Category Manager Nutrition

Who we are?

On any given day, 2.5 billion people globally use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life. Many of our brands are well-known, household staples and old-time favourites including Dove, Rexona, Lynx, Vaseline, OMO/Persil, Surf, TRESemmé, Continental, Ben & Jerry’s and Streets. 

We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today. In 2022 Unilever Australia & New Zealand became a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp), joining a growing network of organisations committed to galvanising a stronger, more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy for all.  

A job at Unilever is a career made by you, with development opportunities, benefits and a working culture that embraces diversity and is pioneering flexibility. There’s no better time to join our team! 

Job Summary

The Category Strategy & Planning team is responsible for developing category growth, through fully integrated, shopper, customer and channel insights, then building category growth platforms to be deployed across the different Customers and Channels.

The Category Manager Nutrition reports into the Head of Category Strategy & Planning (CSP) Foods. The scope of the role covers all the categories within the Foods portfolio, flexing their primary focus according to business priorities, with further focus being the key lead for 1-2 categories according to candidate. 

The Category Manager Foods will be Customer and Shopper centric, contributing to the development of the Foods category strategy. They will then execute the plan through external engagement in range reviews and internal planning through S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) and collaborating closely with the Marketing team.

Delivering excellence will also hinge on the Category Manager’s ability in being an expert in market data (scan, panel & loyalty). The individual will also aid in allocating appropriately & tracking the trade spend budget and help develop the promo and pricing plan, as well as help navigate the forecasts with the CD team.

Role Responsibilities:

Customer Facing Category Strategies:

• Aid the development of the Unilever Strategy for the Foods business and relevant sub-categories.

• Help develop and translate customer & shopper insights across scan, panel and loyalty data into opportunities with Marketing and Customer Development (CD), including participation in Innovation & Customer meetings.

• Partner with the Customer Teams to help ensure insights and category growth plans are executed with excellence.

• Help develop, drive and execute Joint Business Planning with Customers.

• Help develop, drive and execute new business/channel expansion plans.

• Actively contribute to Innovation target setting and business cases

• Help develop the Pricing and Promotional strategies of all customers.

Operational Lead for Categories

• Help generate analysis to support the S&OP process and own the forecast.

• Deliver the short term (in-year) forecast – responsible for delivering what we say we will deliver.

• Optimise TTS investment to drive efficiency.

Deliverables

• Turnover growth, profit, market share and trade spend targets.

• Shopper Marketing and Straights investment budget targets.

• Delivery of Total Category and Customer tailored Category Growth Platforms.

• Delivery of JBP alongside the Customer Manager on selected Customers.

• Delivery of Range Review Presentations for all Customers.

• Delivery of macro store layout projects and planograms.

• Input into and delivery of the Big Bets plan as part of annual planning process.

• Delivery of the Forecast analysis every month for the S&OP Meeting.

• Delivery of Category Pricing and Promotional modelling.

What you will need to succeed

Experience & Qualifications

• 3-4+ years of business experience, preferably cross-functional with Customer facing and Category Development experience.

• FMCG experience or Retail/ agency.

• Strong Category or Customer experience with a proven track record.

• Previous experience with data analytics and ability to draw insights. 

Skills

• Ability to analyse and use data to drive insights to support decision making and build Customer strategies and stories.

• Apply Shopper Insights, internal forecast data and manage Customer Relationships to execute Category Strategies.

• Agility – Constantly Curious, Consumer Love, Bias for Action, Negotiation experience.

What awaits you at Unilever?

The core of Unilever’s culture is captured as Human, Purposeful, Accountable. You will be joining a dynamic, flexible, and inspiring work environment that truly cares about your wellbeing, values what you do and celebrates your success.

This is your opportunity to be part of a purpose-led business and a global community where you can progress your career both locally and internationally. You will also benefit from amazing discounts on external company products, attractive employee referral reward program amongst other benefits.

This is a great opportunity to work within an iconic and global organization. We have gained our reputation as one of the world's most admired employers by providing an environment where individuals can achieve their goals, both professionally and personally.

Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us. So, if you can rise to the challenge, don't waste any time - apply now!

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life! This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact anz.talent@unilever.com.

Unilever is an organization committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities. Interested in learning more, check out our Reconciliation Action Plan and Workplace Adjustment Policy on the Unilever webpage.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.