Senior Category Manager

Carlsberg Britvic; Hemel Hempstead; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly product allowance

Private Medical options

Life Assurance

Company bonus scheme

24/7 GP services

Enhanced pension contribution

High street discounts

Job summary

Carlsberg Britvic is recruiting a Senior Category Manager to join our On Trade Strategy & Operations Team. Reporting into the Head of Category, this role will own development of customer-category visions, manage cross-functional initiatives and elevate our presence as a trusted advisor to customers.

Field based with regular travel to customers is expected, with ad hoc visits to Hemel Hempstead. You will translate shopper and market insights into growth strategies, build strong relationships with

Qualifications

• Experience in on-trade and beer/soft drinks categories.
• Proven ability to lead FMCG category programs with customer accountability.
• Ability to translate insights into growth strategies.
• Strong collaboration across Sales, Brand, Insights and Strategy.
• Data-led decision making and performance focus.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the annual category strategy aligned to commercial priorities.
• Translate shopper, consumer and market insights into growth plans.
• Build trusted relationships with key customers as a category partner.
• Lead category storytelling, tools, sell-ins and customer immersions.
• Manage initiatives, trials and range reviews to drive distribution and space.
• Provide category POV on topics like health, sustainability and HFSS.
• Use data to shape recommendations and improve outcomes.
• Support team development through leadership and coaching.
• Partner cross-functionally to embed category thinking in planning.

Skills

On-trade experience

FMCG category leadership

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder engagement

Brand insights

Job description

Job Title: Senior Category Manager

Location: Field Based with regular, weekly travel to customers is expected and ad hoc visits to Hemel Hempstead

Job Length: Permanent – Full Time

• Monthly product allowance – alcoholic & non-alcoholic options available
• Private Medical options
• Life Assurance
• Company bonus scheme
• Access to 24/7 GP services
• Enhanced pension contribution
• Access to a range of high street discounts

Carlsberg Britvic is the largest multi-beverage supplier in the UK and is home to some of the most iconic and popular beers & soft drinks, including Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, 1664, Poretti and Brooklyn to ale favourites such as Hobgoblin and Wainwright. For soft drinks, Carlsberg Britvic’s brands include J2O, Robinsons, Tango and London Essence along with the licence rights to the Pepsi portfolio in the UK including Pepsi MAX, 7UP, Lipton Iced Tea and Rockstar Energy.

With a strong national footprint, the Carlsberg Britvic business includes 5 production facilities and 16 logistics depot’s servicing customers up and down the UK. As the Dynamic, Multi-Beverage Powerhouse, we are united by a single, consistent goal: ensuring our people thrive.

About the role

We are now recruiting for a Senior Category Manager to join our On Trade Strategy & Operations Team. Reporting into the Head of Category, this role will own the development of customer-category visions, manage cross functional initiatives and elevate our presence as a trust advisor to our customers.

Role Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the annual category strategy, aligning plans to commercial priorities and managing execution across key customers
• Translate shopper, consumer and market insights into clear growth strategies that unlock competitive advantage
• Build trusted, credible relationships with key customers, positioning Carlsberg Britvic as a trusted category partner
• Lead category storytelling and customer engagement (incl. tools, sell-ins and immersions) to influence adoption of category strategies
• Manage delivery of category initiatives, trials and range reviews to unlock distribution, range and space growth
• Provide a clear category POV on key industry topics (e.g. health & wellbeing, sustainability, HFSS, DRS)
• Use customer and loyalty data to shape insight-led recommendations and continuously improve performance outcomes
• Support team development through leadership and coaching, with an emphasis on collaboration, improvement, and quality outcomes
• Partner cross-functionally (Sales, Brand, Insights, Strategy) to embed category thinking into planning and execution
• Own performance delivery across volume, value, share and customer metrics, using learnings to continuously refine plans

Experience and Key Attributes

• Extensive on-trade experience within beer and soft drinks
• Demonstrated background in FMCG category leadership with direct customer accountability
• Experience delivering market-outperforming customer and channel plans
• Skilled at simplifying complexity and translating strategy into clear, actionable plans
• Creates trusted partnerships through open communication and collaboration across all levels
• Works collaboratively to develop shared growth plans across cross-functional teams
• Commercially driven with a clear focus on KPIs, execution and delivery
• Skilled at operating in unclear environments while staying centered on solutions
• Experienced in leading teams and partnering with senior stakeholders (internally and externally)
• Data-led decision maker, experienced in using market insights and performance data

Our commitment to diversity equity & inclusion

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences - including those of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, religions, and socioeconomic statuses. We actively seek to create a safe and inclusive environment for all of our colleagues, where diverse perspectives are welcomed, and inclusive practices are embedded in everything we do.

We are happy to support accessibility needs, to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates, so please do let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process.

This is an exciting time to join our newly formed business – with their incredible individual history’s, innovation of products and some of the UK’s most iconic brands, Carlsberg Britvic strives to deliver the best service to our customers and consumers. We aim to make a difference, bringing together two diverse companies, our global reach enables opportunity, growth and a chance to work with some fantastic people.