Senior Category Manager, Hardlines - EMEA

The Senior Category Manager Hardlines EMEA is responsible for managing the Food Health & Beauty, Loyalty and Promotions categories across EMEA, including responsibility for achieving revenue targets and developing and implementing business strategies to drive the short, mid and long-term growth of the category business. Working with local markets, regional and global teams, the individual leads and supports efforts in maximizing revenue opportunities across the region and has operational responsibility for assigned global/regional/multi-territory licensees. Role responsibilities: Strategy

• Develop long-term strategies against consumer segments and sub-categories for the designated categories
• Ensure consistent approach with other regional and global Teams, including parity of commercial terms
• Monitor competitors activity and define WBD unique positioning in the designated categories.
Operations & Relationship Management
• Lead the relationship with assigned regional/multi-territory licensees, including negotiation and execution of licensing deals, onboarding, business plans, range creation and management, distribution, marketing plans, forecasting, reporting and performance management
• Lead RFPs across the EMEA region and support global RFPs to maximize the choice of partners for the region for the designated categories - distribution, commercial terms and resources
• With the support of the Director, Hardlines, represent and champion EMEA for the assigned categories with global teams, NA/APAC/LATAM category teams
• Be first point of contact for regional inquiries regarding assigned categories and opportunities
• Lead the EMEA FHB/Promotions community through regional sharing and collaboration, regular meetings, information and best-practice sharing, new partner intros and problem solving. Maintain deal transparency through updated trackers and pitch lists, ensuring the EMEA teams have a line of sight to global promotional and QSR pitches, their outcomes and deals
• Support local category teams with locally led, internationally operating licensees and prospective licensees
Financial
• Revenue responsibility for FHB, Loyalty and Promo by category and by brand for EMEA
• Actively input in regular forecasting cycles, budget setting, performance analysis, and Long Range Plan for the defined categories
• Develop commercial deal structure for key FHB, Loyalty and Promo partners, that support relevant category strategies, and result in maximum sell through and fan engagement
• Monitor launch plans and advertising commitments for licensees and track compliance with contract terms
Team management
• Extended virtual team: Food, Health & Beauty, Loyalty and Promotion local category managers, including Agents
• Support and nurture team spirit - bring peers and colleagues along on the journey
Other duties
• Regular travel to EMEA markets for category and licensee meetings
• Attendance to relevant trade fairs
• Input into strategic projects as required
  
  10+ years previous category-related experience and/ or buying experience required
• Solid proven track record at Manager level
• In depth working knowledge of the FHB and/or Promotions industries with an understanding of the European market and preferably other regions
• Knowledge of the Licensing Industry essential
• Experience of working in an international / matrixed environment
• Extensive soft skills and team management experience
• Support on devising strategic plan with focus on delivering the operational element of the plan.
Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.

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