WHO WE ARE

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specialising in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!
Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let’s build a brighter, healthier future for all.
We are searching for a Category Lead (m/f/d) for our Personal Care & Home Care categories in Central Europe West (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to join our team full time in Hamburg.
Job Purpose:The job owner leads and transforms the Personal & Home Care Categories within the CEW region. The primary goal is to accelerate profitable volume and market share growth across all three countries, driven by a diverse portfolio of our brands — Palmolive, Ajax, Softlan, and DanKlorix.

KEY SKILLS, COMPETENCIES & QUALIFICATIONS:

• College or University degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Management or related fields. A proven track record of performance with min. 10 years of work experience in Brand Management, preferably in Consumer Goods & Healthcare Goods, experience in Customer Development / Sales and Retail Marketing is a plus.
• Business knowledge and understanding on category and brand strategies, as well as a good foundation of knowledge of the German, Austrian and Swiss retail market.
• Financial knowledge (P&L) to recommend initiatives that bring financial results and understanding the impact on the business and ROI.
• Consumer & Customer focused: Works with agility and finds new ways through the use of digital tools and data to get closer to consumers and shoppers, delivering propositions that are viable for trade.
• Digital & analytical savvy: Experience with analytical tools like AC Nielsen, household data, retail shopper data as well as digital media and AI tools.
• Innovative thinker: Champions new initiatives and experimentation. Gains buy-in & implements new ideas quickly & effectively. Adopts a flexible approach to problem solving and taking risks and quickly learns.
• Leadership: Able to lead a team by example, with a proven track record of leading teams of medium size for min. 5 years. Inspiring, forward thinking and going the extra mile to reach business impact. Coaching of the team will be a key skill.
• Collaboration skills: Works within the Hub team to influence people and build strong trusted relationships internally/externally to drive action and progress. Close collaboration with divisional Brand teams, local Retail Marketing, Digital Transformation and CD teams.
• Highly influential: Able to influence people and build consensus, at all levels of the organization, sometimes without direct authority.
• Data analytics: Ability and financial knowledge to evaluate and digest complex business processes, identify insights and opportunities and then capitalize and execute on learnings.
• Effective execution: Achieving results with speed & excellence, eliminating unnecessary work, driving simplicity and being self-accountable for results. Creates clear priorities.
• Fluent in English and German.

• Leading the development and execution of the consumer journey through the ACPL funnel (Attention, Consideration, Purchase, and Loyalty).
• Managing category and brand equity development and executing brand portfolios (Core/Innovation) to maximise profitability.
• Collaborating with the cross-functional team to design and implement strategies that meet sales, market share, and overall company goals.
• Close partnership with the European marketing team on brand strategies, portfolio management and executional guidelines.
• Closely collaborating with cross-functional teams, including Customer Development, Retail Marketing in AT and CH, Media & Digital Transformation and Insights & Analytics.
• Engaging with external partners such as trade customers, cooperation partners, market research consultants.
• Ensuring execution excellence of commercial brand plans.
• Measuring and reporting performance metrics to inform action recommendations.
• Defining budget reviews, mid-year volume plans, and financial goals by category, aligned with the commercial team.
• Leading category review meetings and presenting budget plans to senior management.
• Leading, developing, and coaching a team of four Brand Managers at various levels of seniority.