Global Channel & Category Development Manager

WELCOME TO PERFETTI

Perfetti Van Melle is a privately owned company that manufactures and distributes candy and chewing gum in over 150 countries worldwide. Today, Perfetti Van Melle is ranked as the third largest sugar confectionery/chewing gum company in the world, second in Europe, with strong brands like Mentos, Chupa Chups, Fruittella, Frisk and Smint. The ability to develop products, varieties and flavours that meet the different demands and opportunities of markets is one Perfetti Van Melle’s keys to success.

THE OPPORTUNITY

For our office located in Amsterdam – Schiphol, we are seeking a strategic and results-driven Global Channel Manager to lead and optimize our global channel execution and retail channel strategies across multiple markets. This role is pivotal in driving global capabilities and growth, enhancing customer engagement, and ensuring consistent brand execution. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in FMCG, a deep understanding of global retail and distribution dynamics, and a proven ability to manage cross-functional and cross-cultural teams.

The team

You will be part of the Global Customer Growth Team and reports to the Head of Trade Marketing. She/he is a thought leader and self-starter in building global capabilities and embedding them deeply into the organization.  

What will be your impact:

Channel Vision & Perfect Store

• Develops global Shopper Insights per Channel (occasionally with global researches or supporting local researches). Consolidates Shopper Insights per channel
• Develops regular Channel Insights and Trend Reports via third party Intel tools
• Develops channel and customer reportings/dashboards in the global data environment (with BI teams)
• Cooperates on Defines Channel Growth Drivers
• Derives Channel tactics for assortment, touchpoints, merchandising, visibility and promotion
• Evolves and embeds the overall global framework for Perfect Store together with TM and RTM
• Develops learning content and trainings for Perfect Store and support countries on their development priorities
• Develops the Channel Picture of Success: for Portfolio, Merchandising, Visibility and Shopper activation
• Develops reporting standards for Perfect Store KPI’s
• Leads or co-leads cross-functional or regional/global projects on channel development (e.g. channel plans for specific channels, toolkits for wholesalers, global/regional customer plan projects)

Category Management 

• Leads the global training program for Category Management together with the external provider
• Evolves the training content and develops training modules for different audiences to enlarge the company wide understanding of Category Management
• Supports the local development roadmaps for Category Management
• Participates in local CatMan projects, builds Best Practices and consolidates into learnings
• Drives Category Management within the Global Trade Marketing community meetings and owns the sharing of Best Practices and learnings
• Supports countries in their development of Shopper Research incl. Shopper Decision Trees and their translation into effective planograms
• Builds global Merchandising Capabilities based on insights on macro (placement of the category touchpoints) and micro-levels (organization of the optimal SKUs in the category)
• Reviews local merchandising execution and advises on improvements
• Thought leadership in touchpoint development such as shelf and check outs to inspire change on shopfloor level
• Manages the global category development platform (tool) which is shared among several countries. Defines training needs and supports country onboarding. Supports business cases
• Translates the different channel picture of success into inspiring virtual flythrough videos and stories (in the category development platform/tool)

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Degree qualified in business, marketing, design, or other relevant qualifications
• A minimum of 8 years’ experience working for (preferably) a FMCG or retail company
• A strong drive to continuous improvement, self-driven and innovating
• Effective interpersonal communication and consultative skills, both verbal and written
• Pragmatic and action-oriented attitude, ability to translate business needs into solutions
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• High attention to details, particularly with design specifications and design quality  
• Result oriented, with a keen focus on the quality of strategy through to execution
• Category Management Experience is required, including planogram development and its metrics
• Shopper Insights experience, including Shopper decision Trees
• Previous retailer experience is of advantage
• Ability to effectively engage and influence across all levels of the organisation, including senior leadership
• Sensitivity to intercultural differences within a global group present in all continents
• Team-player who can balance working in a matrix between operating companies, the business units and Perfetti Van Melle functions
• Proven experience in leading challenging projects and track-record of delivering excellent results to deadlines

WHAT DO WE OFFER

• A full-time role (40 hours per week) in an international and dynamic environment
• A competitive salary complemented by a performance-based bonus scheme
• 30 days of annual leave
• Hybrid working model: at least three days in the office, with the flexibility to work remotely for the remainder of the week
• A pension plan through the Stichting Bedrijfstakpensioenfonds voor de Zoetwarenindustrie
• A comprehensive wellbeing and benefits program, gym membership discounts, EMPOWR platform, and more
• Office engagement events to foster team spirit and connection

Interested? Send us your resume and or motivation letter. 

For more information we kindly invite you to visit our global website.
Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.