ICE CREAM IS LOOKING FOR Ice Cream - Category Strategy and Insights Lead

Location: Rotterdam, Weena (Amsterdam in 2025) the Netherlands

Local conditions apply

Full-time

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position and for this vacancy in principle we will first consider candidates based in the Netherlands. If you are based outside of the Netherlands and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but we can only take your application on if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the Netherlands.

Context & Main Purpose of Job

Be the preferred partners for retailers by being objective experts who will deliver plans that will grow the category, our customers and Unilever, through value creation:

1) Localise Category Growth Strategy which is the ‘Golden Thread’ that:

Informs Brand Innovation to deliver against channel category growth opportunities

Identifies growth opportunities that will drive / enable where to play and how to win for Unilever

Ensures Innovation roadmap consistently delivers against CVDs

2) D4C/D4R:   identifies the where to play how to win opportunities from a category perspective

3) Supports the Strategic Customer Planning programme with category growth insights and opportunities

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE?

1. Localise Industry Leading Category Growth Strategies

Drive BU input to Category Growth Strategy (CGS).

Collaborate with markets to localise growth stories and roadmap innovation/ renovation to deliver growth in partnership with BU Commercial Strategy.

2.​ 3-year Channel / Customer led Innovation roadmap

Influence the BU innovation & renovation roadmap (3-year horizon) to deliver against CGS growth opportunities and channel strategy milestones.

Inform and Influence Channel & Customer voice into BG.

3. Strategic Channel/Customer Planning

Lead Channel prioritization and creates Growth Strategies for the Key Channels: OoH, d.comm and Value Channel

‘How to win’ with Unilever through end-to-end joint value creation supporting ‘Partners For Growth’ workstreams in partnership with BU Commercial Strategy Lead.

4. Execution to accelerate Growth, via Right Distribution of the Right Assortment

Define execution standard to deliver CGS: TDP / Catman Look of Success

BU guidance on portfolio and choices

5.Landing Big Bets with maximum impact and Shopper Marketing

Customers sell in stories - shopper insight led with customer economic model

Partner with BG to deliver harmonisation/ acceleration opportunities

Create Channel Execution Look of Success principles for all big bets

Deployment of centralized POSM material to minimize waste & Maximise impact

6.Capability  - Deployment of CD learning plan

Build Category growth selling story capability.

Influence marketing to think portfolio, channel and customer first with an end-to-end ideation to fulfilment

Provide shopper insights to enable capability build and shopper behaviour understanding that will unlock the retailer economic models.

KPI’s and Dimensions

USG

NPD Execution look of success - Range, Space, Merchandising, Visibility, Activation

In Year: Win the Shelf: (Share of shelf, TDP, dynamic deployment of BG resource)

Future:  Channel ready Innovation to CGS & CVDs.

GM / UOM (Innovation NRR, 3yr GM roadmap, Premiumisation Acceleration)

%BW (Key Cells: iRSV ahead of MS, AGS Top Tier, Category Management /Captaincy)

Key Interfaces

BG Global CD Capabilities

Market CSP leads & Category Strategy and Insights leads

BU Platform/Brand leads

Functions:  BG Finance, Supply Chain and R&D

Global Customer teams

CMI

EXPERIENCE YOU SHOULD HAVE/THE QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR

Key Skills & Knowledge

Key Skills

Innovation mindset; Commerce channels execution and digital business models; Commercial Strategy and Business Acumen / NRM; Category Growth Management; Data-Drive Mindset; Customer and Retailer Understanding

Standards of Leadership

(Strategic thinking and writing; communication and storytelling; Stakeholder Management; Lateral Influence without Authority; Process Thinking (Discipline); Ability to join the dots and show the big picture

Relevant Experiences

Prior experience in a CD role

Prior experience leading Category Strat / Cat Man in market.

Shopper Insight / Cat Man experience

WHAT DOES UNILEVER OFFER/WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

Unilever is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits!

Attractive total remuneration package; excellent company pension, bonus, share scheme.

Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever.

Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained.

We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy.

Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40%-60% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate.  For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. When you are at the office , you can enjoy our tasty canteen with prepped food and own products.

Informal culture and being the first one trying our new products. 

My Fitness Plan (reduction on your Fitness Subscription).

Home work allowance

Company laptop and mobile phone

Green Mobility Policy.   

EXCITED?

Join Unilever and our team! To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter.  Your application will be reviewed against our requirements and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

Looking forward to meeting you! 

Please note this is a Direct Search led by Unilever. Applications from agencies will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, parenthood, pregnancy or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against. 

By highlighting the gender diversity at the workplace, Unilever encourages women equally men to apply. If you look for a job after a long career break or after any type of leave, do not hesitate to apply.

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