Category Manager - Customer, Strategy & Execution(CS&E)

Description Overview

As the Category Manager within Customer Strategy & Execution (CS&E), you will be the strategic owner of your category, ensuring the voice of the shopper, customer, and market is fully embedded in business decisions. You will act as the link between global/cluster strategies and local execution, shaping winning plans that drive category growth, customer engagement, and shopper conversion.

You will collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Retail Excellence to translate strategies into best-in-class execution, ensuring Perrigo delivers sustainable growth and strengthens its leadership position in the OTC market.

Scope of the Role

Deliver Business & Category Strategy

• Own the local commercial strategy for your category, aligned with country business objectives and Central CS&E frameworks.
• Translate budget goals into clear category, channel, and customer targets.
• Partner with Marketing to adapt and deploy brand plans into actionable commercial strategies for the local market.
• Act as the voice of the market in central/cluster forums, providing insights on local shopper behaviour, channel dynamics, competitive activity, and customer needs.

Lead Category & Shopper Activation

• Drive category vision, strategy, and activation across channels (Pharmacy, Retail, E-commerce, Discounter, etc.).
• Develop and deploy customer-ready selling stories, trade presentations, and category reviews in collaboration with Retail Excellence, ensuring insights are actionable and tailored.
• Define and deliver the Perfect Store / DVRP KPIs (distribution, visibility, pricing, promotion, and shelving targets).
• Partner with Retail Excellence and KAMs to co-create Joint Business Plans (JBPs) and ensure executional excellence at customer level.

Innovation & Portfolio Management

• Lead go-to-market planning for category innovations, ensuring local relevance and strong commercial rollout.
• Translate centrally designed innovation tools into fit-for-purpose sales enablers for local teams.
• Collaborate with local Marketing, Sales and Central CS&E teams to influence pipeline priorities based on local market opportunities and shopper insights.
• Track performance of launches and course-correct plans in real time to deliver financial and share targets.

Commercial Execution & Performance Management

• Monitor category performance (sell-in, sell-out, distribution, share, profitability), identify gaps, and recommend corrective actions.
• Lead monthly/quarterly business performance reviews with Sales, Marketing, and Finance.
• Ensure promotional strategies are aligned with ROI objectives, customer guidelines, and category growth drivers.    
• Develop clear guidance for Sales teams on pricing, promotions, assortment, and trade terms.

Cross-Functional & Capability Leadership

• Build strong collaboration with KAMs, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Demand and Central Teams to ensure integrated planning and flawless execution.
• Contribute to capability-building within CS&E and the wider commercial community (processes, tools, best practices).
• Champion a growth mindset and customer-centric culture, sharing knowledge and reapplying successful models across the business.

Experience Required

• 7+ years of progressive experience in FMCG, Consumer Health, or OTC, ideally with exposure to both Sales/Key Account Management and Category/Shopper Marketing.
• Proven track record in Category Management, commercial planning, and execution, delivering growth across multiple channels.
• Strong experience with customer engagement and joint business planning.
• Advanced analytical skills, with ability to use syndicated data sources (IQVIA, Circana/Nielsen, GfK, IRI, etc.) and retail/customer data.
• Experience in launching innovations, managing portfolios, and driving omnichannel activation.
• Fluent in English
• Degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, or related field.

Key Competencies:

Analytical Excellence: Strong ability to leverage data (IQVIA, Circana, Nielsen, customer POS) to extract insights and make fact-based decisions.
Strategic Influence: Ability to balance shopper, customer, and business needs to create win-win outcomes. Positive track record of leading external customer relationships.
Commercial Acumen: Understanding of trade terms, P&L drivers, and promotion ROI to optimize resources and deliver profitable growth for all channels
Customer Centricity: Track record of building trusted relationships with key retailers/distributors, influencing at senior levels.
Executional Drive: Hands-on approach to land initiatives in-market with speed, agility, and excellence.
Collaboration & Leadership: Ability to work with cross-functional teams, inspire alignment, and manage change.
Growth Mindset: Embrace and excel in new challenges, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation