Customer Category Manager - Coordinating responsibility (parental leave cover 12 months) - Solna

Are you our new analytical and business oriented Customer Category Manager wanting to join one of Sweden’s biggest FMCG company? Are you a sharp and analytical business developer who gets excited about transforming category strategies into commercial growth opportunities for Arla and our customers? We are currently looking to recruit a Customer Category Manager for a 12-month parental leave cover starting in November.

How you will make an impact 

As a Customer Category Manager, you will proactively drive key strategic projects to unlock category and commercial growth for some of the biggest categories and customers in Swedish FMCG. Together with the Customer team (KAM), Category Development, Space Development, NRM (Net Revenue Growth Management) and Marketing, you will create and execute growth plans for Arla at our customers.

This role holds a coordinating responsibility for the Category Management & Space area, meaning that you will lead weekly meetings with 4 other Customer Category & Space Managers. You will coordinate the joint agenda for Customer Category projects, the business plan for Category Management & Space, as well as the development of enhanced ways of working, analysis methods and tools.

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct assortment and gap analysis to identify and prioritise commercial growth opportunities, recommending optimal strategies for Arla and customers.
• Create clear, insight-driven presentations for customers, translating complex analysis into actionable recommendations to land the sell and enable joint growth.
• Adapt category and channel strategies through a customer perspective, connecting shopper missions and customer profiles to drive joint business planning and category development projects.
• Lead central and in-store customer collaborations, including pilot tests and rollouts of shopper inspiration concepts to fuel category growth.
• Represent customer interests in internal projects by understanding full category dynamics, including competitors, private label, and pricing trends.
• Stay attuned to Swedish shopper trends, developing and executing short and long-term commercial plans to drive growth across categories, channels and customers.

What will make you successful 

We believe you are a driven and engaged professional, able to forge strong relationships and earn trust with both customers and key internal stakeholders. Your excellent communication skills and collaborative approach make you an effective team player, while your leadership experience empowers you to enhance cooperation and continually develop competencies within the Category Management & Space area. You approach challenges with a growth mindset, demonstrating a structured way of working, strong problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to move initiatives forward.

Additionally, we believe you have:

• A minimum of five years’ FMCG experience in commercial roles across category, sales, or marketing, and a university degree
• Valuable sales experience, offering you the commercial insight essential for success in this role
• Strong analytical and business acumen, with proven experience in processing both internal and external data and insights to identify gaps, defend positions, and uncover growth opportunities
• Comprehensive knowledge of data sets such as Nielsen, GfK, POS data, and Power BI, alongside a solid financial understanding
• Experience in driving strategy and analysis projects
• High proficiency in both English and Swedish, with the ability to communicate effortlessly in both languages

What do we offer?
We provide the opportunity to join our Customer Development team within Retail Sales—an organization distinguished by its ambition and robust portfolio of respected brands. In addition, you will benefit from ongoing professional development and the chance to advance your career while working alongside talented colleagues committed to delivering exceptional results.

Would you like to join us?
If this opportunity excites you, and you fulfil the required criteria for the role, don’t wait, apply today! We are screening on an ongoing basis and the role will be filled as soon as we find the right candidate. Welcome to contact Frida Sjöbom, Customer Development Director for questions about the role, 

Please be aware that any applications or CVs coming through email or direct messages will not be accepted or considered.

Shape the Future of Dairy 

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to producing high-quality products while championing sustainability and innovation. We're passionate about people and our planet, striving to unleash the full potential in each of us. Our goal is to make healthy dairy nutrition and good food habits accessible to all. Join us at Arla Foods and become part of a worldwide cooperative dedicated to making a significant impact on the planet and steering the dairy industry towards a sustainable future. 

We are devoted to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Diversity and collaboration are key to our success, propelling us to new heights in the dairy industry. 

Would you like to be part of a team that has great ambitions, challenging tasks, diversity throughout and plenty of development opportunities? If so, then Arla is the company for you.

We’re the farmer-owned dairy cooperative behind global brands Arla®, Lurpak® and Castello® and our 19,000-strong team of passionate people have helped us become the fifth largest dairy company in the world and the largest producer of organic dairy products.