Lead Customer Category Manager - Leeds

Arla Foods Deutschland GmbH; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000

Job description

Are you a passionate and strategic category expert with a keen eye for developing excellence in retail category execution plans?

Do you want to be part of a growing team that will be leading the direction around how to unlock category and commercial growth?

Do you thrive with high levels of autonomy and have a hunger for delivering commercial results from thorough category and shopper understanding?

How will you make an impact?

As a Lead Customer Category Manager at Arla, you will be the expert in your aligned retailers, categories and channels, possessing a deep and thorough understanding of market performance. You'll be responsible for identifying clear growth opportunities through data, for both Arla and our retail partners and executing these plans in line with strategic ambitions. Collaborating closely with the sales and marketing teams, you will leverage your networking and influencing skills to focus on driving results and execution through commercialized category and shopper insights. Additionally, you will demonstrate leadership behaviors and experience to coach and develop colleagues, to raise the bar on performance and supporting the delivery of team and business objectives.

• Be the expert in your aligned retailers, categories and channels, understanding market performance.
• Be able to turn data into insight and effective storytelling to influence and build commitment with retailers to execute growth opportunities for Arla and retail partners.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams and retailers, to identify opportunities and drive these through to results and execution.
• Build strong relationships and meet with key retailer contacts cross-functionally at all levels to drive category direction and performance in both the short and long term.
• Tailor Arla execution plans and priorities to align to customer priorities to help deliver results.
• Coach and develop colleagues to support delivery of Customer Development team and business objectives.
• Responsibility for Line management and development of a Senior Professional (Exec).
• Proactively manage your workload and that of your direct report in order to deliver against customer and business priorities on time and in full.
• Manage upwards to ensure key messages are cascaded where relevant to support delivery of objectives and goals.
• Be an expert in retailer and market data systems to identify trends, and turn data into actionable insight that drives results and execution in market.

What will make you successful?

Leader of change: You should be proactive in creating your own direction and inspiring commitment both internally and externally, as well as being able to spot opportunities to drive change and role model change across the broader Customer Development team.

Strategist: You should be able to connect data and insights, think long-term, and possess a strong focus on converting strategies into actionable plans.

Results-driven: With extensive FMCG experience, you should have a deep understanding of the organization's and customers' commercial needs, and be dedicated to driving growth for Arla and its customers.

Coaching abilities: As a leader, you should be capable of inspiring and leading a team to exceed performance expectations. You should be passionate about developing a high-performing Customer Development team and collaborating with the Director and leadership team to upskill and inspire them.

Comfortable in operations: You should be able to seamlessly transition between strategic thinking and actively participating in the execution of tasks.

Relationship builder: You should have the ability to quickly build rapport and strong cross-functional relationships both internally and externally at all levels and possess strong influencing skills.

Execution focus: You should have a deep understanding of retailers' needs and be able to act swiftly and adaptably to maximize growth for customers.

Category and shopper obsessive: You should have strong industry connections and a strong curiosity to build expertise around evolving shopper behavior.

High performance & growth mindset: You should be open to continuous improvement as an individual and as part of a team. Your willingness to learn, grow, and support the delivery of the function will be valuable to the senior commercial team.

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary (salary discussed at application stage)
• 26 days holiday & Bank holidays annually
• Bonus up to 20% (Personal and Business performance)
• Pension contribution matched up to 6%
• 4 x annual salary life assurance
• Free to use onsite Gym
• Access to discounted products in our Staff Shop
• People agenda commitment to training and development (internal & external)
• Flexible Benefits- buy up to 5 days annual leave, reward gateway scheme- discounts with various retailers via my benefit platform.
• Most importantly - Cheese hamper at Christmas

Would you like to join us?

The closing date for applications is the …… For more information please contact Oliver Hickson-Burr Talent Partner – [e-mail]

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. The advert may close early in the event we receive sufficient applicants, so please don’t delay in submitting your application.

Please note we are not partnered with any recruitment agencies for this role. We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not submit CVs on behalf of candidates for this role, as these CVs will not be considered under the agency ownership and if Arla does progress with any such candidate, this will not amount to acceptance of the agency's terms. We encourage interested individuals to apply directly through our official channels.

We have a purpose for Good

At Arla, we strive to unlock the highest potential in each other while working together to create a sustainable future of dairy. We call it Stronger People Stronger Planet and it is deeply anchored in our organisation and founded on our commitment to respecting human rights, increasing access to healthy dairy nutrition, inspiring good food habits, and improving the environment for future generations. In order to succeed we need to hire people with a sustainable mindset. Could this be you?