Category Marketing Development Manager.

About us

We're a truly international company, forth largest in our industry and operating across 120 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by over 27,500 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo. Our agility and entrepreneurial spirit, alongside award winning development programmes, enable innovation and success while creating exciting and rewarding career choices.

As we move forward, our customers will be at the heart of what we do, evolving to needs and expectations and committing to a more meaningful contribution to harm reduction by building a successful NGP business. Integral to our long-term success is our sustainability strategy, behaving responsibly and supporting our ambitions, all underpinned by high governance.

Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we’re fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

Please note: This role can be based in Bristol or remotely from other locations within the UK for the right candidate. Travel will be required for the role.  

The role

The Heated Tobacco (HT) Category is a lean, senior and agile team with a challenger mind-set. The HT Category Marketing Development Manager is an integral part of the HT Marketing team, is responsible for guiding, sharing and aligning the HT go-to-market strategy for all new market roll-outs of the global product and brand positioning. This role will provide Category support and functional expertise when Clusters/Markets are developing launch plans.

The role is the key interface with the Regional Marketing Managers as well as respective roles within the Clusters and markets. The role is responsible for ensuring onboarding is managed efficiently from an end-to-end CX and brand perspective, including local brand agencies and service providers meet required benchmarks. The role will steward the global brand and campaign positioning.

As a fully integrated member of the HT Category Marketing team, the HT Category Market Development Manager will work closely with the HT Marketing Manager and CX Manager to ensure latest global brand communication and winning activation and consumer engagement developments are integrated for appropriate local adaptation, as well local requirements taken into consideration for future brand and CX global developments.  

Regular travel is expected as part of this role.

Accountabilities

• Effectively communicate Category Brand and CX strategy aiming to develop a robust understanding of ‘WHY’ the various components of the HT CX are critical
• Develop a repeatable GTM approach based on different market archetypes
• Ensure that the globally developed Category GTM guidance is fit for purpose, enabling the delivery of key consumer objectives on a market level
• Represent the HT Category Marketing team at all market on-boarding  meetings
• Input into Region for all market launch plans from a Category perspective
• Ensure all frameworks and tools are easily and readily accessible for markets
• Drive necessary Brand & CX training/understanding (‘train-the-trainer’ approach), including updated FF modules
• Drive the Category Trade Marketing developments on a global level

Essential Skills and Experience Required

• At least 8 years’ experience in Brand / CX marketing strategy of which minimum 4 years in a market roles in Trade / sales marketing
• Previous experience of working within a FMCG Retail environment
• Demonstrated experience in working across multiple cross-functional teams at global, regional, cluster and market levels
• Ability to understand legal restrictions & operate within boundaries, adapting to market requirements whilst maintaining global guidance
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven experience of building relationships with both internal & external stakeholders
• People and agency management experience
• Demonstrated experience in understanding KPIs and resulting actionable insight
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven thinking
• Critical thinker and problem-solving skills
• Ability to  demonstrate knowledge and presence in cross-functional meetings
• Excellent presentation skills and knowledge on how to prepare content to a high standard
• Ability to work independently to tight timelines and  deliver under pressure
• Hands-on attitude with a strong cross-functional team-player mentality

What we offer

Imperial Brands offer a competitive package of salary, bonus scheme, pension and 25 days holiday (with an additional 4 days on top to cover the Christmas period and bank holidays).

Next steps

Interested applicants should apply with their CV highlighting their suitability against the essential skills and experience for the role.