Category Development Manager

Please note - this is a 12 month secondment / FTC

From Arthur Guinness to Johnnie Walker, our business was founded on people of great character, and in 250 years, nothing’s changed. We’re the world’s leading premium alcohol company. Our brands are industry icons. And our success is thanks to the strength of our people, in every role. It’s why we trust them with our legacy. And it’s why we reward them with the career-defining opportunities that they deserve.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected Consumer Products Company in the world. To achieve these, we need the world’s very best people.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you.

An amazing opportunity to join the Diageo On Trade Category Development team at a time of true transformation. Join us as we seek to improve drinking experiences for everyone.

The Role:

• The On Trade Category Development Manager key focus will be establishing Diageo as the go to, most trusted and respected BWS supplier for category management across all strategic and priority customers, by delivering best in class category management. Responsible for providing industry leading insights delivered through objective, compelling & action orientated recommendations that will deliver category growth. Building first class relationships and being the go to supplier for BWS advice – from menu creation and ranging recommendations through to sub-category and trend partnerships and trials.

• Establishing category management as a powerful growth engine for Diageo GB and connecting our internal teams across commercial, shopper marketing, activation, RGP & Digital to drive tangible actions from insight that will drive the triple win for Diageo, the customer and the consumer.

• Establishing and fully embedding our strategy as the framework for expressing our category, brand, innovation and portfolio growth plans in GB.

• Building true customer partnerships and leading inspirational customer engagement with Diageo’s category vision, strategy and plans to enable and support brilliant activation of both Diageo and customer plans.

• Working with senior partners in our customers’ businesses to identify opportunities to grow BWS, strategically partnering with our customers’ teams to analyse the future trends in the market & building collaborative plans passionate about growth.

The Candidate:

• ENERGISED & RELENTLESS in the pursuit of growth – seeks opportunities where there are challenges, has short and long term vision and brings energy and drive to the team.

• TRAILBLAZING & INLFUENCING comes naturally – an idea generator who will lead the business and customer to victory by bringing creative solutions to the table and delivering best in class execution.

• CALM & RESILIENT under pressure.  Can be trusted to work and deliver independently, but will enlist support when needed. 

• STRONG NETWORKING & RELATIONSHIPS with customers and internal collaborators, all of whom are key to fulfilling our category ambitions.  Able to inspire and hold tension when needed.

• PERSONAL GROWTH is a priority – can proactively manage own development but will seek guidance, coaching and feedback from peers to drive career and keep focussed.

• PASSION, ENERGY & TENACITY are a given as an ambassador for the team, the channel and the business. 

Key Requirements:

• Essential: able to demonstrate a deep understanding of how the On Trade operates and its complexities 

• Ideal but not essential: Proven experience of category management success within consumer goods, including leading category focused initiatives both internally and externally

• Excellent presentation skills, with an ability to deliver maximum impact through engaging and inspirational content

• A natural ability to build genuine relationships built on mutual trust, respect and communication

• Successful management of senior collaborators, resulting in strong and positive outcomes

• Comfort with dealing with ambiguity, complexity and working within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial and matrixed environment

Celebrating our inclusive and diverse culture is core to Diageo’s purpose of “celebrating life every day everywhere”. This purpose is, in itself, inclusive in nature, as it values everybody irrespective of background, disability, religion, gender identity, sexuality or ethnicity.

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And crafting an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world.

Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world!