This is a fixed term role for 14 months to provide maternity cover.
Working Relationships
Internal
· Reports into the Group Head of Category and Customer Marketing.
· Works alongside Category, Brand and Customer Marketing.
· To work as a cross functional team with Sales & the Customer Development teams.
External
· Strategic partners, as required.
· All necessary retailer contacts; (Senior) Buyers, Category planners, Merchandising, etc.
Responsibilities
· To create, lead and embed Kepak group category vision and plans, implementing recommendations and solutions to benefit the business and customers.
· Manage, develop and coach a Category Executive and support their customer engagement.
· Lead the commercial agenda internally, influencing commercial planning and thinking for the channel.
· Work with internal senior commercial stakeholders and the category controller to champion category-based selling and unlock channel opportunities with the retailers.
· Build compelling category selling stories to shape retailers’ thinking and sell the vison.
· Interpret and utilise category data to grow sales, by interpreting the key trends and dynamics shaping Grocery, Fresh and Chilled and the wider implications for the category and competitors.
· Lead cross functional category projects (internally and externally) managing multiple stakeholders.
· To work with the relevant NAMs to support strategic objectives with the retailer.
· Review the results of commercial initiatives to determine their effectiveness Vs category/ consumer/shopper objectives.
· Manage relationships with strategic partners including Nielsen, Kantar, Dunnhumby, HIM, Shopper Research agencies etc.
Requirements
· Strong analytical and proficient in the use of external market data tools with the ability to turn data into insight
· Experience of continuous and ad hoc shopper and consumer market data/ research. Knowledge and experience of using IRI/ Nielsen EPOS data and Kantar/ Scantrack consumer panel data is essential and Dunnhumby is preferred.
· Good communication, relationship building and stakeholder management skills.
· Strong leadership skills, a strategic thinker, and a real team player
· Experience in leading and developing high performing teams
· Educated to degree level, ideally in marketing or business-related degree.
· 5+ years category management/ commercial experience within an FMCG environment
· Proven influence and selling skills with an aptitude for producing compelling category insight presentations and recommendations.
· Good understanding of Category management principles - understands the 8-step process and the triple win approach, demonstrates it in day-to-day activities.
· Evidence of developing and executing category strategies, tactics, and plans in partnership with grocery retailers (range, promotion, merchandising, price).
· A thorough understanding of retail, sales and how organisations work (including ranging and space planning).
· Advanced Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint skills.
Benefits
* Annual bonus potential
* Car allowance
* BUPA Cash plan
* Values awards program
* Employee assistance program
* Cycle to work scheme
* Salary sacrifice pension plans
* Life assurance
* Subsidised canteen