Category Manager

Picnic Technologies; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fresh lunch and snacks.

Health insurance discount with CZ

Lease a Bike discount

Personal development courses

OpenUp mental wellbeing access

25 holidays and pension

Job summary

Picnic Technologies seeks a Category Manager to own a product category, collaborating with analysts to translate data into commercial actions. You will drive category improvements, manage supplier negotiations, and optimize packaging and profitability across Europe.

You will work with cross-functional teams, leverage data-driven insights, and contribute to a fast-growing online grocery platform focused on quality and affordability.

Qualifications

• Master's degree with exposure to analytical problem-solving.
• 1-3 years of work experience, preferably as (junior) category manager and/or buyer in a commercial and analytical environment.
• Commercial drive, a nose for opportunities and not afraid to negotiate.
• Persistence and enthusiasm to drive projects to a successful end result.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Drive to deal with day-to-day operations, swift problem-solving skills.
• A genuine passion for food and/or consumer products.
• Fluent in English (Dutch, German or French is a plus!).
• Note: This is not a one‑time hire. We're hiring for this role throughout the year as part of our ongoing growth and expansion.

Responsibilities

• Build and develop a deep understanding of your category using Picnic data, customer insights, and supplier input.
• Identify commercial opportunities and track promising category innovations.
• Understand the end-to-end supply chain and identify opportunities to improve range, quality, and profitability.
• Evaluate packaging design and create beautiful, affordable Private Label products.
• Manage supplier negotiations from initial contact to signed contract.
• Build strong supplier relationships for smooth day-to-day operations and issue resolution.
• Create and execute a pragmatic plan to drive category improvements.

Skills

Analytical problem-solving

Commercial drive

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Language: English

Passion for food/consumer products

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Products are the core of our business. We aim to offer the best product range, to make sure we always deliver the best quality. And you're responsible to do this for your product category. With your team you take full responsibility for your category, with the goal to make customers happy and improve profitability.

At Picnic we differentiate ourselves in data. We have state of the art data-warehouses and all our insights and initiatives start with data driven understanding. Key to your success as a Category Manager is your ability to work alongside analysts to draw key observations and translate the insights into commercial actions.

Tricks of the trade

• Category understanding: Build and develop a deep understanding of your category through a combination of Picnic data, customer insights, and supplier input.
• Commercial opportunities: Keep an eye open for commercial opportunities and track promising category innovations.
• Supply chain optimization: Understand the end-to-end supply chain and identify opportunities to improve the range, product quality, and profitability.
• Packaging and design: Evaluate packaging design and create beautiful and affordable Private Label products.
• Supplier negotiations: Manage various stakeholders, including design agencies and the supply chain, and run negotiations with suppliers from start to signed contract.
• Supplier relationships: Build strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations while resolving operational challenges.
• Category improvements: Create and execute a pragmatic plan to drive category improvements.

Your superpowers

• Master's degree with exposure to analytical problem-solving
• 1-3 years of work experience, preferably as (junior) category manager and/or buyer in a commercial and analytical environment
• Commercial drive, a nose for opportunities and not afraid to negotiate
• Persistence and enthusiasm to drive projects to a successful end result
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills
• Drive to deal with day-to-day operations, swift problem-solving skills
• A genuine passion for food and/or consumer products
• Fluent in English (Dutch, German or French is a plus!)
• Note: This is not a one‑time hire. We're hiring for this role throughout the year as part of our ongoing growth and expansion.

Picnic perks

• Fresh Lunch, coffee, and snacks
• Our offices are equipped with fully‑fledged coffee bars and a kitchen and chefs. They prepare delicious fresh and warm lunches every day so you can keep your energy up.
• We have a partnership with CZ (a health insurance provider). Picnic employees get a discount on CZ insurance packages between 5% and 15%. Furthermore, through our partnership with Lease a Bike, you can rent‑to‑own a new (e)bike at a discounted rate
• You'll get ample opportunity to work on yourself at Picnic. We offer personal development through Lepaya courses, Academy trainings, and more. Interested in improving your mental wellbeing? Through OpenUp you get free access to trained psychologists and many courses.
• All the rest
• At Picnic you get 25 holidays, we cover your travel expenses and offer a pension plan. And your phone and laptop are on us, as well.

A bit about us

When you join Picnic, you're joining the shopping revolution, delivering groceries to millions of people across Europe, and we're growing fast. Think super fresh products and personal service, but in a modern, sustainable way. And we're the only ones in the world doing it all by ourselves. From our fully automated fulfillment centre to delivery algorithms and marketing campaigns: we do it all in-house. Our team consists of 85+ nationalities and we're always looking for new talent. Ready for the ride?

Recruitment Process

1. CV screening
2. Phone screening
3. Online assessment
4. Interviews
5. Assessment day
6. Closing interview
7. Offer

Commitment to equal opportunities

Picnic is an equal opportunity employer - this means that all decisions regarding applications will be based on qualifications and merit. Applicants will be regarded independently of age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, skin color, civil status, religious beliefs, physical or mental disability, or any other factors protected by law.
At Picnic, we celebrate and value our differences and are committed to building a safe and inclusive working environment where everyone can be themselves.

Our Mentality

At Picnic, we build from scratch with an owner's mindset. We dive into the unknown, taking end-to-end responsibility for every outcome, going the extra mile to tackle complex challenges. We turn insights into action, working as a team to get things done. We move fast, never compromising on quality or long‑term impact. With grit and commitment we build what has never been built before!