Senior Category Manager

Our client are a highly innovative chilled food manufacturer, this is a brand new role for them in Category, so you will be responsible for setting up and establishing a category function.

The business have just started to invest in data, have the ambition to grow the business and are looking for a enthusiastic individual to be part of their team.

The role is based in Leeds 4 days a week - we need someone who wants to be part of a team and the strategic development of the business.

You will have have a background ideally in an O/L environment, have worked across grocery, discounters and convenience. What is most important is your passion and enthusiasm to help grow the business and your department.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

· Establish a clear category strategy for business to facilitate broader distribution growth in the customer base (to cover recommended range line up, distribution targets, price/pack architecture, promotional support, and competitor targets)

· Establish relationships and co-ordinate the purchasing of relevant market data (eg. Kantar, Nielsen, IRI etc.)

· Translate data into ongoing reporting for the management team to enable them to understand competitor, and category performance in more detail

· Work directly with category managers at the top 4 retailers to input into their category strategy

· Support sales and marketing with contributions to retailer presentations and present directly to retailer buyers where required

· Support a range rationalisation project with the objective of establishing a core range of products to drive business growth forward

· Support the NPD process via category trend analysis, sell in presentation support and recommending commercial targets for new products

The Successful Applicant

Skills and Experience Required:

· Strong track record at Category/ Manager level

· Experience working in food

· Experience working directly with top 4 grocery retailers

· Self-starter and ability to operate autonomously

· Ability to influence and advise internal and external senior stakeholders

Must Have:

• Full driving licence & own car