday consumption occasions.
• Experience working in matrix organisations with stakeholders without direct authority.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

FMCG marketing

Category management

Portfolio management

Innovation

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Job description

Want to deliver the Ultimate Chocolate Experience?

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 Godiva's most important future growth engines through strategic analysis, cross‑functional collaboration and operational excellence.

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

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

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Search Firm Representatives please read carefully

Godiva is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Godiva via-email, the Internet or directly to hiring managers at Godiva in any form without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of Godiva, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Godiva as a result of the referral or through other means.

About the Company

Godiva is broadly recognized as the worldwide leader in super premium chocolates, through over 600 retail stores, 40,000 points of sale and over 800 Travel retail points of sale in more than 80 countries. Godiva's commitment to excellence is also apparent in its Gold Ballotin Collection and seasonal packaging which have earned Godiva a global reputation for design excellence. Godiva manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of indulgent products, including boxed premium chocolates, small chocolate treats, dipped fruit, biscuits/cookies, coffee/cocoa, blended chilled beverages and other premium chocolate products all bearing the Godiva name. Godiva has recently taken meaningful and successful steps to broaden its portfolio beyond chocolate gifting into the high growth, self‑consumption and home entertainment/sharing segments of the marketplace across the Globe. Godiva products are manufactured in Brussels, Belgium and Reading, PA and select co‑manufacturing locations globally. The company has approximately 5,000 employees around the world.

Why us?

If you love our brand, are a chocolate lover and are passionate about making a difference for a global company please consider a career with us. We are looking for people who love taking initiative and becoming part of a fast moving company.