Senior Category Manager - Food

About the role

The Advocate Group is recruiting, on behalf of a key food client, a commercially ambitious Senior Category Manager to take real ownership of category strategy and become a key voice in shaping some of the business's most important customer relationships. The role sits at the heart of the Commercial team, using consumer, shopper and market insight to influence customer decisions and unlock growth across grocery and multiple channels. It is a full-time, hybrid position in Trowbridge, Somerset, advertised as a food recruitment role.

Key responsibilities

• Own the category strategy and insight agenda across key UK customers
• Turn Nielsen, Kantar and market data into clear commercial opportunities
• Influence customer decisions around ranging, pricing, promotions, merchandising and activation
• Build compelling category stories and present recommendations directly to customers
• Develop trusted, senior-level relationships with key retail partners
• Lead strategic projects across Commercial, Sales and Marketing
• Coach and develop others within the category function

Required profile

• Experienced Category Manager / Senior Category Manager with strong UK retail exposure
• Commercial confidence to challenge, influence and shape customer thinking
• Excellent analytical capability and strong customer presence, able to turn complex data into a compelling story and action
• Experience across Nielsen, Kantar, category strategy, customer presentations and ranging/pricing/promotion is essential
• People management or coaching experience would be advantageous