Senior Category Development Manager

Overview

In this role you will shape category growth for Bayer with strategic UK retail partners. You will translate shopper and market insights into growth opportunities and act as a trusted advisor to buyers and planning teams. You will lead category reviews and range optimisation to maximise performance and shelf presence. You will leverage data-driven insights to influence decisions and collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Category teams to drive revenue growth. This is a hybrid UK role with meaningful impact on retailer partnerships and product reach.

Pay / Benefits

• Flexible and Hybrid working
• Private Healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life Insurance
• Wellness programs
• Employee discount scheme

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies and customer plans with key retail partners
• Build and maintain relationships with buyers, senior buyers, merchandising, and planning teams
• Lead category reviews, promotional evaluations, range optimisation, and fixture recommendations
• Analyse market trends, shopper behaviour, competitor activity, and retail data
• Drive category management best practice across the business with Sales, Marketing, and Category teams
• Own customer KPI development and performance tracking and support strategic decisions for key brands

Key requirements

• Degree educated with significant experience in Category Management, Category Development, Category Insights, or Sales
• Minimum 5 years’ experience within FMCG, Consumer Health, OTC, or related sectors
• Strong understanding of the UK retail environment and category management principles
• Experience building strategic retail partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders
• Highly analytical with expertise in shopper, market, and retail insights
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience using data and insight platforms such as IRI, Kantar, or similar tools

• strong communication
• stakeholder management
• analytical mindset
• shopper, market, and retail insights
• data-driven decision making
• IRI

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