Category Lead UK

1 month ago

Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

Job Description:

In partnership with the Category Director Europe, this role is responsible for the management of the UK & Ireland category team, and has line management and talent development responsibility for the UK category team, in addition to business responsibility for engaging the UK & Irish trade behind the Mars Food category vision (directly and through the team) and improving Perfect Store compliance. The role is also responsible for driving growth for Mars by ensuring that critical insights are shared on the category performance and

ensuring that our brand and strategic plans, including NPD, are grounded in category insight.

The role is responsible for any data, reporting, inputs, or work required at total UK & Ireland Market Unit level - for example, range optimization, category forecasts, S&OP inputs, OP inputs, etc.

What are we looking for?
  • Proven experience in Category Management Experience in the local market, preferably UK Sales and/or category and customer management experience that includes selling, negotiating, and leveraging insights to deliver customized customer plans, achieving company and customer objectives, and advancing category leadership
  • Customer experience with direct and head office customers delivering solutions that cover product, placement, promotion and/ or pricing; with a track record of meeting/ exceeding sales objectives, establishing effective business relationships with key decision makers at multiple levels
  • Customer facing experience demonstrated by ability to assess needs, propose mutually beneficial solutions, overcome objections, handle tough situations, manage conflict, and close sale to maximize mutual value
  • Experience in leveraging the fundamentals of Category Leadership to drive category growth; ability to tell the category story.
  • Experience in managing a budget and/ or trade revenue optimization delivering budget and ROI
  • Experience of prioritization and making workload tradeoffs would be useful but not essential

What will be your key responsibilities?

  • Line management and talent development responsibility for the category team of Market Unit (2 markets).

  • Leading the category team to achieve the business growth and profitability targets, including mitigation of customer and competitor risks.

  • Deliver best in class Category Management for Market Unit by taking an objective total category perspective when providing market, consumer, and shopper insights to the customer.

  • Execution of Mars NPD launches in line with ER targets, through the creation of category focused selling stories, identifying listing opportunities/challenges and providing merchandising solutions to maximize on shelf delivery.

  • Delivery of an in- depth category performance understanding to help inform internal customer team decision making and strategy

  • Input into KPI setting and tracking against these, including Perfect Store, Core Range compliance and distribution

  • Ownership for the localization & delivery of category strategic fundamentals (i) Category vision (ii) Perfect Store  (iii) category insights sharing

  • Key deliverables of the role are to improve the Perfect Store compliance, land distribution and execution of our NPD in line with ER and to work with the Category Director to co-create a longer-term category vision with the customer

  • Ensure Category growth and objectivity are at heart of all interactions with Customers.

  • Deliver a step change in customer partnership at all levels.

  • Delivery of customer relationships, meetings, and interaction vs the contact strategy.

  • Develop good relationships with internal Mars Account teams and ensure internal alignment behind customer category strategy. Attend account team meetings and establishing yourself as an integral part of their team

  • Additionally, the role may, at times – subject to business needs – be required to directly step in and support category management work on the accounts.

What can you expect from Mars?
  • Work with over 140,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
  • Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
  • Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
  • An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

#LI-JA1

#LI-HYBRID

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

  • Category Lead UK

    1 month ago

    Waltham on the Wolds, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    JOB DESCRIPTION Job Description: In partnership with the Category Director Europe, this role is responsible for the management of the UK & Ireland category team, and has line management and talent development responsibility for the UK category team, in addition to business responsibility for engaging the UK & Irish trade behind the Mars Food category...

  • Category Development/Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:Are you an expert of what you do and want a role where you can put all your knowledge into practice every day, partnering with the local business units and global teams? We can give you the opportunity to do this in a value driven company where you will develop yourself together with the organization every day.As part of the UK Category...

  • Category Manager

    4 weeks ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:What are we looking for?Reporting to the UK Head of Category, this role is responsible for delivering best in class category leadership for UK Food. The role scope is across the Mars portfolio and will be required to work with different customers, with specific customer ownership confirmed against each category role. Using a combination of...

  • Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:What are we looking for?Reporting to the UK Head of Category, this role is responsible for delivering best in class category leadership for UK Food. The role scope is across the Mars portfolio and will be required to work with different customers, with specific customer ownership confirmed against each category role. Using a combination of...

  • Category Manager

    1 month ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:What are we looking for?Reporting to the UK Head of Category, this role is responsible for delivering best in class category leadership for UK Food. The role scope is across the Mars portfolio and will be required to work with different customers, with specific customer ownership confirmed against each category role. Using a combination of...

  • Category Manager

    6 days ago

    Waltham Abbey, Essex, United Kingdom Jollyes The Pet People Full time

    About the RoleWe are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Buyer to join our Commercial team at Jollyes The Pet People. As a Senior Buyer, you will be responsible for the financial performance, product and supplier selection of specified sections or categories across our pet range.Key ResponsibilitiesWork closely with merchandising colleagues to...

