Category Manager Plant

12 month FTC

Hybrid working

Tirlán

Tirlán, is a world-class food and nutrition co-operative, with a diverse portfolio of quality ingredients, leading consumer and agri brands.

Tirlán owns leading brands such as Avonmore, Kilmeaden Cheese, Millac, Solmiko, Truly Grass Fed, Premier Milk, Wexford, mymilkman.ie and GAIN Animal Nutrition.

We nurture a talented team across Ireland, the US, MEA and China, delivering annual revenues of over €3 billion, and over 2,300 people to manage our network of 11 processing plants and 52 agri branches. Our purpose is to nourish the world, while safeguarding our environment for future generations. 

Role Profile

Reporting to the Head of Category, the Plant Category Manager is the P&L owner and is responsible for the commercial profitability of the products within the category. Developing and delivering the strategy, and increasing business size and product profitability are the core KPIs of this role.

This role requires the ability to work comfortably and effectively across functions to deliver success. This includes directing and supporting product innovation, drive customer acquisition, lead investment strategy, supporting in-market sales teams to achieve the category objectives, and making balanced supply planning decisions.

Responsibilities

• Execute the current Plant strategy in line with the overall ingredients category goals, ensuring we have the optimum mix of products.
• Delivery of commercial targets across the Oats portfolio to maximize production capacity.
• Bring investment strategies to life by ensuring the correct projects and business cases are in place.
• Drive product returns across the category, the category manager is the owner of product contribution.
• In collaboration with the sales, finance, Agri-business, and planning functions, balance budget and forecast requirements during the monthly S&OP cycle. The category manager is the S&OP owner for the category.
• Develop the new opportunities pipeline in collaboration with the commercial team to realise strategic plan execution, agreeing targets for business development with the market facing sales teams.
• Work closely with the marketing team to build the go-to-market story, linking our USP’s to customer /market needs. This can include critical selection and participation at industry trade shows, webinar initiatives, conference speaking opportunities and in market govt led trade missions.
• Drive product growth aligning R&D and other cross-functional colleagues to bring new products & applications to market.
• Support pricing decisions for sales teams, long-term price forecasting & setting minimum pricing for new or enhanced products.
• Managing new, value-add, product introduction including change management, collateral development, product concepts and applications and ownership of strategy development 

Stakeholders

The category manager will interact closely with

• Commercial finance
• Project finance
• Planning
• Marketing
• Sales
• Operations
• R&D

Requirements

• The successful candidate will possess strong leadership skills, business acumen and a capability to develop strategic plans. Proven ability in communication, collaboration and decision making are necessary to fulfil this role.
• Intimate knowledge of the product and an understanding of markets and customers.
• Ability to lead and direct a cross functional group of peers.
• Can create and present business plans for investments, and communicate effectively to Leadership teams and other stakeholders.
• Strong commercial /business development acumen and financial understanding.
• Ability to think strategically and articulate long term vision.  

Core Competencies

• Interpersonal Savvy
• Organisational agility
• Building collaborative relationships
• Results-oriented
• Strategic Agility
• Commercial acumen 

We offer

• Hybrid working (flex Fridays)
• Free parking incl. EV charging – where applicable
• On-site gym free to use for employees
• Parenting room
• Work/life balance and collaborative work culture
• Career progression opportunities

About us

Through our expertise in research and development, customer insights, food safety and state-of-the-art manufacturing we bring innovative food and nutrition solutions to a global market.  Our new and vibrant headquarters in Kilkenny City operates as a collaboration hub where multi-functional teams come together in a hybrid work environment.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
We believe in the value of difference. We know that different perspectives, life experience and backgrounds can drive innovation and deliver growth.

We welcome people from all walks of life without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, or disability status. 

Join our Talent Pool

Considering a new career in Tirlán but this isn’t the role for you? Join our talent community and sign up for job notifications at www.tirlan.com/careers

Tirlán is a Values Based Organisation