Category & Insights 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 offer Salary is circa £70,000 + excellent bonus offering 30 days holidays - increasing with level of service Enhanced company pension Flexible hybrid working with approx 2x a month on site About the role This 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 Accountabilities Analyse and combine multiple data sources to identify opportunities for category growth and performance improvement Deliver regular reporting and insight outputs that provide clear recommendations for action Lead category reviews, translating findings into practical strategies for both internal teams and external stakeholders Design and manage consumer and shopper research projects, from brief through to delivery of insights Use trend analysis to highlight emerging opportunities and risks within the market Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure insights are embedded into decision-making processes Manage relationships with external data providers and research agencies, including budget oversight Present insights in a clear, engaging way to a variety of audiences Candidate Requirements Experience working with market, shopper, and consumer data sources Strong analytical capability, with the ability to translate data into meaningful business actions Good understanding of the UK retail environment and food service Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced setting Advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with data visualisation tools such as Power BI is advantageous Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence decision-making Detail-oriented, organised, and comfortable working with large datasets Commercial mindset with a proactive and solutions-focused approach