Head of Category
Our client is a category-defining global business that has produced innovative products across multiple categories that support modern-day lifestyles. They have grown into a global leader in the functional wellness space and are now sold in stores worldwide, including all major UK and international retailers.
This role is all about building a centre of excellence for category, insight and performance across Europe – shaping how the business thinks, decides and wins in a fast-growing functional category. You’ll blend data, sharp storytelling and real commercial edge to unlock growth with retailers, out-of-home partners and internal teams.
The role
* Lead and mature the EU Insights & Commercial Strategy function – setting the frameworks, tools and ways of working that turn data into decisions and clear actions.
* Build a single, joined-up view of performance across NIQ, Kantar, Circana, retailer portals and DTC data, creating one trusted source of truth for the business.
* Design repeatable playbooks for opportunity sizing, forecasting, post-event analysis and category storytelling that can be picked up and used by commercial teams.
* Own category captaincy across Better-For-You and No/Lo.
* Create retailer-facing category visions and decks that land a clear future for the category and position the brand as the growth partner of choice.
* Map missions, occasions, adjacencies and shelf architecture, then translate that work into tangible, incremental value for retailers and the wider category.
Commercial impact
* Partner closely with Sales and RGM to drive decisions on range reviews, PPA, promo strategy, mix, space and visibility – always anchored in clear, commercial insight.
* Build simple, punchy dashboards and performance packs for senior leadership, calling out what is really driving rate of sale, incrementality and customer lifetime value.
* Use data and storytelling to strengthen retailer negotiations and unlock distribution, space and activation across key customers and channels.
Strategic partner to the business
* Work hand in glove with Marketing, NPD and Finance on everything from sizing the prize and white-space identification through to innovation tracking and post-launch reviews.
* Bring consumer and shopper insight into brand and campaign planning, helping to prioritise where to invest for the biggest return.
* Inform future product, pack and pricing architecture with a clear view of need-states, willingness to pay and retailer economics.
About you
* 8+ years in category management, commercial strategy, insights or RGM within FMCG/CPG, ideally with strong premium experience.
* Comfortable in the data: experienced with tools like Nielsen/NIQ, Kantar, Circana, IRI, SIP and Dunnhumby, and confident stitching multiple sources together.
* A natural storyteller who can turn complex analysis into clear, compelling, commercially useful narratives for commercial and non-commercial stakeholders.
* Proven experience working cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, NPD and Finance to deliver growth plans.
* Entrepreneurial mindset – you enjoy building, iterating and getting stuck in, rather than simply running a mature process.
* Energised by high-growth, fast-paced environments where you can genuinely shape the future of a category-defining brand.
Package & ways of working
* HQ: London. Office based with flexibility to work from home
* Salary, bonus and equity all DOE, with clear progression opportunities for the right person
* 24 days’ holiday + Bank Holidays
* Pension (3% employer / 5% employee)
* Private healthcare
* Monthly product allowance
* Dog-friendly office.
* Working-from-abroad policy*.
* Sabbatical after a period of service*
If you are passionate about shaping the next phase of growth for an exciting brand, do hit apply.