Job Title: Senior Category Manager - 12 Month FTC / Secondment
Function: Commercial
Location: Head Office, Glasgow - Hybrid - 2 days per week in office.
Job Level: (Internal Reference Only) 5
Contract: Full Time / 12 Month FTC / Secondment
Role Reports to: Head of Consumer & Category Insights
Date vacancy will close: Friday 27th November 2027. Where we receive high numbers of applications we may close vacancies early. If you think this is the right opportunity for you please don't delay in applying!
Who we are:
Born in Glasgow, made in Scotland and enjoyed around the world. Whyte and Mackay is home to a collection of multi-award-winning global whisky brands led by The Dalmore, Fettercairn, Jura and Tamnavulin. Our mission is to be a driving force in whisky, renowned for building brands that stand-out. Enabled by our brilliant community of 675 colleagues, reaching across 17 countries and counting. We're led by our values, continuing to grow and invest and looking for great talent to join our brilliant community. Ready to hear more?
What the opportunity looks like:
The Senior Category Manager, Global Travel Retail will be the market-facing category thought leader for the Global Travel Retail growth platform. The role will turn bespoke travel retail data, existing research and centrally governed insight into customer-ready category strategies, portfolio recommendations and compelling selling stories. Working directly with travel retail customers, operators, distributors and internal commercial teams, the role will influence range, space, visibility, activation and portfolio decisions, with particular focus on the priority BMCs. The role will commercialise insight rather than rebuild reporting, partnering closely with Insights Excellence to ensure every recommendation is accurate, consistent and actionable.
Own the Global Travel Retail category development agenda, translating the Category Strategy, POP Strategy, Luxury Insights framework and BMC priorities into customer and channel growth plans.
Convert bespoke GTR data platforms, shopper research, IWSR, pricing, passenger and operator evidence into clear opportunity sizing, portfolio choices and customer recommendations.
Build trusted senior relationships with travel retail buyers, category leaders, operators and distributor partners through a planned programme of category reviews and joint growth conversations.
Develop distinctive category selling stories for luxury whisky, gifting, premiumisation, age statements, innovation and key travel occasions, tailored by region, airport, operator and shopper mission.
Influence range, space, visibility, pricing, activation and launch decisions, ensuring recommendations improve both category value and Whyte & Mackay portfolio growth.
Partner with Insights Excellence for governed data, reporting and analytical support, avoiding duplication and freeing category time for customers and commercial influence.
Create reusable GTR frameworks, playbooks and examples that improve consistency and capability across commercial and distributor teams.
Skills and experience that will help you be a success:
For this role we're looking for:
Significant category development, shopper insight or commercial strategy experience within spirits, FMCG, grocery, specialist retail, travel retail or a distributor-led environment.
Proven success developing customer-ready category strategies, range recommendations and evidence-led selling stories for senior commercial audiences.
Experience influencing buyers, category leaders, distributors and cross-functional stakeholders across complex or multi-market environments.
International market experience; spirits category knowledge and WSET qualification are advantageous but not essential.
We believe that everyone has the potential for growth in our roles! You may feel you don't tick every box for this role, but if you believe you have relevant experiences that could help you succeed we'd much rather you apply rather than rule yourself out based on any self-limiting beliefs!
Why join us:
We offer a competitive salary, bonus package, life assurance, competitive pension, excellent product allowance, 35 days annual leave, plus enhanced family friendly policies. Our Rewards & Benefits page has further information.
Our application process:
If you like what you’ve read and want to explore this opportunity further, please apply before the closing date listed at the top of the advert.
Our team read each and every application, therefore you'll hear back from us in due course.
Candidate guidance on the use of AI in the application and screening process can be found on our career site.
Should you require any adjustments to our recruitment process to help you be at your best then please contact us at HRTeam@whyteandmackay.com and we'll do what we can to support.
