Category Manager

Member of the Business Development Team // Based in the Netherlands

For our Consumer Products Division, we are looking for a talented and experienced category manager to join the Business Development team as category manager hair. You will be responsible for our haircare and styling categories. The division is made up of the Skincare, Haircare & Styling, Coloration and Make-Up categories. Each category has its own category manager. You will report into the Category Lead Hair who will manage, coach and support you.

For the role, you need to be solid, have strong communication skills to gain trust internally and externally and you are focused on results. We are looking for someone who is not afraid of a challenge and can make an impact.

Purpose of the role

As a Category Manager, your mission is to drive the growth of turnover and market share for your category across our retail partners. You act as the category and shopper expert, translating data into actionable strategies to optimize the shelf performance and support the successful launch of innovations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Market Analysis & Diagnosis (Data Expert)

• Analyze monthly category and brand performance using market panels (Nielsen).
• Identify key growth levers (Assortment, Promotion, Merchandising, Pricing) and market share opportunities.
• Conduct continuous competitive benchmarking on competitors' innovations and strategies.

2. Assortment Strategy & Innovation Launches

• Define and recommend the optimal assortment by store cluster and retail account.
• Build compelling sales arguments to secure the listing of new product innovations with buyers.

3. Merchandising Vision & Visibility

• Adapt international/regional merchandising guidelines to local market specificities.
• Collaborate with merchandising agencies to create high-performing planograms (facings, shopper flow).

4. Business Partnership

• Internally: Partner with Key Account Managers (KAMs) to prepare annual market reviews and negotiations. Work closely with Marketing to align brand vision with retail reality.
• Externally: Cultivate a high-level strategic partnership with Retailer Category Managers. Act as a Trusted Advisor by co-developing long-term category growth plans aligned with L’Oréal strategy.

You will work together with:

This role requires strong interpersonal and communication skills. To carry out this role successfully, you will work with:

• Category lead, who is your manager to guide and support
• Revenue Growth Manager hair, who will work on promo, pricing and format strategy for the category
• Retailers, with whom you will work on category opportunities and shelf projects
• Assortment manager, who will directly report to you and work on shelf visualization
• (e-)Account manager, with whom you develop the optimal plan on retailer opportunities
• Marketing team, together with Product Brand Manager you will look to new brands and white spots and with Retail Brand Managers you will develop the ideal shelf vision
• CMI / CDMO team, to discuss shopper insights and Nielsen data
• Zone to share knowledge and create strong shopper stories, based on international learnings

What qualities and education do you need for this position:

• Completed relevant WO Master's degree.
• Preferably 1-3 years working experience
• Good command of English in word and writing. Fluent in Dutch or French is a must.
• You have a passion for category insights, data and are a strong stakeholder manager.

What do we offer?

When you start at L'Oréal, you get a great deal of responsibility from day one. To develop, we offer an introduction program and an individual training program. Training can be local or at the global headquarters in Paris. An enriching experience where you will meet international peers.

And furthermore you will find with us:

• An inspiring work environment with ambitious colleagues
• A healthy career perspective with good development and career opportunities
• A competitive salary which is adjusted on an annual basis in case of good performance
• Good secondary employment conditions, such as a 13th month, profit sharing, discount on medical expenses and a favorable pension scheme
• Discount on L'Oréal products
• Nice extras such as various sporting company activities

Finally, a great added value of working at L'Oréal is that you will be working with so many different people and functions. This offers you the opportunity to broaden your knowledge about different stakeholders.