Category Manager Whey and Lactose

Glanbia Nutritionals, Inc.; Kilkenny; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nutrition and food company in Kilkenny is seeking a Category Manager to oversee the commercial profitability of its protein products. You will set the category strategy, drive product growth, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. Strong leadership and business acumen are essential for this role. This position offers hybrid working and multiple benefits to support career progression and work-life balance.

Benefits

Hybrid working (flex Fridays)

Free parking incl. EV charging

On-site gym free to use

Parenting room

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven ability to create and present business plans for investments.
• Intimate knowledge of product and markets.
• Ability to direct a cross-functional group.

Responsibilities

• Set category strategy in line with business goals.
• Drive product returns through effective management.
• Develop opportunities pipeline for strategic execution.

Skills

Strong leadership skills

Business acumen

Communication

Collaboration

Strategic thinking

Decision making

Job description

Overview

Tirlán, is a world-class food and nutrition co-operative, with a diverse portfolio of quality ingredients, leading consumer and agri brands.

We nurture a talented team across Ireland, the US, MEA and China, delivering annual revenues of over €3 billion, and over 2,300 people to manage our network of 11 processing plants and 52 agri branches. Our purpose is to nourish the world, while safeguarding our environment for future generations.

Role Profile

Reporting to the Head of Category Proteins and Powders, the category manager is the P&L owner and is responsible for the commercial profitability of the products within the category.

Developing strategy and increasing product profitability are the core KPIs of this role.

This role requires the ability to direct and support product innovation, drive customer acquisition, lead investment strategy and make balanced supply planning decisions.

Responsibilities

• Set out the category strategy and the business requirements necessary to deliver it, in line with the overall ingredients category goals, ensuring we have the optimum mix of products.
• Bring investment strategies to life by ensuring the correct projects and business cases are in place.
• Drive product returns, the category manager is the owner of product CPL contribution (cent per litre).
• In collaboration with both the sales and planning functions, balance budget and forecast requirements. The category manager is the S&OP owner for the category.
• Develop the new opportunities pipeline to realise strategic plan execution, agreeing targets for business development with the market facing sales teams.
• Work closely with the marketing team to build the go-to-market story, linking our USP’s to customer /market needs.
• Drive product growth aligning R&D and other cross-functional colleagues to bring new products & applications to market.
• Support pricing decisions for sales teams, long-term price forecasting & setting minimum pricing for new or enhanced products.
• Managing new, value-add, product introduction including change management, collateral development, product concepts and applications and ownership of strategy development

Products in the proteins category

• Whey proteins (acid and sweet)
• WPI
• Lactose

Stakeholders

The category manager will interact closely with

• Project finance
• Planning
• Marketing
• Operations
• R&D

Requirements

• The successful candidate will possess strong leadership skills, business acumen and a capability to develop strategic plans.
• Proven ability in communication, collaboration and decision making are necessary Intimate knowledge of the product and an understanding of markets and customers.
• Ability to lead and direct a cross functional group of peers.
• Can create and present business plans for investments.
• Strong commercial /business development acumen and financial understanding.
• Ability to think strategically and articulate long term vision.

Core Competencies

• Interpersonal Savvy
• Organisational agility
• Results-oriented
• Strategic Agility
• Commercial acumen
• Operations
• R&

We offer

• Hybrid working (flex Fridays)
• Free parking incl. EV charging – where applicable
• On-site gym free to use for employees
• Parenting room
• Work/life balance and collaborative work culture
• Career progression opportunities

About us

Through our expertise in research and development, customer insights, food safetyand state-of-the-art manufacturing we bring innovative food and nutrition solutions to a global market. Our new and vibrant headquarters in Kilkenny City operates as a collaboration hub where multi-functional teams come together in a hybrid work environment.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We believe in the value of difference. We know that different perspectives, life experience and backgrounds can drive innovation and deliver growth.

We welcome people from all walks of life without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, or disability status.

Join our Talent Pool

Considering a new career in Tirlán but this isn’t the role for you? Join our talent community and sign up for job notifications at www.tirlan.com/careers