The Soft Drinks Category Planning Manager is an integral part of the soft drink’s strategy delivery, working with several natural work streams (internal and external) to deliver strategic and sustainable growth plans. The role includes creating and owning the trade strategy for soft drinks that is specific by channel, with a clear media strategy that aligns to the individual category strategies. The role requires working closely with large FMCG businesses including Coke, Britvic, Red Bull, Highland Spring, Danone, Nestle, LRS (Lucozade / Ribena) along with many others. The role will include leading the PGR process / the 3-year strategy which includes leading a proposition led trade strategy for drinks that also gives packaged foods a clear identity with our shoppers and within the industry. These propositions include developing the first to market soft drinks social drinks proposition in 2024 including perfect serves with our spirits team, developing a lead out functional health proposition, leading our ‘with meals’ proposition with our food teams (25% of drinks drunk are with food) and the delivery of the convenience reset. The role will also include supporting delivery of the health plan for drinks – with the aim to lead in no sugar drinks and clean health (water hydration plan). At a macro level, the aim is to use our scale to nudge shoppers to consume more water and reduce the statistic that 4/5 people in the UK do not drink the recommended daily amount of water. Analysing data quickly, understand root causes to provide additional insight and take the relevant action Use knowledge of the Customer & Market to drive great commercial decisions Manage supplier performance, shape strategy within area of responsibility and develop trusted partnerships Collaboratively developing focused ranges aligned to the Tesco principles with great customer appeal that hit commercial KPIs Proactively identify, assess and manage potential business and financial risks Understand and interpret internal and external financial information to make clear commercial led decisions Work proactively internally and with suppliers to maximise profitability through the ideal mix of range, price & promotions across channels Interpret data to forecast sales accurately, evaluate promotions and events and take action to improve performance Follow the Critical Path to deliver trade, promotional, marketing and event plans for the category ensuring delivery through Retail, Trade Planning and Supply Chain team Work across the business to bring range reviews to life for customers and stand over all digital channel communication. Experience: Experience of working in a Commercial function - Category development Demonstrate strong analytical skills and thinking Operational skills; Data analytics Strategy led thinking and planning Influencing skills LI - EF1 LI - Hybrid