European Category Director

Overview

• Transformation project
• Strategic key role

GB Foods Europe

Reporting to the CMO and leading a team of 3-5 people, her/his main responsibilities will be:

• Lead & roll out a European Vision of the category to fasten growth and lead key transformational projects (e.g., innovation, sustainability)
• Co-Lead with the countries the development and ensure best in class execution of Brand Strategic Books for the categories
• Drive the innovation pipeline and new business development and geographic expansion
• Participate on the creation of key strategic frameworks:
  European Strat Plans, Innovation Strategy, Portfolio Transformation, Brand Playbooks
• Best practices / learnings conceptualization & sharing

The current environment demands inspiring leadership, capable of guiding transformation, managing ambiguity and uncertainty, and identifying new business opportunities. An end-to-end vision is essential, with the ability to challenge commercial and operational functions and the courage to reinvent brands and strategies in a competitive and evolving market.

• Proven experience in global/regional and local marketing roles within a FMCG multinational companies, leading white canvas strategic projects and innovation pipelines end to end.
• Experience in transformation projects is a plus
• Strong knowledge in the food sector
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in Marketing roles within the sector
• End-to-End & Enterprise Vision: Must possess a holistic, enterprise-wide perspective
• Commercial Acumen: Should deeply understand the commercial side of the business; not just focused on long-term strategy (3-5 years), but also able to drive immediate business impact.
• Growth Mindset & Reinvention: Hungry for growth, eager to reinvent themselves and the business.
• Business & Product Innovation: Should bring fresh business ideas, innovative product concepts, and strategies to revitalize brands and outpace the competition.
• Inspiring Leadership: Able to inspire the team, set clear priorities, and bring renewed energy and brilliance. Demonstrates the ability to drive, motivate, and lead change alongside the team, developing internal successors and fostering a high-performing environment. The ideal candidate should have a positive attitude towards change and embrace it with enthusiasm and energy. S/he should also adopt a stimulating and optimistic approach, motivating others while driving change.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: strong proactivity, used to create from scratch (white canvas mentality), agile test and learn
• Change management skills: capacity to deal with change, and lead others through change, by creating and inspiring with a common vision and set of goals and holding each other accountable in the journey.
• Comfort with Ambiguity: Able to deal effectively with ambiguity and uncertainty, adapting quickly to change.
• Empowerment of the Team: Needs to further strengthen team empowerment, fostering a culture of ownership and motivation.
• Full Ecosystem Stakeholder Management: The role requires collaboration with the teams cross countries, with the R&D organization, with the commercial teams and with the International teams. Naturally connect and build strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. Should have the ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in their beliefs, and active drive.
• Fluent English is a must

Strategic key role within a growing and leading top food multinational company