Senior Category Manager

About the role

To support our growth ambitions, a new Senior Category Manager role has been created within the Category Team in IOI.

The purpose of this role is to drive thought leadership and unlock opportunities for growth within the Categories we operate in, both externally in the Irish Grocery Retail trade, internally in cross functional teams and with key stakeholders in the business.

The role will involve day-to-day management of our Key Strategic Customers. You will build, grow and maintain profitable and long-lasting relationships from a Category perspective for Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Championing the Consumer and Shopper, leveraging strategic thinking and demonstrating actionable insights are at the heart of the role this will include development & execution of leading Category Visions & Strategy with a disproportionate winning share for Kinisla.

What will I be doing?

• Manage relationships with priority & strategic Customers
• Review and validate key customer commercial activities for the customers category and deliver category recommendations for optimal distribution, range, space & merch layouts by channel aligned with customer strategies
• Development & execution of leading Category Visions & Strategy
• Identifying actionable insights to fuel our annual brand planning process across a portfolio of brands in Ireland.
• Proactively bringing the ‘outside in’, harnessing insights and disseminating them for action and business impact.
• Support the development of our Category Capability Framework

What do I need to be successful?

• Our ideal candidate will also be a dynamic team player that can build relationships and positively challenge to unearth and identify actionable insights that will drive value into our Business and our Customers Categories
• Being able to flex and navigate a large network within Kinisla, alongside the ability to work autonomously
• Solid experience of working in Category Management and managing Strategic Customers across the Grocery Retail Trade
• Previous experience in Category Management
• Highly analytical, comfortable quickly surfacing insights and sharing them in engaging ways with various audiences
• Brilliant communication skills and able to build relationships internally and externally with the trade
• Skilled at working collaboratively and managing data agencies
• Expert working with Category software and portals e.g. Kantar, Dunnhumby, EYC, Talysis, Iri and Shopper Intelligence (all or most preferable)
• Proficient in excel and comfortable working with large amounts of data

What will I get in return?

At Kinisla, we believe in giving talented, curious people the opportunity to make a difference.

We work as a team, searching for the best ways to inspire food and nourish life.

We are a community of innovators, working across disciplines to solve global food challenges with a fresh approach. We want you to achieve whatever you put your mind to.

We also offer:

• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
• Health Care
• Matched pension scheme
• Benefits platform offering discounts and cashback on major retailers.

About Kinisla:

Kinisla is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers. 

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kinisla is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kinisla employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

Get in touch today!

In Kinisla we benefit from the knowledge of our colleagues who bring a diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences. One team fostering an inclusive culture that, above all, inspires food and nourishes life. One culture where everyone brings their unique perspectives and experiences to help make us better, together. We are committed to nurturing an environment of positivity and inclusiveness, where everyone can be at their best, both personally and professionally.

Our recruitment, selection and assessment process are based on the skills and competencies of the specific roles and based entirely on merit.  We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kinisla and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.

Please note: We do not accept CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies where Kinisla terms of business have not been signed. Additionally, we will not consider or agree to payment of any recruiter fee under these circumstances. This also applies to CVs or candidate profiles sent directly to any Kinisla Hiring Managers.