Strategic Category Manager

Nestlé; Crawley; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bottled water company is seeking a Strategic Category Manager to shape market-winning plans and strategies for their Waters & Healthy Beverages brands. This hybrid role (approx. 2 days a week in office) offers the chance to work in a fast-paced environment, develop commercial propositions, and collaborate with multiple stakeholders. Candidates should possess proven FMCG experience and strong strategic planning skills. A competitive salary up to £50k, bonus scheme, and excellent benefits package are included.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme

Flexible working

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension scheme

Focus on personal development

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic category roles.
• Ability to manage complex agendas across customers.
• Strong communication and coaching capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Work on channel strategy and priorities.
• Support revenue management planning.
• Identify priority channels for the brand.
• Develop tailored category channel plans.
• Communicate commercial propositions effectively.
• Contribute to cross-functional teams for NPD.

Skills

Commercial experience in FMCG

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Influencing skills

Job description

Position Snapshot

Business Area: Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages (NWUK)
Location: Gatwick – Hybrid working: approx. 2 days per week in our office
Salary up to 50k dependent upon experience + potential bonus + other fantastic benefits

Position Summary

Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages is the world leader in the bottled water market and we’re committed to bottling the very best waters from the source, straight to our customers, via the most advanced and sustainable techniques currently employed. We are also proud to produce some of the UK’s best‑loved brands including Buxton, SanPellegrino, Perrier and Nestlé Pure Life. We have a genuine passion for Water and Healthy Beverages, a fabulous portfolio of brands, a clear Premium Beverage strategy and a determination to win in the marketplace of both consumers and customers.

We have a great opportunity for a Strategic Category Manager to join our Commercial Development Team (CDT) to help shape market winning plans, pack promotion and pricing strategy, and channel strategy for our Waters & Healthy Beverages brands across a range of customers.

A day in the life of a Strategic Category Manager …

In this fast paced, challenging environment, you will be a trusted Strategic category expert. The role will build shopper‑lead action plans to win share and out‑think, influence and execute the competition. You will develop, integrate and commercialise the Brand and Channel Priorities to contribute to our overall share, organic growth and profit growth.

Key responsibilities of this role will include:

• Work with the Category Development team to commercialise channel strategy and priorities and lead the creation of the Picture of Success recommendations (5 P’s)
• Support the Strategic Revenue Management planning and execution agenda within the business to continue our journey of driving profitable growth and external share winning plans
• Identify priority channels for the Category/Brand and develop tailored Category Channel plans in line with overall market strategy
• Contribute to the Integrated Commercial Planning (ICP) process by identifying the key opportunities and possible shopper‑lead action plans for the Category/Brand
• Develop winning commercial propositions for the category/Brand, effectively communicating these to customers, the sales team and field sales managers through sells, CPs, etc.
• Play a key role in a cross‑functional team in commercialisation of NPD and pack format recommendations and Picture of Success (5 P’s) recommendations

What will make you successful?

To be successful, you will already have some fantastic commercial experience under your belt, in an FMCG environment, and ideally have proven experience of delivering in a strategic category role. You will have managed complex agendas across multiple customers, channels and brands whilst engaging multiple stakeholders, and experience in creating and selling winning category plans. With strong communication and influencing skills, you’ll have the ability to coach and lead a wide range of stakeholders both internally and externally.

Why Nestlé?

Across Nestlé, we are creating an environment where we all feel we belong, we are the best we can be, and we win together. We want people to feel they can be themselves, dare greatly and believe their best is yet to come. We will actively encourage you to gain different experiences in a wide range of roles across both Category Sales and Marketing, and we support your career growth with industry‑leading eBusiness and Sales Academies.

What You Need To Know

Great benefits you’d expect from a business the size of Nestlé – a competitive salary and benefits package, bonus scheme, flexible working scheme, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays plus flex leave, pension scheme and a real focus on personal development and growth.

We are committed to equal opportunity for all and we may collect relevant data for monitoring purposes during our candidate registration process.

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Nestlé, our values are rooted in respect. When we embrace diversity and give everyone the chance to be the best they can be, we can think in new, creative ways that grow and enhance our business. People of all gender identities, ethnically diverse individuals, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT+ community are strongly encouraged to apply. If there is anything we can do to accommodate you to participate fully in the application process, please let us know. We take pride in championing inclusion and diversity, our people make up a number of Colleague Networks who represent different experiences and communities who hold us accountable in creating a sense of belonging for all, and our values create the conditions for us to respect the unique contribution you bring.