Senior Category Manager, Senior Category Manager

Pilgrim's Europe; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe is seeking a commercially focused Senior Category Manager for the Ready Meals category. Based in Uxbridge, the role involves office-based work with regular travel to manufacturing sites and customer locations, shaping category strategies and driving growth across customers and channels.

You will provide shopper and consumer insights, lead category reviews, and collaborate with Innovation and Development to build a consumer-led pipeline.

Qualifications

• 4+ years' experience in Category Management, Category Insight, Shopper Marketing, or Customer Marketing within FMCG.
• Experience working within own-label food categories.
• Strong understanding of UK grocery retailers and customer-facing category management.
• Excellent analytical, storytelling, and presentation skills.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and working cross-functionally.
• Comfortable travelling regularly to manufacturing sites and customer meetings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies that drive growth across customers, channels, and categories.
• Provide category, shopper, and consumer insight to customer teams, helping build compelling customer plans.
• Act as the voice of the consumer and shopper, influencing business strategy and investment decisions.
• Lead category reviews, market analysis, and gap identification to uncover growth opportunities.
• Partner with Innovation and Development teams to create a consumer-led innovation pipeline.
• Lead consumer research projects and translate insights into commercially actionable recommendations.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external agencies, retail customers, and site teams.
• Present compelling category stories and recommendations to both internal and external audiences.

Skills

Category Management

Stakeholder management

Analytical storytelling

Presentation skills

Job description

Uxbridge, West London

Department: Category - Meals

Way of Working: Office-based at our Uxbridge Head Office, with regular travel to Pilgrim's Europe manufacturing sites and customer locations.

Shape the Future of the Own-Label Ready Meals Category!

Pilgrim's Europe is looking for a commercially focused Senior Category Manager to join our Ready Meals Category team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies that drive growth across customers, channels, and categories.
• Provide category, shopper, and consumer insight to customer teams, helping build compelling customer plans.
• Act as the voice of the consumer and shopper, influencing business strategy and investment decisions.
• Lead category reviews, market analysis, and gap identification to uncover growth opportunities.
• Partner with Innovation and Development teams to create a consumer-led innovation pipeline.
• Lead consumer research projects and translate insights into commercially actionable recommendations.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external agencies, retail customers, and site teams.
• Present compelling category stories and recommendations to both internal and external audiences.

Essential

About You

• 4+ years' experience in Category Management, Category Insight, Shopper Marketing, or Customer Marketing within FMCG.
• Experience working within own-label food categories.
• Strong understanding of UK grocery retailers and customer-facing category management.
• Excellent analytical, storytelling, and presentation skills.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and working cross-functionally.
• Comfortable travelling regularly to manufacturing sites and customer meetings.

Desirable

• Experience within the Meals, Chilled, or Convenience Food category.
• Innovation and product development experience.
• Agency management experience.
• Food manufacturing or own-label supplier experience.

Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?

At Pilgrim's Europe, you'll have the opportunity to work at the heart of one of the UK's leading own-label food manufacturers, helping shape category strategy and innovation for some of the biggest names in UK retail.

Benefits Include

• Competitive salary and package
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee discount platform
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Career progression within a growing European food business