Category Manager, FTC
Kao Corporation
Salary undisclosed
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Description
We are Kao, listed as one of the world’s most ethical companies for the last 20 years.
Our EMEA brand portfolio spans across three sectors; Consumer Care (John Frieda, Guhl, Bondi Sands, Bioré, Jergens, Curél), Professional Hair (Goldwell, Oribe, KMS Hair, Kerasilk), and Molton Brown.
Our corporate philosophy, The Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation, and treating each other with trust and respect.
About our role:
A key member of the C&I team for our UK Consumer Care Business, this role will report into the Category Controller and partner closely with the UK Commercial team and retailers to identify opportunities to drive the haircare category in line with business objectives. Internally, the role will collaborate with the UK & Global Marketing teams to uncover relevant brand & category opportunities. This role focuses on turning data insights into compelling category stories driving growth.
What you will do:
- Support the development and implementation of a differentiated vision and strategy for allocated categories across retail channels to influence the strategic and tactical choices of retailers
- Identifying category & shopper trends and translating these into actionable insight for Kao and customers
- Build strong relationships and set up regular meetings with the trade to ensure KAO becomes key partner ongoing and during key initiatives
- Responsible for recommending specific store placements and distribution for current and new products in assigned categories
- Identifying optimum range line-up and merchandising flow
- Extracting, filtering, analysing and presenting market data to UK team and customers on a regular basis using different tools/sources as needed.
- Excellent trade presentations that translate vision into first class actionable customer plans
- Monitor competitor activity in allocated categories and across channels to understand performance drivers
- Set up relevant trackers to monitor NPD activity
- Compile and present competitor overviews, including NPD strategy
- Continuously monitor Category trends and developments and share relevant updates internally and with key customers using appropriate forums/media
- Support internal innovation stagegate processes prior to NPD launch
- Support GTM brand and sales planning & process
- Support and present ad hoc analyses on internal business questions & initiatives
What you will need:
- BSc/BA hons degree or equivalent
- Ideally, candidates will have 2–3 years’ experience in a Category Management role within FMCG. However, candidates with experience in Trade Marketing or other FMCG commercial roles, alongside a good understanding of and exposure to Category Management, will also be considered.
- Beauty background preferred
- Proficient user of Excel and Powerpoint
- Proficient user of Circana/Nielsen/Kantar self serve tools
- Independent user of SIP, Dunnhumby, Boots Gateway
- Experience; to anticipate and identify retailer and competitor challenges and strategic and tactical threats and defending against these with compelling arguments and rationales making the most of our data sources.
- Experience in influencing retailer ranging decisions to ensure maximum SKU distribution for Kao products and showcase BIC merchandising and fixturisation
- Experience in influencing retailer macro and micro in-store space decisions to maximise on-shelf presence and standout for Kao products Identifying opportunities to grow the Kao business profitably with customers and embed these opportunities within the Kao customer and marketing teams
- Experience in leading the thinking and development of retailers for allocated categories and channel strategies to ensure both customers and Kao win in the market
At Kao, we believe the diversity of our teams strengthens our global mission. Here we trust and respect each other, collaborating in a friendly and inclusive work environment to achieve great results.
What you can expect from us:
- An entrepreneurial environment where passionate and innovative teams come together.
- Respect, teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of how we work.
- A workplace culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, with opportunities to get involved in initiatives such as Mental Health First Aiders, our Charity Committee, and DE&I communities
- A broad range of benefits, including flexible working, competitive salaries, health and wellbeing offers, pension schemes, insurance options, and more…
- Learning and development opportunities
Your voice matters here, we value entrepreneurial thinking and innovation from our teams.
To find out why 33,000 people across the Globe work at Kao please visit:
https://candidate-brochure.kao.com/kao-emea/full-view.html
https://www.kao.com/emea/en/careers/
Discover careers at Kao and how we live our purpose, Kirei – Making Life Beautiful.
https://kao.voyse.io/
Our Privacy Policy: https://www.kao.com/emea/en/privacy/
Benefits
- professional development
About this role
Kao's Category Manager role sits at the intersection of retail strategy and brand growth for the UK Consumer Care business, working with major retailers to shape how haircare categories perform across their shelves. You'll translate market data and shopper trends into concrete category strategies, then influence retailer decisions on product ranging, placement, and in-store space to maximize Kao's presence and profitability. The work demands equal parts analytical rigor—extracting and presenting insights from tools like Circana and Nielsen—and commercial persuasion, building relationships with trade partners and defending your recommendations with compelling data-backed arguments.
The ideal candidate brings two to three years in Category Management within FMCG, though strong experience in Trade Marketing or related commercial roles paired with solid category exposure will be considered. You'll need fluency in Excel, PowerPoint, and retail analytics platforms, ideally with a beauty sector background. Beyond technical skills, success here hinges on your ability to influence retailer strategy at both macro and micro levels, identify growth opportunities that work for both Kao and customers, and lead cross-functional collaboration with UK and global marketing teams to bring category vision to life.
This is an in-office role in London reporting to the Category Controller, embedded within a company that has ranked among the world's most ethical for two decades and emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking, collaboration, and employee wellbeing.
How this employer is doing
average
- Financial News
In the news
Kao Corporation 2026 Q2 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation (OTCMKTS:KAOOY) 2026-08-08, Seeking Alpha
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Pay for this role
The employer didn't post a pay range for this role. That usually means pay is set in negotiation, which favors whoever arrives with numbers. Check ranges on comparable Category Manager, FTC postings in London, and analyze any offer before you accept it.
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