Marketing Director - New Category | FMCG | Innovation | ENG

ppAre you a commercially driven marketing leader with a track record of building new product categories from the ground up? This is an opportunity to shape the future growth strategy of a fast-growing international food company at its European headquarters. /ph3About the Company /h3pOur client is a fast-growing international food company, well known for a bold, distinctive product that has achieved viral popularity and rapid distribution growth across global markets. Building on this success, our client is now expanding into adjacent categories, including snacks, sauces, ready-to-eat meals, frozen products, and beverages, and is growing its regional marketing hub in the Amsterdam area to bring these new categories closer to European consumers. /ph3Role Overview /h3pAs New Category Marketing Director Europe, you will lead the development and growth of new product categories across the European market. While the current flagship product will remain central to the business, future growth will increasingly come from expansion into adjacent categories. /ppYou will be responsible for identifying growth opportunities, developing category strategies, leading product innovation initiatives, and managing the end-to-end commercialisation process for new categories. The role combines strategic marketing expertise, category management, consumer insight capabilities, and strong commercial acumen. You will work closely with headquarters, European sales teams, key retailers, distributors, and consumers to build sustainable new business opportunities. /ph3Key Responsibilities /h3h3New Category Strategy Business Development /h3ulliDevelop and execute a long-term European category expansion strategy aligned with the company's global vision /liliIdentify high-potential growth categories, consumer trends, and market opportunities across Europe /liliBuild business cases and category roadmaps for market entry and expansion /liliEvaluate market attractiveness, competitive landscapes, pricing opportunities, and profitability potential /liliPartner with headquarters to align global innovation pipelines with European market needs /liliLead the European NPD process from concept generation through commercialisation /liliTranslate consumer and customer insights into successful product concepts /liliCoordinate cross-functional product launches with RD, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Sales, and Marketing /liliEnsure new products meet European consumer preferences, regulatory requirements, and retailer expectations /liliManage product portfolios throughout their lifecycle /liliOwn category performance and profitability across all new product segments /liliDevelop category growth strategies based on market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and commercial opportunities /liliMonitor portfolio performance and identify opportunities for expansion and optimisation /liliEstablish KPIs and category scorecards, and lead assortment strategy decisions /liliBuild a deep understanding of European consumers, food trends, and emerging category developments /liliLead consumer research, concept testing, and market validation studies /liliAnalyse market data, retailer insights, and competitive activity to identify opportunities and risks /liliAct as the internal expert on European food trends and category development /liliOwn category PL performance and ensure sustainable, profitable growth /liliDevelop pricing, margin, and profitability strategies for new product categories /liliBuild financial forecasts, business cases, and investment proposals /liliMonitor category performance against budget and strategic objectives /li /ulh3Go-to-Market Commercialisation /h3ulliDevelop and execute go-to-market strategies for new category launches /liliCollaborate with European sales teams to secure distribution and retailer support /liliSupport customer presentations, category reviews, and strategic retailer discussions /liliDevelop launch plans that drive consumer trial, awareness, and repeat purchase /li /ulh3Leadership Cross-Functional Collaboration /h3ulliBuild and lead a high-performing category and innovation team as the business grows /liliFoster collaboration between European and international stakeholders /liliInfluence senior leadership through strategic recommendations and business insights /liliServe as a key member of the European leadership team /li /ulh3Qualifications Skills /h3ulliMaster's degree or MBA in Marketing, Business Administration, Food Science, Economics, or a related field /liliMinimum 15 years of progressive experience in FMCG Food, food manufacturing, category management, innovation, product marketing, or commercial strategy /liliAble to commute 5 days onsite to the Amstelveen office /liliProven experience leading category development and new product launches across multiple European markets /liliStrong understanding of the full product lifecycle, from concept development through commercialisation /liliDemonstrated experience managing category PL and delivering profitable growth /liliStrong analytical and strategic thinking, combined with a hands-on execution mindset /liliExperience working in international and multicultural environments /liliExcellent stakeholder management and influencing skills /liliProfessional fluency in English /liliExperience working with Asian food brands or international food businesses, knowledge of the European ethnic food landscape, and experience working directly with retailers, distributors, and category buyers across Europe is advantageous /li /ulh3What's on Offer /h3ulliCompetitive salary of 180k to 220k including the 8% holiday allowance, depending on experience /liliA leadership role shaping the category expansion strategy of a fast-growing international food company /liliOwnership of category expansion initiatives across more than 35 European markets /liliDirect interaction with European and global executive teams /liliA dynamic, international, and entrepreneurial working environment /lili25 days of holiday per year /lili1-year direct contract to start with, 40 hours per week /li /ul /p #J-18808-Ljbffr