Job Purpose

The UK EMEA Category Manager is a commercial leader within the Commercial Strategy team, accountable for shaping and driving the UK commercial and category strategy across channels and customers.

Using data, insight and strong category management expertise, the role sets the category vision, translates it into clear 4P/5P plans (Range, Price, Promotion, Place/Space & Display, and Shopper/People) and converts this into retailer-ready strategies and compelling selling stories. Working closely with the Commercial Strategy Lead, the role also supports the delivery of the wider EMEA commercial strategy agenda by contributing insight, standardised reporting and strategic recommendations that enable aligned execution across markets.

Key Responsibilities

Ownership

This role deals with a wide variety of tasks including, but not limited to the following:

Category Management
· Lead and own key account category presentations for line reviews and brand planning sessions, representing a clear strategic category position alongside compelling, insight-driven selling stories to deliver MPM objectives in market
· Own the category insight and reporting agenda, defining priorities and ensuring delivery of high-quality, standardised outputs across the business via the Category Administrator
· Translate data into clear commercial recommendations, identifying risks, opportunities and category growth drivers to inform UK strategy and customer plans
· Lead category input into NPD and product strategy, working with Marketing and Product teams to identify, scope and evaluate opportunities, supported by detailed category analysis

Line Manager
· Lead and develop the Category Administrator, setting clear priorities aligned to business strategy, delivering ongoing coaching, PDP management and raising overall capability and output quality

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Passion for pets
• Experience working with category data such as Nielsen, SIP, IRI, Euromonitor and Dunnhumby
• Strong analytical skills – ability to learn and use various data sets to analyse trends, create forward projections and evaluate the commercial effectiveness of promotional and pricing activity
• IT literate use of Microsoft applications – particularly Excel and PowerPoint and ideally Power BI
• Ability to present to retailers and distributors, including excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex information to key stakeholders within the business
• Ability to work independently – without daily supervision and effectively manage tasks, time and resources
• Strong interpersonal skills – ability to influence stakeholders and lead cross-functional collaboration
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to evaluate performance, profitability and trade-offs, and translate into clear business recommendations
• Excellent organisational skills – detail oriented, able to set, execute and achieve goals
• Ability and comfort level to travel nationally and internationally

Desirable

• Experience working with top tier retailers
• Creative and curious mindset with the ability to both identify and develop areas of opportunity and grow sales
• Educated to degree level, ideally in marketing or business-related degree
• Ability to think strategically and cross functionally