Category Marketing Manager

🔒 Confidential Employer
Posted 21 March 2026
LOCATION
Barway, Cambridgeshire
TYPE
Full-time
LEVEL
Mid-Senior level
CATEGORY
Sales & Marketing
This employer holds a UK Home Office sponsor license — sponsorship for this specific role is at the employer’s discretion

SKILLS

Category Management FMCG Market Analysis Shopper Insights Customer Strategy Data Analysis Joint Business Planning

FULL DESCRIPTION

[Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk] is seeking a commercially astute, insight-led Category Marketing Manager to partner with key Grocery customers. The role involves developing category strategies, leading category development plans, and contributing to Joint Business Planning. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of the UK FMCG landscape, data analysis skills, and a collaborative approach.

The Role: Drive Category Growth at a Strategic Level

You will:

  • Develop a deep, objective understanding of the category landscape, key drivers and competitive dynamics - turning insight into actionable recommendations that strengthen customer partnerships
  • Lead category development plans that influence shopper behaviour, unlock growth opportunities and deliver measurable results
  • Play a central role in Joint Business Planning alongside commercial and product teams, with particular focus on range reviews, EPD, NPD and broader category initiatives
  • Ensure the right product mix, promotional mechanics and marketing plans are executed across all Grocery channels - In Store, Online and Convenience
  • Contribute to the annual planning cycle and longer-term commercial strategy
  • Run shopper research from full U&A studies to Self-Serve online questionnaires
  • Build strong, trusted relationships with trade planning and merchandising teams across key Grocery customers
  • Represent [Employer hidden] externally with authenticity, gravitas and pride
  • Support management of data suppliers and insight budgets
  • Provide objective, data-led category expertise to the wider commercial team

Who We’re Looking For

You’re likely operating at Category Executive to Senior Category Manager level within a blue-chip FMCG or large SME environment and are ready for broader influence and ownership.

You bring:

  • Strong knowledge of the UK FMCG landscape
  • Confidence working with continuous and ad hoc data sources (e.g. Kantar, Nielsen, IRI, Dunnhumby/Nectar loyalty data)
  • The ability to turn complex data into compelling, commercially focused stories
  • A deep understanding of shopper missions, mindsets and channel dynamics and the role of brand in category.
  • Gravitas and credibility when presenting to customers
  • The confidence to challenge thinking - internally and externally - to drive better outcomes
  • A collaborative, relationship-driven approach across cross-functional teams
  • The ability to manage a complex customer agenda with multiple touchpoints
  • A results-focused, entrepreneurial mindset

Above all, you’re ambitious. You want to step up. You want to influence. You want to lead.

What’s on offer:

  • Great Place to Work accredited
  • 31 days holiday per year including bank holidays
  • 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
  • Salary sacrifice pension scheme
  • Cinema, Sky Store, supermarket & retailer discounts
  • Health Cash Plan, holiday discounts, life assurance & income protection
  • Employee referral scheme & Employee Assistance Programme
  • Cycle to Work and electric car salary sacrifice schemes
  • Eyecare contributions
  • Learning, development, and mentoring opportunities
  • Regular social, charity, and community engagement events
  • Onsite health checks, annual flu jabs, and wellbeing sessions
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