Category Marketing Controller – Meals
Location: Uxbridge Head Office (office-based)
Department: Category Marketing
Reports to: Category & Insight Director
Direct reports: 4
Travel : Regular travel to sites and customers
About the role
At Pilgrim's Europe, our Category & Insight team provides a clear, forward-looking category vision that drives sustainable growth across the business. As Category Marketing Controller – Meals, you will play a critical leadership role in shaping and delivering this vision for one of our most important categories.
Based at our Uxbridge head office, you will be the recognised expert for the Meals category, leading and developing a team of Category and Customer Marketing professionals. You'll use deep consumer, shopper and category insight to create compelling strategies that unlock growth for both Pilgrim's Europe and our customers.
Working closely with Commercial, Innovation and Operational teams, you will identify future consumer-led opportunities, influence key decisions and help build a robust pipeline that supports long-term category success.
Key responsibilities
Lead, coach and develop a high-performing Category Marketing team
Play a significant role in shaping and delivering the Group Marketing strategy, ensuring the Meals category is strongly represented
Develop, communicate and execute Meals category strategies across all growth levers, including channel, shopper and customer-specific plans
Build strong, trusted relationships with major retail customers, delivering thought leadership and acting as a proactive category partner
Provide clear, commercially compelling insight and recommendations to customers and internal commercial teams
Champion the consumer and shopper perspective across operational business units to support effective decision-making
Partner with Innovation & Development to build a long-term, insight-led innovation pipeline
Manage allocated budgets for consumer research to address category knowledge gaps and opportunities
Travel periodically to sites and customers to stay closely connected to operations and market needs
What we're looking for
Experience & knowledge (essential):
5+ years' experience in FMCG, with strong Meals or relevant category expertise
Proven leadership experience (3+ years), including line management
Demonstrable success in building and executing category strategies
Experience working closely with major UK grocery multiple retailers
Background in own-label category management
Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills at all levels
Confident communicator with strong written, verbal and storytelling capability
Ability to distil insight into clear, actionable and commercially focused solutions
Experience working closely with innovation, commercial and operational teams
Ideal behaviours
Strong alignment with the Values of Pilgrim's Europe
Strategic, collaborative and consumer-focused mindset
Proactive, credible and confident in building relationships internally and externally
Why Join Us?
Shape the future of the Meals category in a senior, influential leadership role
Be based at our Uxbridge head office, working closely with senior stakeholders
Lead and develop a talented team with genuine ownership and visibility
Act as a true category partner to major UK grocery retailers
Turn insight into strategies that deliver real commercial impact
Influence the long-term innovation pipeline, not just short-term plans
Gain valuable exposure through travel to sites and customers
Join a values-led organisation where ambition, collaboration and accountability matter
Ready to make an impact?
If you're a strategic category leader with a passion for the Meals category and a track record of turning insight into growth, this is your opportunity to make a real difference. Based at our Uxbridge head office, you'll be at the heart of shaping category strategy, customer partnerships and long-term success.
Apply now and help define the future of Meals at Pilgrim's Europe.
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