Insight & Category Strategy Manager

Alexander Steele Recruitment is delighted to be working exclusively with a well-established and highly regarded food manufacturing business to appoint an Insight & Category Strategy Manager.On offerSalary is circa £70,000 + excellent bonus offering30 days holidays - increasing with level of serviceEnhanced company pensionFlexible hybrid working with approx 2x a month on siteAbout the roleThis is a key role within the organisation, sitting at the heart of commercial, product, and marketing decision-making.

The successful candidate will take ownership of how insight is generated and applied, ensuring that decisions are driven by a strong understanding of the market, shopper behaviour, and category performance.This opportunity goes beyond traditional reporting.

It’s about shaping direction.

You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders, using a combination of data, consumer understanding, and commercial awareness to influence strategy and identify opportunities for growth.The business operates in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is looking for someone who can bring clarity to complex information, challenge thinking where needed, and use insight as a tool to drive meaningful impact.Key AccountabilitiesAnalyse and combine multiple data sources to identify opportunities for category growth and performance improvementDeliver regular reporting and insight outputs that provide clear recommendations for actionLead category reviews, translating findings into practical strategies for both internal teams and external stakeholdersDesign and manage consumer and shopper research projects, from brief through to delivery of insightsUse trend analysis to highlight emerging opportunities and risks within the marketPartner with cross-functional teams to ensure insights are embedded into decision-making processesManage relationships with external data providers and research agencies, including budget oversightPresent insights in a clear, engaging way to a variety of audiencesCandidate RequirementsExperience working with market, shopper, and consumer data sourcesStrong analytical capability, with the ability to translate data into meaningful business actionsGood understanding of the UK retail environment and food serviceAbility to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced settingAdvanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with data visualisation tools such as Power BI is advantageousStrong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence decision-makingDetail-oriented, organised, and comfortable working with large datasetsCommercial mindset with a proactive and solutions-focused approach