Senior Category Manager EMEA

Dole Packaged Foods; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

7.5% bonus

Hybrid work model

26 days annual leave

Pension plan (DC)

Public transport reimbursement

Home office allowance

Laptop, mobile phone & equipment

Job summary

Dole Packaged Foods seeks a Senior Category Manager EMEA to drive long-term category strategy across European markets, translating data into action and strengthening retailer partnerships. You will own strategy development, insights-to-action, and cross-functional collaboration within a small international team.

You will work closely with Sales, Marketing, and commercial teams, shaping growth opportunities across the UK, Germany, France and beyond.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in Category Management, Category Development, Category Insights or a closely related commercial role within FMCG.
• Hands-on experience with category and market data such as NielsenIQ, Circana and/or Kantar.
• Proven experience working directly with retail customers, using insights to influence commercial and category decisions.
• Experience working across European markets.

Responsibilities

• Shape our EMEA category strategy across European markets.
• Turn insights into action using data to drive decisions.
• Build stronger retailer partnerships with compelling category stories.
• Connect strategy with execution through assortment, visibility, activation and go-to-market plans.
• Challenge and influence stakeholders across functions, markets and seniority levels.
• Help structure and professionalize Category Management across EMEA.

Skills

Category Management

Data analysis

Fluent English

Analytical thinking

Influence & stakeholder management

Commercial mindset

Presentation skills

Tools

NielsenIQ

Circana

Kantar

Job description

Ready to make your mark on Category Management across EMEA? Join Dole Packaged Foods and get the ownership and freedom to shape what comes next!

At Dole Packaged Foods Europe, we are looking for a Senior Category Manager EMEA who wants to do more than manage an existing category plan. One of your key challenges will be to help us move from a short-term category approach towards a strong, longer-term strategy across European markets. Where can our categories grow over the next three years? Which shopper and consumption opportunities should we focus on? And how can we translate those opportunities into stronger propositions for our retail partners?

You will join a small, international team where your impact is visible, and your ideas can quickly turn into action. We offer the international scope and opportunities of a global organization, combined with the autonomy and entrepreneurial mindset of a much smaller business. If you see an opportunity, we expect you to speak up, challenge us and take ownership of turning ideas into action and results.

You will report to the Head of Marketing & Category Management, you will have one direct report and work closely with Sales, Marketing, the Management Team and commercial teams across Europe. You will also interact directly with retail partners in our key markets.

So, if you are an experienced FMCG category professional who enjoys combining data, strategy and commercial thinking, but also likes to roll up your sleeves and make things happen, this could be your next step!

What will you do?

Your role sits at the intersection of Category Strategy, Insights and Commercial Execution.

You will:

• Shape our EMEA category strategy. Identify growth opportunities, define strategic priorities and build a clear longer-term vision for our categories across European markets.
• Turn insights into action. Work with data from sources such as NielsenIQ, Circana, Kantar and retailer data to understand what is driving category performance — and, more importantly, what we should do about it.
• Build stronger retailer partnerships. Create compelling category stories and recommendations that add value for our retail partners and strengthen Dole's position as a strategic category partner.
• Connect strategy with execution. Translate category opportunities into concrete actions around assortment, visibility, activation and go-to-market plans together with Sales and Marketing.
• Challenge and influence. Bring a fresh perspective, challenge existing thinking where needed and influence stakeholders across functions, markets and seniority levels.
• Build and improve. Help us structure, standardize and further professionalize our Category Management approach across EMEA. Not everything has already been defined — and that is part of the opportunity.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who is analytical enough to understand the story behind the numbers and commercial enough to turn that story into action.

You don't just deliver insights or create impressive decks. You can explain what the data means for the business, make clear recommendations and bring Sales, Marketing and retail partners along with you.

You bring:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in Category Management, Category Development, Category Insights or a closely related commercial role within FMCG, with strong experience within a branded FMCG environment;
• Hands-on experience with category and market data such as NielsenIQ, Circana and/or Kantar;
• Proven experience working directly with retail customers, using insights to influence commercial and category decisions;
• A strong combination of analytical ability and commercial mindset, with the ability to translate complex data into clear recommendations, compelling stories and impactful presentations;
• Experience working across European markets. Knowledge of markets such as the UK, Germany/DACH and/or France is particularly relevant. Previous EMEA responsibility is valuable, but what matters most is that you understand how to operate across different markets;
• The confidence to operate independently, challenge stakeholders and take ownership;
• Fluent English. Additional European languages are a plus.

Regular travel is part of the role, particularly to the UK and Germany. Depending on business needs, this may vary from once every two months to approximately twice per month.

We offer

• An annual salary of €85,000–€100,000 gross including 8% holiday allowance, based on a 40-hour working week and depending on your experience;
• A 7.5% bonus;
• An initial 7-month contract with the intention of offering a permanent contract thereafter;
• Hybrid working, with two days per week in the office;
• 26 days of annual leave;
• A modern defined contribution pension scheme, with contributions split 50/50 between Dole and the employee;
• Full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting;
• Working from home allowance;
• Laptop, mobile phone and home office equipment.

Our application process

After receiving your application, we will review your profile and aim to get back to you within two weeks. The selection process may include a short online assessment.

Your first interview will be with our HR Manager and Head of Marketing & Category Management. In the second interview, you will meet our Commercial Director and Managing Director. This gives you the opportunity not only to tell us about your experience, but also to get a good understanding of Dole, our culture and the challenge ahead.

If we both see the right match, we hope to welcome you to the Dole Europe Tribe!