Senior Category Manager

Always Candid; Leeds; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Always Candid in West Yorkshire is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead data-driven category strategies for major UK retailers. The role sits at the heart of the commercial team, turning category data, customer insight and market intelligence into actionable plans that drive revenue and margin.

You will negotiate with senior stakeholders, create compelling customer propositions, and influence both branded and own-label dynamics across the grocery landscape. Hybrid working in West Yorkshire.

Job description

Senior Category Manager

FMCG | West Yorkshire | Hybrid | FMCG Brands & OL

This is not a traditional category management role.

We are looking for a commercially minded category leader to take on a newly created and genuinely important position within a successful, growing FMCG business.

Working at the heart of the commercial team, this person will turn category data, customer insight and market intelligence into clear, practical actions that create measurable value for customers and the business.

The role will have a direct influence on customer strategy, revenue, margin and future growth. You will work closely with senior sales, marketing and business leaders, while partnering directly with major UK retailers to identify opportunities across branded and own-label market dynamics.

The opportunity will suit someone who can move confidently between detailed analysis and commercial action. You will need to understand what the data is saying, identify where value can be created and translate that into a compelling story that customers and internal teams can act upon.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Identifying category-led opportunities to accelerate net revenue and margin growth
• Creating clear, commercially focused customer propositions
• Supporting sales teams with insight that strengthens retailer conversations
• Understanding the interaction between branded, competitor and own-label performance
• Improving promotional modelling, evaluation and investment decisions
• Challenging existing thinking and identifying better ways to deploy commercial resources
• Helping the wider team prioritise the opportunities capable of delivering the greatest return

We are particularly interested in speaking with candidates who have:

• Strong category management within FMCG
• Excellent knowledge of the major UK grocery retailers
• The ability to turn complex data into simple, persuasive and executable recommendations
• Experience of enviroments where insight and influence matter more than large budgets
• Strong commercial judgement and a clear understanding of revenue, margin and promotional effectiveness
• Confidence working closely with senior stakeholders and customer teams
• A collaborative, hands-on approach with the energy to make things happen

Experience using platforms such as NielsenIQ, Circana, dunnhumby or retailer-specific insight systems would be highly relevant.

This is a role of real importance to the team and the wider business. The successful person will not simply report on performance they will help determine where future growth comes from and how the commercial team captures it.

The position is based in West Yorkshire with a hybrid working pattern.