At the core of Sainsbury's General Merchandise is the Category Planning & Ranging team, responsible for optimising and delivering the category and overall GM strategy through key events, secondary space, in aisle and across channels. The team brings together customer insight, commercial performance and cross-functional collaboration to deliver outcomes that support both customers and colleagues. Working closely with Buying, Marketing, Nectar360, Space Planning and supply partners, the team plays a key role in shaping category success.
More about the role
As a Category Planner, you will be responsible for planning and execution of the GM Category Plan, balancing short-term performance with longer-term strategic priorities. You will review weekly and trended performance, identify opportunities and translate insight into clear, actionable plans that drive category performance.
You will work closely with Buying, Marketing, Nectar360, Insights and wider stakeholders to deliver category initiatives and support key projects. The role requires building strong relationships across the business and supply base to ensure effective implementation of category strategy and identification of new growth opportunities.
More about you
You will bring experience of working in a commercial or data-led environment, using a range of insights, including EPOS and panel data, to inform decision making. You are able to analyse multiple data sources, identify trends and communicate clear recommendations to stakeholders.
You will demonstrate experience coordinating activity across teams and managing priorities effectively. You will be comfortable building relationships across functions, influencing stakeholders and delivering outcomes within a fast-paced and evolving commercial environment.
Essential Criteria
- Experience in a customer-facing commercial role within FMCG, retail, or supplier environment (e.g. buying, category planning, account management, commercial strategy), with evidence of using customer and commercial insight to drive performance outcomes.
- Proven ability to analyse and interpret large and complex data sets (e.g. EPOS, panel, financial or trading data), and translate insights into clear recommendations or frameworks that inform decision-making.
- Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders at multiple levels of seniority, and deliver outcomes through collaboration rather than direct authority.
- Proven track record of leading or delivering complex projects or change initiatives in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and driving execution to deadlines.
- Strong understanding of commercial drivers (e.g. sales, profit, margin, customer metrics), with evidence of prioritising actions that deliver tangible performance improvement.
- Experience contributing to or leading strategic planning activity (e.g. category strategy, transformation projects, customer proposition development), with the ability to balance short-term performance with longer-term opportunities.
- Experience working in ambiguous or evolving environments, with ability to shape direction rather than follow defined processes
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