Role Overview
The primary aim of the role is to support the category management function and management of our relationships with Coop and Waitrose, reporting to the Category & Trading Manager. This is a very varied role that will offer a broad variety of experience allowing accelerated personal development. This role will work closely with the Category & Trading Manager to support the sales team and our retail partners with category insight, whilst also driving growth for our private label brands globally. This will also require working closely with the international sales team, as well as managing our relationships with Waitrose and Coop. This role is ideal for someone who has 2-5 years of commercial or category experience. Knowledge of category management and commercial relationship management is vital.
Role Responsibilities
* Work with the category & trading manager to support the category and retailer own brand business
* Provide customer facing category insight in collaboration with the sales team
* Support the development of annual budgets for our Waitrose and Coop business
* Support the delivery of the annual budgets through cross-functional working internally and with external retail partners
* Support the delivery of the Waitrose and Coop category strategies
* Through collaborative cross-functional working and utilising external resources (including IGD, Trade Magazines, Suppliers), provide category performance updates to help influence customer purchasing decisions by the Sales team.
* Monitor all range and pricing amendments and provide context for this internally
* Develop and communicate an annual brand support plan in conjunction with Waitrose and Coop
* Monitor and communicate range changes internally
* Select relevant NPD for featuring in New Lines communications to customers and the wider business.
* Work closely with the Product Data and Compliance Teams to ensure all product data and other relevant information is current and available when suggesting products in territory.
* Select appropriate product substitutions for discontinued lines where not offered by suppliers.
_ Skills Required_
* Experience of category management or commercial relationship management
* A person who can work in a fast-paced export team environment
* Knowledge of Waitrose and or Coop would be beneficial
* Ability to identify areas of change, recommend future actions and manage implementation
* Project management skills with an ability to see things through to completion
* A strong commitment to align the business operations with the needs of customers
* A positive, can-do approach, one that wants to test new things, develop creative and innovative solutions and seeks continual improvement
* Ability to balance the needs of commercial performance with the ethos of the business
* Not afraid to be hands on, collaborative and support across the business
* Decisive individual with ability to work independently
* Ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the business and with customers and suppliers.
* Advanced level IT skills. Excel and PowerPoint experience required
* Experienced in an FMCG Trading function, ideally from a retail, wholesale or sales background.
* Strong numeracy skills ranging from interpretation of data to management accounts and budgeting.
* Ability to source and review the latest Category Insights available and develop them for other functions to use to drive performance.
* Experienced in contract negotiation and supplier/manufacturer/partner/brand owner relationship management and performance would be beneficial.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Health & wellbeing programme
* Life insurance
* Paid volunteer time
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Grimsby DN31 1SJ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Experience:
* Category: 2 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Grimsby DN31 1SJ