Category Development Manager, Arla - Leeds

Are you a passionate and strategic category and shopper expert with a keen eye for developing excellence in category execution plans? Do you want to be part of a growing team that will be leading the direction around how to unlock category and commercial growth? Do you thrive with high levels of autonomy and have a hunger for delivering commercial results from thorough category and shopper understanding? We are now looking for a Category Development Manager to join us at the Arla Foods Leeds Head Office.

How you will make an impact

Reporting to the Senior Category Development Manager, you will turn category strategies into clear retail execution plans that unlock sustainable category and commercial growth. As the expert for your aligned categories and projects, you will build a deep understanding of Arla’s performance, identify opportunities and risks, and translate complex shopper, channel and market insights into practical recommendations.

Working closely with Sales, Marketing, Brand and the wider Category team, you will influence decisions through compelling, commercialised insights. You will also contribute to innovation with robust category rationales and post-launch analysis, while coaching colleagues and helping the team deliver its business objectives.

You will define category strategy by channel and develop execution toolkits across range, price, promotion and placement. This includes identifying distribution, pack-size and portfolio opportunities, addressing underperformance, creating shopper-led range, fixture, space and promotional plans, and tracking long-term category performance against growth ambitions. You will lead strategic projects such as channel research, shopper segmentation and category input to the business planning cycle, while acting as a trusted business partner across Arla.

What will make you successful

You bring established experience from category or commercial roles and are confident using Kantar, Nielsen, IRI and retailer data systems. You can connect strategic thinking with excellent execution, distil multiple data sources into a clear and persuasive story, and navigate both retailer and business challenges with strong commercial judgement.

Naturally curious and passionate about shoppers and categories, you combine strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a performance mindset. You are adaptable, comfortable working with ambiguity and able to build trusted relationships at all levels. Most importantly, you are a collaborative team player who takes ownership, inspires confidence and turns insight into action.

What do we offer?

We offer a competitive salary, 26 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, Bupa healthcare, hybrid and flexible working, a pension contribution matched up to 6%, and life assurance of four times your annual salary. You will also have access to our free onsite gym, discounted products in the Staff Shop, and internal and external training and development opportunities — plus our much-loved Christmas cheese hamper.

Would you like to join us?

Please apply as soon as possible as we review applications on an ongoing basis. For more information please reach out to the Talent Acquisition Partner, Kleo Dela Cruz.

Please note we are not partnered with any recruitment agencies for this role. We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not submit CVs on behalf of candidates for this role, as these CVs will not be considered under the agency ownership and if Arla does progress with any such candidate, this will not amount to acceptance of the agency's terms. We encourage interested individuals to apply directly through our official channels.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.

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