Head of Category

**Head of Category and Shopper**

**Job Purpose**

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Category management and Shopper Marketing team within Valeo Snackfoods.

You will lead a team of 12, with full accountability for our Category and Shopper Marketing resources and strategy.

This role is tasked with securing mutual and multi-level category relationships with all key accounts, creating strong category leading plans to deliver mutual sustainable growth for our customers and Brands. Working with your team to ensure we fully understand the ever-changing needs in the category and supporting the brand and sales team to ensure that our plans are aligned to that understanding. Working closely with internal functions you will ensure that category growth is at the forefront of our thinking. Supporting our customers is objective category recommendations. In addition, your leadership our Shopper Marketing team should enable the delivery of market leading execution, enhanced impulse merchandising and a clear ROI focus for our Shopper Marketing investments across all channels.

You will support the Marketing Director in developing the long-term plan and brand 3-year strategy for the business taking ownership of the commercial element of the LTP process.

**Key Accountabilities**
- Lead the Category Management & Shopper Marketing team - inspiring, coaching, developing capabilities and encouraging effective collaboration across the business
- Align the Category Development team to all agreed priority business strategies and integrate their objectives and targets with Key Account business plans
- Ensure Category Development resource support for Impulse and Own Brand Business units is fit for purpose and appropriately prioritised - matrix approach.
- Align the Shopper Marketing team to all agreed priority business strategies and integrate their objectives and targets with customer business plans
- Ensure Shopper Marketing resource support for Grocery Business units is fit for purpose and appropriately prioritised - matrix approach.
- Develop and nurture relationships with all Key accounts, improve Customer Engagement YOY and maintain a clear contact strategy supported by all relevant Valeo Snackfoods contacts, including Executive Team.
- Collaborate with Marketing to develop and execute annual Brand plans in all Customers with a focus on growing our core and effective launch of NPD
- Support the Marketing Director in the development of a 3-year brand and business plan and annual planning processes.
- Engage and influence the Brand and Commercial strategy across the business, including regular dialogue with the Managing Director, Executive Team and other Heads of departments.

**Competencies (Levels 5 & 6)**
- Resourcefulness: Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently
- Organisational Savvy: Manoeuvring comfortably through complex process and people-related organisational dynamics
- Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments

**HSE Responsibilities (Levels 5 & 6)**
- Lead by example to set expectations, carry out audits to verify safety systems and procedures are in place and effective. Review accident and incident trends and implement safety plans with improvement targets in your respective areas. Support your teams to implement permanent safety solutions and communicate safety performance to your teams whilst taking accountability safety performance of your teams.

**Personal Attributes**
- Commercial acumen
- Effective in a variety of communication settings, amongst diverse styles and levels
- Adept relationship builder throughout the hierarchy, organisationally savvy.
- Strong team leader and team player
- Proficient analytical and numerical skills
- Adaptability
- Effective organisation and planning skills
- Is naturally engaging and influential
- Resilient
- Curious, with sharp listening skills
- Has a natural sense of responsibility and willingness to make a difference

**Qualifications/Experience**
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- At least 7 years’ Category/Shopper experience, preferably within an FMCG environment
- Experience in managing and developing diverse teams
- Experience of working with customers on long term category plans
- Food and drinks sector is desirable but not essential

**Salary**: £65,000.00-£75,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company car
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
- Store discounts
- Work from home

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Norwich, NR5 9JP: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

**Education**:

- Bachelor's (required)

**Experience**:

- Category Marketing: 7 years (required)
- Marketing: 7 years (required)

Work authorisation:

- United Kingdom (required)

Reference ID: Head of Category & Shopper Marketing