Category Development Manager (Wine Jobs: Sales & Marketing)

We have a new opportunity for a Category Development Manager to join our Commercial Team at our UK Head Office in Weybridge, close to the train and town centre, with free parking on site. Reporting into the Director Category, Shopper and Insights, the Category Manager is part of the Category Development team who are in business to grow the value of the GB wine category and Accolade’s share and influence. We will take a leadership position and be recognised for this with our priority customers, bringing objectivity and the voice of the retailer and shopper to add value to our strategic development.….and we will build the strategic capability of our team and the business through a World Class approach to planning and activation of our category initiatives.

Drawing on our proud heritage as one of the first wineries established in Australia, Accolade Wines has evolved into a global wine company with some of the world’s best known brands sold in over 140 countries and have more than 1,700 talented employees in 19 countries.  Today our portfolio comprises of more than 35 wineries and brands from premium regions in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and California.  This breadth makes us one of the world’s leading providers of New World premium, commercial and value wines. In the UK our most popular and market leading brands are Hardy’s, Kumala and Echo Falls. Visit our Kumala Instagram pages to see our latest social media campaigns https://www.instagram.com/kumalawineuk/

• Design and deliver a short to medium term category activation plans within designated customers on our focus categories across range, merchandising and promotions.
• Utilise the full suite of insight sources to identify the key drivers of category performance and highlight the risks and opportunities to our priority customers.
• Leads elements and is integral part of the creation and delivery of the organisation's category vision
• Work with the Brand, Insight and Sales teams to create compelling category selling stories
• Build strong relationships on a day-to-day basis and be proactive at managing the needs and expectations of immediate internal and external customers
• Project work – specific responsibilities as determined by team leader
• “Brand Buddy” – act as focal point for all development and communication to the wider team on one key brand area

Deliver our category vision through industry leading insight and category activation with our priority customers within budget to achieve customer category objectives.

• Insight and analysis – able to collect and shape insight into compelling customer centred category selling stories.
• Build customer relationships - demonstrate deep understanding of the needs of their customers at a strategic level and builds into short to medium term strategies
• Communications and influencing – present and persuade in both written and verbal forms to internal and external stakeholders
• Cross functional team working – work as part of a team to achieve shared team and company goals
• Planning, project management and organisational skills – develop and maintain reports, spreadsheets and presentations to meet AW and customer category objectives. Develop clear project briefs and manage agencies to deliver specified outcomes.
• Commercial acumen – has a clear understanding of the impact of actions on revenue and profit
• Creative problem solver – demonstrates an openness to new ideas and others perspective or views specifically from broader business and peers
• IT and digital skills – competent in Microsoft Office plus other agency or retailer specific software (e.g. Nielsen, Dunnhumby, Kantar Worldpanel Online)

• Graduate calibre
• At least 3 years’ experience in a marketing or sales role in an FMCG environment
• CIM Diploma or equivalent (desirable)

In addition to a competitive salary we also offer a fantastic range of benefits including medical cover pension scheme and staff wine allowance.