Category Controller

Category Marketing Controller Meals Location: Uxbridge Head Office (office-based) Department: Category Marketing Reports to: Category & Insight Director Direct reports: 4 Travel : Regular travel to sites and customers About the role At Pilgrim's Europe, our Category & Insight team provides a clear, forward-looking category vision that drives sustainable growth across the business. As Category Marketing Controller Meals, you will play a critical leadership role in shaping and delivering this vision for one of our most important categories. Based at our Uxbridge head office, you will be the recognised expert for the Meals category, leading and developing a team of Category and Customer Marketing professionals. You'll use deep consumer, shopper and category insight to create compelling strategies that unlock growth for both Pilgrim's Europe and our customers. Working closely with Commercial, Innovation and Operational teams, you will identify future consumer-led opportunities, influence key decisions and help build a robust pipeline that supports long-term category success. Key responsibilities Lead, coach and develop a high-performing Category Marketing team Play a significant role in shaping and delivering the Group Marketing strategy, ensuring the Meals category is strongly represented Develop, communicate and execute Meals category strategies across all growth levers, including channel, shopper and customer-specific plans Build strong, trusted relationships with major retail customers, delivering thought leadership and acting as a proactive category partner Provide clear, commercially compelling insight and recommendations to customers and internal commercial teams Champion the consumer and shopper perspective across operational business units to support effective decision-making Partner with Innovation & Development to build a long-term, insight-led innovation pipeline Manage allocated budgets for consumer research to address category knowledge gaps and opportunities Travel periodically to sites and customers to stay closely connected to operations and market needs What we're looking for Experience & knowledge (essential): 5+ years' experience in FMCG, with strong Meals or relevant category expertise Proven leadership experience (3+ years), including line management Demonstrable success in building and executing category strategies Experience working closely with major UK grocery multiple retailers Background in own-label category management Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills at all levels Confident communicator with strong written, verbal and storytelling capability Ability to distil insight into clear, actionable and commercially focused solutions Experience working closely with innovation, commercial and operational teams Ideal behaviours Strong alignment with the Values of Pilgrim's Europe Strategic, collaborative and consumer-focused mindset Proactive, credible and confident in building relationships internally and externally Why Join Us? Shape the future of the Meals category in a senior, influential leadership role Be based at our Uxbridge head office, working closely with senior stakeholders Lead and develop a talented team with genuine ownership and visibility Act as a true category partner to major UK grocery retailers Turn insight into strategies that deliver real commercial impact Influence the long-term innovation pipeline, not just short-term plans Gain valuable exposure through travel to sites and customers Join a values-led organisation where ambition, collaboration and accountability matter Ready to make an impact? If you're a strategic category leader with a passion for the Meals category and a track record of turning insight into growth, this is your opportunity to make a real difference. Based at our Uxbridge head office, you'll be at the heart of shaping category strategy, customer partnerships and long-term success. Apply now and help define the future of Meals at Pilgrim's Europe. TPBN1_UKTJ

Created: 2026-02-01