Senior Category Manager

Category Lead – High‑Growth Wellness Challenger Brand | London - Hybrid

First Category Hire

£55-70k basic + 15% bonus + amazing benefits

TalentPool are supporting a super high‑growth wellness brand on a confidential search for a Category Lead - a senior, high‑impact role shaping category strategy across major UK retailers.

This is a VC‑backed challenger with serious momentum: rapid retail expansion, a premium positioning, and a category that’s exploding. They’re now hiring their first dedicated Category specialist to build the function from scratch and position the brand as the category leader.

You’ll sit at the heart of the commercial team, reporting directly into the Sales Director and work closely with Sales, Marketing and Product. This is a role for someone who wants ownership, pace and the chance to influence both short‑term growth and long‑term strategy.

What you’ll lead:

• Build and own category strategy across major UK retail accounts

• Act as the unbiased voice of the customer/category

• Identify growth opportunities, white space and competitive dynamics

• Develop pricing, promo and category recommendations

• Build strong relationships with retail category teams

What you’ll bring:

• Category management experience in FMCG (drinks, wellness or grocery)

• Strong analytical capability

• Confidence presenting data‑led stories to buyers

• Comfort operating in a fast‑moving, high‑growth challenger environment

• Curiosity around AI and how it can enhance category insight

• Energy, pace and a “radical ownership” mindset

If you want to build a category function from the ground up inside a rocket‑ship wellness brand, with autonomy, impact and senior visibility - apply within!