Category Lead

3 days ago

Surrey, United Kingdom Vertical Advantage Full time

Category Lead

We've partnered with one of the most well known food businesses in the world who own many household brands in their search for a experienced and dynamic Category Lead / Head of Category to champion the category team and drive commercial objectives. This role involves leading a talented category team, ensuring the strategic direction of the category function aligns with overall business goals. As part of the commercial leadership team, you will provide leadership, foster collaboration, and represent the category perspective through insightful shopper and consumer analysis.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead, manage, and coach a team of category professionals to deliver on key commercial objectives.
  • Drive category strategic initiatives, including Category Strategy, Channel Strategy, and Shopper Insight Plans.
  • Optimize core category processes such as range management, NPD process, and development of listing rationale.
  • Prioritize resources to maximize short, medium, and long-term business opportunities.
  • Manage relationships with external agencies (Circana & Kantar), ensuring effective use of category data and insights.
  • Operational responsibility for key customer accounts (Asda & Morrisons) and for managing specific category segments, such as Kids or Indulgence.

Behavioural Attributes:

  • Strong category expertise with the ability to establish credibility and influence senior management both internally and externally.
  • Confident in decision-making and able to stand by your convictions while also bringing others along with you.
  • Future-focused, with the ability to think beyond current performance to anticipate changes in the category landscape.
  • Strong leadership and coaching skills to effectively manage and develop the category team.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Build relationships with retail partners by presenting unbiased, data-driven insights that influence decision-making and drive category growth.
  • Collaborate closely with Brand teams to develop insight-led NPD propositions and trade presentations centered around category, shopper, and consumer needs.
  • Provide rationale to support range and distribution expansion opportunities.
  • Manage relationships and data from sources like Dunnhumby to support decision-making.


Operational Responsibilities:

Customer Leadership

  • Develop and own category strategies for key customers, ensuring alignment with their priorities and goals.
  • Deliver ongoing category updates, recommendations for range reviews, and merchandising improvements to capitalize on distribution and space opportunities.
  • Attend Monthly Account Reviews (MAR) and provide insights and actions to enhance performance.

Marketing and NPD for Indulgence Brands

  • Lead the category strategy for brand plans, working closely with Marketing to develop the right product mix for NPD.
  • Estimate sales volume and category opportunities for new products, securing distribution targets with customers.
  • Present NPD trade proposals and evaluate merchandising opportunities to optimize sales.


Key Qualifications:

  • Current experience as a Category Lead or Senior Category Manager with at least 12 months in the role and a minimum of 3 years in Category Management.
  • Strong experience in the FMCG sector, ideally within categories involving chilled or short shelf-life products.
  • Proven experience leading strategic category projects and delivering insights that drive business growth.
  • Demonstrated leadership and people management experience.
  • Excellent IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with proficiency in Kantar and Circana data sources.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Category professional to lead a high-performing team and make a significant impact on category strategy and business growth.

  • Category Lead

    2 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Vertical Advantage Full time

    Category LeadWe've partnered with one of the most well known food businesses in the world who own many household brands in their search for a experienced and dynamic Category Lead / Head of Category to champion the category team and drive commercial objectives. This role involves leading a talented category team, ensuring the strategic direction of the...

  • Category Lead

    2 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Vertical Advantage Full time

    Category Lead Job DescriptionVertical Advantage is seeking a highly experienced Category Lead to champion the category team and drive commercial objectives. As part of the commercial leadership team, you will provide leadership, foster collaboration, and represent the category perspective through insightful shopper and consumer analysis.Key...

  • Category Strategist

    2 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Vertical Advantage Full time

    Category Lead Job DescriptionWe are seeking an experienced Category Lead to join our team at Vertical Advantage. This is a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic and strategic thinker to lead a high-performing team and drive commercial objectives.Key Responsibilities:Lead and manage a team of category professionals to deliver on key commercial...

  • Category Director

    1 week ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Vertical Advantage Full time

    Category DirectorVertical Advantage is seeking an experienced Category Director to lead the category team and drive commercial objectives. This role involves leading a talented team, ensuring the strategic direction of the category function aligns with overall business goals. As part of the commercial leadership team, you will provide leadership, foster...

  • Category Director

    1 week ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Vertical Advantage Full time

    Job Title: Category DirectorJob Summary:We are seeking an experienced Category Director to lead our category team and drive commercial objectives. As a key member of our commercial leadership team, you will provide leadership, foster collaboration, and represent the category perspective through insightful shopper and consumer analysis.Key...

