Category Advisory Director – Perfect Category Solutions

Salary: Competitive

Location: London

Background

Kantar is a market leader in the provision of category management software and services to leading CPG companies worldwide. The RichMix assortment optimization application is used by 8 out of the top 10 CPG companies and forms a key part of the broader Perfect Category offer which includes Virtual Reality, Shopper research, data harmonization, analytics and advisory services. Kantar’s Perfect Category consistently delivers category revenue growth in the range 3% to 5%, reduces the effort associated with range reviews by more than 50% and typically delivers >10x payback.

Role Overview

The Category Advisory Director is responsible for the delivery and ongoing Customer Success of our Perfect Category offer which uses the power of predictive analytics and generative AI to help clients grow categories and brands.

We’re looking for a talented Category Management practitioner who is passionate about data, analytics, and technology.

It’s an opportunity to consult with our Fortune 500 FMCG clients on their Category Management capability development and will deliver first-class actionable insights based on shopper behaviour leading to optimised assortment merchandising recommendations. The role also incorporates solution pre-sales to prospect clients.

The role will report into the Perfect Category Managing Director, will lead the advisory team and will work cross functionally with Sales, Product Management and Software Development.

OUR EXPECTATIONS OF YOU

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years’ experience
• Experience in category management approaches in manufacturer and/or retail contexts
• Ability & proven track record in building great commercial and trusted partner relationships with new and existing client stakeholders up-to and including C-level.
• Track record in helping clients to deliver value and ROI from the use of software and insights
• Consultative approach to helping clients/retailers/internal stakeholders succeed in a change management customer first strategy
• Impactful communication & influencing skills to present complex analysis in a concise and effective manner to junior & senior stakeholders
• Strong experience & comfort in leveraging technology (Excel, other industry applications) in delivery analytics and insight
• Demonstrated programme / project management skills and the ability to manage and coordinate project work in a structured and coherent way.
• Laser focus on the “so-what” and ability to distil the insight from a sea of data
• Previous line management & mentoring experience
• Working knowledge of industry standard software planogramming solutions is a nice to have e.g., JDA Space Planning, Nielsen Spaceman

KEY OUTCOMES

You should be intellectually curious and with strong business acumen. You must be an excellent communicator who can build strong client relationships. This must be coupled with a keen attention to detail as well as the ability to work independently and lead projects.

You can synthesize and interpret data to inform strategic recommendations. You display strong problem-solving skills, in particular translating loosely defined problems into solutions.

Candidates must show aptitude in delivering winning software solutions including program management, business development, support & customer success.