Position: Head of Category & Product

Location: SE1, London

Reports to: Operations & Development Director

Department: Category & Product

Type: Full-time

Job Overview:

The Head of Category & Product at Black Sheep Coffee will be a dynamic leader responsible for driving the strategic direction and operational execution of our product portfolio. This role is pivotal in enhancing the quality and diversity of our offerings, delivering exceptional value to customers, and improving store margins. The ideal candidate will possess a strong blend of analytical, creative, and leadership skills to foster collaboration across multiple teams and ensure the successful lifecycle management of our products.

Key Responsibilities:

- Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute the overall strategy for the Category & Product department, aligning with the company’s goals of improving product quality, customer value, and store margins.

- Team Management: Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team consisting of 7 people, this includes BI & Analytics (Insights), Digital Product Management, Marketing, Procurement/Supply Chain, and New Product Development.

- Product Lifecycle Management: Oversee the entire product lifecycle from ideation and development to procurement, marketing, and digital integration.

- Data-Driven Insights: Utilise insights from the BI & Analytics team to drive informed decisions and strategies for product development and enhancement.

- Innovation: Foster a culture of innovation within the team to continuously explore and implement new product ideas and improvements. Working closely with the Head of Quality Assurance on new product launches.

- Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless implementation and operational integration of new products across stores.

- Market Analysis: Stay up to date with industry trends, competitor activities, and customer preferences to identify opportunities and threats.

- Financial Oversight: Manage budgets, forecast product profitability, and ensure financial targets are met.

- Stakeholder Communication: Regularly report on product performance and departmental progress to senior management team, co-founders and other stakeholders.

Qualifications:

- Experience: Minimum of 8-10 years in product management, category management, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a leadership role. Ideally within the hospitality industry.

- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.

Skills:

- Strong leadership and team management abilities.

- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

- Proven track record of successful product lifecycle management.

- Superior communication and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to think strategically and execute methodically.

- Proficiency in using data analytics tools and software.

- Understanding of procurement, supply chain, and marketing processes.

Product & Category Department:

The newly established Category & Product department at Black Sheep Coffee is tasked with enhancing our product quality and diversity, while ensuring superior customer value and improved store margins. Spearheaded by this new Head of Category & Product role, this team will include BI & Analytics, a new Digital Product Manager, Marketing, Procurement/Supply Chain and New Product Development. This department will oversee the entire product lifecycle—from ideation driven by data insights to development, procurement, marketing, and digital integration across self-order screens and our app. By fostering collaboration across these roles, the Category & Product team will ensure seamless implementation of innovative product offerings that align with our strategic goals.

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