Strategy Manager

Do you want to work for the highly successful, fast growing (non-food) retailer of Europe, with many growth opportunities and are you looking for the next strategy challenge? Join our Strategy & Analytics team as Strategy Manager and play a key role in shaping and delivering Action’s long-term strategy and priorities. In this position, you’ll work closely with the CEO, CFO, and other executive stakeholders, influence high-impact decisions, and contribute to the continued success of our rapidly expanding business.

What you'll do

As Strategy Manager you are part of the Strategy & Analytics team, reporting to the Head of Strategy & Analytics who reports into the CEO. The Strategy team leads the development, articulation, and delivery of Action’s strategic priorities in close collaboration with executive stakeholders. As a Strategy Manager, you anticipate shifts in the retail landscape, track competitor moves, provide disruptive thought leadership to drive change and innovation, and leverage data-driven insights to shape strategic decisions. The Strategy team is known for developing top talent and serves as a steppingstone to future leadership roles within the Action organization.

Your work will be dynamic and include:

• Executive Support: Provide support to the CEO, CFO and Executive Committee by driving strategic and financial deliverables. Examples include: 3i’s Capital Market Seminar, CEO updates and webinars, and major financial transactions such as refinancing, repricing or potential IPO.

• Analytics & Insights: Drive data-driven decision making in collaboration with the business owners, Analytics team, and Business Control by creating actionable insights from market and competitive assessments and business performance analyses. Examples include: new market studies, key competitor tracking, and operational & financial root-cause, improvement or impact analyses.

• Strategic Planning: Lead strategic planning by shaping company-wide priorities, driving long-term business planning (3–5 years), and steering the annual budget cycle while creating ownership within the business, maintaining oversight on progress, and flagging risks where needed. Examples include: developing multi-year business plan, formulating yearly strategy and priorities, and driving the annual budget process.

• Strategic Projects: Orchestrate the execution of Action’s strategic priorities by leading cross-functional strategic projects and delivering board-ready decision documents. Examples include: Supply Chain network strategy, Store format of the future, Organizational design & operating model changes

What's in it for you?

• Work at the fastest growing non-food retailer in Europe
• Lead complex, high-impact strategic projects
• High exposure to CEO, CFO, and other executive stakeholders
• Excellent steppingstone to future leadership roles within Action

This is you

• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with a result-oriented and forward-thinking approach to identifying opportunities and driving solutions
• Advanced analytical capabilities, able to independently identify and perform relevant analyses to generate actionable insights
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to develop clear, compelling narratives for executive audiences and align stakeholders
• Proactive, pragmatic, someone who “rolls up the sleeves” and get things done, able to operate autonomously but also work as part of a team
• Highly motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, and committed, thriving in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Ability to manage multiple strategic topics simultaneously, adapt quickly to changing priorities, and deliver under tight deadlines
• Lead project teams, mentoring and guiding junior team members to ensure high-quality delivery and support their professional development

Qualification and experience

• A (relevant) Master’s degree with strong academic results
• Typically 6-10 years of experience in strategy development, transformation, Strategy / management consulting, or a similar role within the consumer / retail industry
• Industry knowledge: In-depth understanding of the retail industry, including market dynamics, consumer behavior, and competitive landscape
• Fluency in English

What we offer

• Competitive base salary
• Annual bonus based on personal and business goals
• Long term incentive plan
• 24 paid vacation days (based on 38 hours per week) with the option of purchasing 5 extra days
• Company car or travel allowance, laptop and smartphone
• Work-from-home allowance
• Employee discount at all Action stores in the Netherlands
• Relevant courses and training at our own Action Academy
• Flexible working hours
• Hybrid work options – your primary work location will be our International Head Office in Zwaagdijk for at least 3 days per week. The office is easily accessible by car and by public transport, and we offer a convenient shuttle bus service from Hoorn to the IHQ.
• Strong onboarding program
• A job at a dynamic, international organization with plenty of room to grow and develop your career

How we contribute to society

If you only know Action from the stores, a world will open for you when you join us. For example, we are working hard behind the scenes to make a positive impact on society and the environment. Did you know, for example, that we sponsor more than 2,000 children worldwide who are growing up in an SOS Children’s Village? That our team reflects the diversity of our customers, including 159 nationalities? That we already source 70% of our wood products and 86% of our cotton sustainably? And that only energy-efficient LED lighting is used in more than half of our stores? Yes, that is also Action. Curious about what other initiatives we are facilitating? Join our team and find out for yourself.