Category Manager

Better placed recruitment; St Albans; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000

Job description

Role: Category Manager

Location: Hertfordshire (3 days in the office, the rest working from home)

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced Category Executive looking for a step up or a Category Manager seeking a fresh challenge in a dynamic and growing environment.

We’re recruiting for a premium food brand that’s making waves in the FMCG sector. With listings in major retailers, as well as a strong presence in independents and farm shops, this brand is poised for significant growth. The business is expanding into exciting new categories and looking for a talented Category Manager to join their team.

The Role:

As the Category Manager, you’ll report to the Category Development Director and play a pivotal role in delivering actionable insights to unlock growth for both the business and its retail partners. This role offers the chance to shape category strategy, build strong relationships with buyers, and be part of an entrepreneurial team with a real impact.

You’ll work closely with commercial managers, marketing, and cross-functional teams to become the go-to expert on the category. From analysing shopper and market data to shaping promotional and ranging strategies, you’ll be at the heart of driving category performance and growth.

• Build strong, advisory relationships with key buyers, becoming a trusted category expert.

• Deliver regular category updates and proactively analyse performance, providing insights and challenging perspectives.

• Identify risks and opportunities in distribution, sales, and promotional strategies, offering robust recommendations.

• Support NPD initiatives and contribute to developing the top-line category vision for customers.

• Stay ahead of market trends and use historical data to provide actionable recommendations that support business growth.

• Lead analysis and deliver insights to marketing and commercial teams on pricing, promotions, events, and NPD/EPD.

You:

• Confident with data analysis, you go beyond the numbers to tell the story and highlight opportunities.

• Excellent presentation and relationship-building skills, particularly with buyers and merchandising teams.

• Proactive, outcome-focused, and able to prioritize in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.

• Experience in FMCG, ideally within Category Management or Insights (client or agency side).

• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in tools like Excel.