Category Insights Director NEW Foodbuy Posted today Competitive Mobile Central Functions

Category Insights Director Amplifi Smart Retail & Vending (Compass Group)

At Amplifi, we're redefining smart retail and vending through data, technology and consumer first thinking. As the smart vending and retail division of Compass Group, we operate at the forefront of automated retail-combining intelligent technology with powerful insights to deliver exceptional commercial performance.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Category Insights Director will lead the development of data driven category strategies across our smart retail and vending estate. This is a senior, highly influential role with direct impact on business performance, client value and long term growth.

You'll bring together consumer insight, commercial acumen and advanced analytics to optimise assortments, pricing and promotional effectiveness-turning complex data into clear, actionable strategies.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Category Leadership

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned to Amplifi's commercial and growth objectives.
• Identify market opportunities, emerging trends, gaps and risks within smart retail and vending channels.

Insight & Analytics

• Lead the collection, analysis and interpretation of multiple data sources including sales performance, loyalty data, inventory, payment platforms, software systems and external market research.
• Translate insight into clear recommendations that drive revenue, margin and customer engagement.

Consumer & Market Understanding

• Build a deep understanding of consumer behaviour in smart retail and vending environments, including purchasing habits, product preferences, payment choices and interaction with smart technology.
• Track and analyse competitor activity to identify differentiation opportunities.

Assortment, Pricing & Promotions

• Optimise product assortments by location and mission, identifying underperformers and opportunities for innovation.
• Develop and refine pricing strategies based on elasticity, cost structures and perceived value.
• Evaluate promotional and marketing effectiveness, maximising ROI and informing future activity.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Deliver compelling reports and presentations to senior stakeholders, clearly articulating insight, impact and recommendations.
• Provide actionable, client facing insight that supports sales growth and profitability.
• Partner closely with sales, marketing, operations, product and technology teams to ensure alignment and execution.

About You

You'll be a commercially focused, insight led leader with a passion for using data to drive strategic outcomes.

Experience & Expertise

• 7-10+ years' experience in senior category management, insights or analytics roles within retail, FMCG or a related sector.
• Strong background in client facing roles, with a proven ability to influence, advise and build trusted relationships.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Advanced analytical capability, comfortable working with large and complex datasets.
• Expertise in BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau, advanced Excel and statistical tools (R, Python); SQL knowledge advantageous.

Capabilities & Behaviours

• Strategic thinker with the ability to turn insight into clear, commercial action.
• Confident communicator, able to present complex information to executive audiences.
• Proactive problem solver with strong leadership and influencing skills.
• Strong understanding of smart retail, vending, automated retail technologies or consumer trends in innovative retail environments.

Why Join Amplifi?

• Be part of a fast growing, innovative smart retail and vending business.
• Work at the cutting edge of data driven retail within the global Compass Group organisation.
• Influence strategy at the highest level, reporting directly to the Managing Director.
• Shape the future of automated retail through insight, technology and commercial excellence.