  • Category Manager

    1 month ago

    Waltham on the Wolds, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    JOB DESCRIPTION Job Description: What are we looking for? Reporting to the UK Head of Category, this role is responsible for delivering best in class category leadership for UK Food. The role scope is across the Mars portfolio and will be required to work with different customers, with specific customer ownership confirmed against each category role....

  • Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Waltham on the Wolds, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    JOB DESCRIPTION Job Description: What are we looking for? Reporting to the UK Head of Category, this role is responsible for delivering best in class category leadership for UK Food. The role scope is across the Mars portfolio and will be required to work with different customers, with specific customer ownership confirmed against each category role....

  • Category Development/Manager

    2 weeks ago

    Waltham on the Wolds, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    JOB DESCRIPTION Job Description: Are you an expert of what you do and want a role where you can put all your knowledge into practice every day, partnering with the local business units and global teams? We can give you the opportunity to do this in a value driven company where you will develop yourself together with the organization every day. As...

  • Customer Development Director – Mars Pet Nutrition UK

    1 month ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:Customer Development Director role within Mars Pet Nutrition involves leading and executing the strategy for key customers, maintaining senior-level relationships, and driving the customer agenda at Mars. You will lead a team to develop world-class customer relationships, ensure strong execution, and influence internal stakeholders for...

  • Experienced Steel Fixer Wanted for UK Project

    6 days ago

    Waltham Abbey, Essex, United Kingdom Randstad UK Holding Full time

    Job Title: Steel FixerJob Type: ContractLocation: UKJob Description:We are seeking a reliable and experienced Steel Fixer to join our team at Randstad UK Holding. As a Steel Fixer, you will be responsible for supplying and fitting steel components, including RC Frame Packages and 70-tonne steel.Key Responsibilities:Supply and fit steel components according...

  • Customer Account Director

    4 weeks ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:This role will lead the overall relationship spanning multiple levels of seniority on the buying and selling work streams as well as influencing internally and driving the agenda in Mars. Leading a team of 2 associates, this role will engage and develop direct reports to ensure the team develop; a world class customer relationship, excellent...

  • Brand Director Italian

    4 days ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:In this role you will act as the brand custodian in the European region with responsibility and accountability to lead the Italian Category including the critically important Dolmio Strategic Cell. The successful candidate will lead the Italian marketing regional team to develop and deploy the brand growth strategy and marketing activity –...

  • eCOM Customer Development Manager

    1 month ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:eCOM is the fastest growing channel for Mars Pet and we are looking for an experienced eCommerce Account Manager to join our team and help us achieve our ambitious goal of providing a Digital-First experience for Pet Parents. Ocado & ODD (On Demand Delivery) serve as strategic partner customers and emerging must win growth platforms for the...

  • Customer Development Director – Mars Pet Nutrition UK

    1 month ago

    Waltham on the Wolds, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    JOB DESCRIPTION Job Description: Customer Development Director role  within Mars Pet Nutrition involves leading and executing the strategy for key customers, maintaining senior-level relationships, and driving the customer agenda at Mars. You will lead a team to develop world-class customer relationships, ensure strong execution, and influence internal...

  • Lead Nurse for Neurological Rehabilitation

    3 weeks ago

    Waltham Abbey, Essex, United Kingdom Care First UK Recruitment Solutions Full time

    Position: Senior Registered NurseSpecialization: Focused on Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and related neurological disorders.About the Organization: Care First UK Recruitment Solutions is dedicated to providing exceptional nursing care and rehabilitation services for individuals facing challenges due to acquired brain injuries and other neurological...

  • Market Activation Manager

    2 weeks ago

    Waltham, United Kingdom Mars Full time

    Job Description:Market Activation Manager - 12M AssignmentResponsible for executing our branded solutions in-store, this role converts global and local marketing activations into customer tailored solutions to engage our customers and shoppers throughout the shopper journey in collaboration with Customer Activation Manager.The role requires working closely...

  • Fresh Produce Buyer

    2 weeks ago

    Waltham Cross, United Kingdom Fmk consulting Full time

    Fresh Produce BuyerWe need an energetic and talented procurement professional to join one of the UK’s leading (National) suppliers to the Catering, Food Service and Hospitality sector as a Fresh Produce Buyer. The company is well established and respected as a market leader in this sector with a track record of design and innovation.The Fresh Produce Buyer...

  • Source and Supply Manager

    2 weeks ago

    Waltham Cross, United Kingdom Fmk consulting Full time

    Sourcing and Supply ManagerWe need an energetic and talented procurement professional to join one of the UK’s leading (National) suppliers to the Catering, Food Service and Hospitality sector as a Sourcing and Supply Manager. The company is well established and respected as a market leader in this sector with a track record of design and innovation.The...

  • Head of Buying

    6 days ago

    Waltham Abbey, Essex, United Kingdom Jollyes The Pet People Full time

    About the RoleWe are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Buyer to join our Commercial team at Jollyes The Pet People. As a Senior Buyer, you will be responsible for the financial performance, product and supplier selection of specified sections or categories across our pet range.Key ResponsibilitiesWork closely with merchandising colleagues to...