We're looking for a strong Category Manager/ Project Manager to start with us in September 2024 for maternity cover of this lynch pin role in our business. You will be reporting to the Marketing & Category Director and working closely with purchasing and technical to drive forward our plant-based product category.,

Managing our product gate-process: We have +1300 high quality vegetarian and vegan ingredients in our range. Any new products coming into the business are channelled through the gate-process to ensure the highest standards of product quality and technical assurances are maintained. You will manage this process ensuring all internal stakeholders (Purchasing, technical, marketing etc) are adhering to the process, as well as external suppliers.

Category range reviews and new product development (NPD): Dependent on experience you will either lead or support in execution of category range reviews; where you'll identify an opportunity in our existing range or a product gap in need of NPD. You'll work with purchasing and technical to deliver against each brief and will channel all activity through our gate-process.

Product sampling sessions: You'll lead product sampling sessions with key stakeholders as part of the gate-process (Purchasing, marketing, Innovation Chef etc), ensuring relevant decisions are made in each session and followed up with internal and external stakeholders accordingly in line with the gate-process.

Vegetarian Express Brand and Packaging: You'll support our objective to drive Vegetarian Express brand, working closely with the purchasing and technical teams to agreed KPIs. You'll ensure that any products brought into the business in Vegetarian Express brand meet our strict product credentials and you'll work with suppliers and marketing to ensure all product label and packaging requirements are met.

Product set up: You'll be responsible for ensuring all products are appropriately set up and maintained in SAGE, ensuring all internal stakeholders follow processes.

Internal business communications: You will be responsible for communicating any new products or product changes within the business. This includes working with the marketing team to ensure products are appropriately launched both internally and externally to customers.

Reporting: You will be responsible for delivering agreed monthly reporting and tracking of performance.

You'll play a key role between technical, purchasing, supply chain, sales and marketing teams with extensive internal and external stakeholder management required. This role requires excellent communication and organisation skills and solid experience of working with and manipulating data.

Excellent communication skills

Intermediate excel skills

Ability to multitask, prioritise and meet deadlines

Able to think logically, accurately and proactively

Excellent judgment in identifying potential risks and opportunities

Able to work at high pace

Strong teamwork and collaboration skills

Experience gained in a FMCG environment

Foodservice experience, Category Management: 2 years (preferred)

Vegetarian Express specialise in delivering plant-based ingredients, ideas and inspiration to chefs across the UK for eating out of home. With the astronomical rise in popularity of plant-based, vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets, we are uniquely placed in Foodservice to meet with this demand, and as such are rapidly growing and expanding.

Competitive basic salary

25 days holiday plus public holidays

Option to purchase additional annual leave (up to 3 days)

Cash health plan (money back for dentist, opticians, physio etc.)

Life assurance (4 x salary)

Staff discount on ALL products

Pension (3% employer and 5% employee), Additional leave

Casual dress

Company events

Company pension

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted or free food

Employee discount

Free parking

Life insurance

On-site parking

Private medical insurance

Sick pay

Work from home

Monday to Friday

Please confirm that you are aware that this is a maternity cover role starting in September 2024 lasting 9-12 months

Do you live within commutable distance of WD24 7RY?