Are 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.
About the Company
Our 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.
Role Overview
As 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.
You 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.
Key Responsibilities
New Category Strategy & Business Development
- Develop and execute a long-term European category expansion strategy aligned with the company's global vision
- Identify high-potential growth categories, consumer trends, and market opportunities across Europe
- Build business cases and category roadmaps for market entry and expansion
- Evaluate market attractiveness, competitive landscapes, pricing opportunities, and profitability potential
- Partner with headquarters to align global innovation pipelines with European market needs
Product Innovation & New Product Development
- Lead the European NPD process from concept generation through commercialisation
- Translate consumer and customer insights into successful product concepts
- Coordinate cross-functional product launches with R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Sales, and Marketing
- Ensure new products meet European consumer preferences, regulatory requirements, and retailer expectations
- Manage product portfolios throughout their lifecycle
Category & Portfolio Management
- Own category performance and profitability across all new product segments
- Develop category growth strategies based on market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and commercial opportunities
- Monitor portfolio performance and identify opportunities for expansion and optimisation
- Establish KPIs and category scorecards, and lead assortment strategy decisions
Consumer Insights & Market Intelligence
- Build a deep understanding of European consumers, food trends, and emerging category developments
- Lead consumer research, concept testing, and market validation studies
- Analyse market data, retailer insights, and competitive activity to identify opportunities and risks
- Act as the internal expert on European food trends and category development
Commercial & Financial Management
- Own category P&L performance and ensure sustainable, profitable growth
- Develop pricing, margin, and profitability strategies for new product categories
- Build financial forecasts, business cases, and investment proposals
- Monitor category performance against budget and strategic objectives
Go-to-Market & Commercialisation
- Develop and execute go-to-market strategies for new category launches
- Collaborate with European sales teams to secure distribution and retailer support
- Support customer presentations, category reviews, and strategic retailer discussions
- Develop launch plans that drive consumer trial, awareness, and repeat purchase
Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Build and lead a high-performing category and innovation team as the business grows
- Foster collaboration between European and international stakeholders
- Influence senior leadership through strategic recommendations and business insights
- Serve as a key member of the European leadership team
Qualifications & Skills
- Master's degree or MBA in Marketing, Business Administration, Food Science, Economics, or a related field
- Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in FMCG, food manufacturing, category management, innovation, product marketing, or commercial strategy
- Able to commute 5 days onsite to the Amstelveen office
- Proven experience leading category development and new product launches across multiple European markets
- Strong understanding of the full product lifecycle, from concept development through commercialisation
- Demonstrated experience managing category P&L and delivering profitable growth
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking, combined with a hands-on execution mindset
- Experience working in international and multicultural environments
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Professional fluency in English
- Experience 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
What's on Offer
- A leadership role shaping the category expansion strategy of a fast-growing international food company
- Ownership of category expansion initiatives across more than 35 European markets
- Direct interaction with European and global executive teams
- A dynamic, international, and entrepreneurial working environment
- 25 days of holiday per year
- Pension scheme
- Gym membership contribution
- 1-year direct contract to start with, 40 hours per week
Interested? We look forward to hearing from you!