Our client, a mid-sized, entrepreneurial Consumer Goods business, is seeking a high impact, transformational leader for their largest product category. This is a business-critical role with outstanding future career prospects.
This business is in good growth and embarked on a hugely exciting, progressive period of evolution. Their brand is instantly recognisable and iconic. They have a strong UK market position across the key channels, but also have an established international proposition. Their core product range is both design and functionally impressive.
The specific category is strategically important, and central to their company performance - the role is therefore internally and externally very high profile.
This influential, strategically important role is responsible for defining and delivering the long-term category vision. It brings together customer insight, competitive analysis, commercial discipline and brand ambition to drive sustainable, profitable growth across the UK and key international markets.
* The Head of Category acts as a senior expert, working closely with marketing, NPD, supply chain, quality and sales to ensure aligned and flawless execution. Leading a small but high performing team of buyers and developers, the role strengthens cross-functional delivery, cultivates strategic supplier partnerships and develops the structure, capability and performance of the group.
* The position oversees the full product lifecycle—from concept development through launch to ongoing optimisation—ensuring ranges are customer‑centric, distinctive and commercially robust.
* With responsibility for global sourcing and supplier management, the role negotiates cost, terms and capabilities to safeguard margin and elevate quality. It also owns pricing, margin improvement, forecasting and full P&L accountability, acting as the single point of ownership for category performance.
* In addition, the Head of Category defines long-term growth through clear range architecture, insight-driven innovation and focused commercial planning. By building a high‑performing team and driving disciplined, aligned execution, the role accelerates growth, enhances profitability and strengthens brand equity within a fast‑paced company environment.
The business is seeking an exceptional leader for their key category. The individual will ideally have the ambition, and ability, to facilitate progression to an Exec position over the medium term. The specific requirements:
* Credible product management experience in a respected, dynamic and known branded organisation, rather than purely retail, is critically important and seen as essential.
* The ideal candidate will be a commercially astute, accountable, and strategically driven category leader with extensive experience in successfully managing and growing consumer product categories.
* This individual will bring energy, resilience, and a steady hand through periods of change. Their influential, low‑ego leadership style—grounded in clarity, collaboration, and transparency—will enable them to align cross‑functional teams and quickly build trust across diverse stakeholders.
* Clear and adaptable communication will support strong engagement with Marketing, Merchandising, Finance, Retail, senior leadership, and external partners.
* They will have a proven ability to deliver growth in fast-paced, high‑performance environments—particularly where speed, rigour, and data‑driven decision-making are critical. They will be comfortable owning the full category lifecycle, including product development, P&L responsibility, pricing, forecasting, and overall commercial delivery. Confidence in managing complex, multi‑channel portfolios and developing compelling ranges for international markets will also be essential.