  • Category Manager

    1 month ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Allexo Search Full time

    Category Manager OpportunityThis is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop Category Management with several grocery retailers. Working for an international business who are major players within their category, you will be instrumental in driving sustained growth for retailers and contributing to the company's success.The overall category in the UK is...

  • Category Manager

    1 month ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Allexo Search Full time

    Category Manager OpportunityThis is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop Category Management with several grocery retailers. Working for an international business who are major players within their category, you will be instrumental in driving sustained growth for retailers and contributing to the company's success.The overall category in the UK is...

  • Category Strategy Director

    1 week ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Vertical Advantage Full time

    Category LeadAt Vertical Advantage, we're seeking a seasoned Category Lead to champion our category team and drive commercial objectives. This role involves leading a talented category team, ensuring the strategic direction of the category function aligns with overall business goals. As part of the commercial leadership team, you will provide leadership,...

  • Head of Category

    4 months ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Cast UK Limited Full time

    **Surrey - Hybrid Position** **£65,000 - £70,000 Car Allowance & Benefits** *** **Role Profile** Cast UK are supporting a well established Retailer with the recruitment process of a Head of Category. Reporting to the Head of Purchasing, you will be responsible for leading the purchasing of products and services within your particular category. You will...

  • Category Management Specialist

    1 month ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Allexo Search Full time

    Category Manager OpportunityThis is a chance to shape and develop Category Management with several grocery retailers. Working for an international business that is a major player in their category, you will be part of a successful team that has driven sustained growth for retailers and has a significant market share.The UK category is set for predicted...

  • Category Management Specialist

    1 month ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Allexo Search Full time

    Category Manager OpportunityThis is a chance to shape and develop Category Management with several grocery retailers. Working for an international business that is a major player in their category, you will be part of a successful team that has driven sustained growth for retailers and has a significant market share.The UK category is set for predicted...

  • Procurement Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Pod Talent Full time £55,000 - £60,000

    Procurement Category Manager - TechWe are seeking an experienced Procurement Category Manager to join our team at Pod Talent. As a key member of our procurement function, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of suppliers within the Tech category and potentially leading a team of Category Buyers.Key Responsibilities:Develop and implement a...

  • Procurement Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Pod Talent Full time £55,000 - £60,000

    Procurement Category Manager - TechWe are seeking an experienced Procurement Category Manager to join our team at Pod Talent. As a key member of our procurement function, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of suppliers within the Tech category and potentially leading a team of Category Buyers.Key Responsibilities:Develop and implement a...

  • Senior Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Michael Page Sales Full time

    Senior Category ManagerA pivotal role within the commercial team, leading the category function as part of the leadership team. The ideal candidate will drive business growth by leveraging commercial data and customer insights.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop and execute effective category strategies to drive profitable sales across three healthcare...

  • Senior Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Michael Page Sales Full time

    Senior Category ManagerA pivotal role within the commercial team, leading the category function as part of the leadership team. The ideal candidate will drive business growth by leveraging commercial data and customer insights.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop and execute effective category strategies to drive profitable sales across three healthcare...

  • Senior Category Manager

    4 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Michael Page Sales Full time

    Senior Category ManagerA pivotal role within the commercial team, leading the Category function as part of the leadership team. The ideal candidate will drive business growth by leveraging commercial data and customer insights.About the CompanyA global family-owned Healthcare OTC company with a strong presence in the UK market. They value a positive...

  • Senior Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Michael Page Sales Full time

    Senior Category ManagerA pivotal role within the commercial team, leading the Category function as part of the leadership team. The ideal candidate will drive business growth by leveraging commercial data and customer insights.About the CompanyA global family-owned Healthcare OTC company with a strong presence in the UK market. They value a positive...

  • Senior Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Michael Page Sales Full time

    Job Title: Senior Category ManagerA pivotal role within the commercial team, leading the category function as part of the leadership team. The ideal candidate will drive business growth by leveraging commercial data and customer insights.About the CompanyA global family-owned Healthcare OTC company with a strong presence in the UK market. They value a...

  • Senior Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Michael Page Sales Full time

    Job Title: Senior Category ManagerA pivotal role within the commercial team, leading the category function as part of the leadership team. The ideal candidate will drive business growth by leveraging commercial data and customer insights.About the CompanyA global family-owned Healthcare OTC company with a strong presence in the UK market. They value a...

  • Workforce Category Manager

    3 weeks ago

    Surrey, United Kingdom Venn Group Full time

    Job Title: Workforce Category ManagerVenn Group is seeking a highly skilled Workforce Category Manager to join our team. As a key member of our procurement team, you will be responsible for leading strategic contract management, sourcing, and category-related initiatives for defined projects impacting all stages of the procurement life cycle for a number of...