Category Specialist

Shape the Future of the UK's Coffee Category

At JDE Peet's , we believe it's amazing what can happen over a cup of coffee.

As the world's leading pure-play coffee company, our iconic brands including L'OR, Tassimo, Kenco and Douwe Egberts are enjoyed by millions of consumers every day. Driven by passionate people and a commitment to exceptional quality, we're on a mission to become the world's number one coffee company.

We're now looking for an ambitious Category Specialist to join our UK Category Development & Shopper Marketing team and help drive growth across one of the UK's most exciting FMCG categories.

If you're passionate about turning data into compelling stories, influencing customer strategy, and making a real commercial impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Join JDE Peet's?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of strategic customer relationships across the convenience and discounter channels while helping shape the future growth of the coffee category.

You'll work closely with Sales, Marketing, Revenue Growth Management and Category teams, partnering directly with customers to deliver insight-led recommendations that drive sales, profit and category growth.

This is a highly visible role where your ideas, analysis and influence will make a tangible impact on both our customers' businesses and our own.

What You'll Be Doing

As Category Specialist, you'll be responsible for delivering best-in-class category leadership and becoming a trusted advisor to both internal and external stakeholders.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a commercially minded category professional who combines strong analytical thinking with outstanding stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

Lead category strategy and range review initiatives for a portfolio of strategic convenience and discount customers.; Develop customer-specific category growth plans aligned to both customer objectives and JDE Peet's commercial strategy.; Deliver compelling, insight-led recommendations based on shopper, market and performance data.; Analyse promotional effectiveness, identifying opportunities to improve return on investment and category performance.; Influence distribution, assortment and space decisions to maximise growth opportunities.; Create and present engaging category stories to customers and internal stakeholders.; Produce regular performance reviews, action plans and market insight presentations.; Deliver quarterly coffee market updates covering trends, competitors and future opportunities.; Support annual customer planning cycles and tailored customer brand planning sessions.; Collaborate closely with Brand, Marketing, Sales and Category Strategy teams to successfully launch innovation and drive execution excellence.; Contribute to the development of JDE Peet's convenience and discounter growth strategy, a key pillar of our future success.

Requirements

Degree educated or equivalent.; Minimum 4 years' experience in Category Development, Category Management or Category Strategy within FMCG.; Strong understanding of UK shoppers, retailers and category management principles.; Experience working cross-functionally with Sales and Marketing teams.; Advanced knowledge of category and shopper data tools such as NielsenIQ, Circana/IRI, Kantar, Dunnhumby or similar.; Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.; Strong analytical capability with the ability to turn complex data into simple, actionable recommendations.; Excellent presentation and storytelling skills, with confidence engaging customers and senior stakeholders.; Proven ability to influence, challenge and build credibility at all organisational levels.; Highly self-motivated, organised and results-driven.; Willingness to travel for customer meetings as required.; Full right to work in the UK.