Key Skills

Job Description

Want to shape the next generation of Brendz products and turn market opportunities into successful launches across Europe? Join us in driving the next phase of growth for Brendz. Cebon | Fulltime | Category Management | Europe-based About the role Brendz is entering an exciting new phase of growth. Building on a strong foundation in marketplaces, we are expanding further into European retail, developing our D2C proposition and strengthening our product portfolio. As Category Management Lead - Brendz, you will own the portfolio strategy, product roadmap and commercial performance of the brand across Europe. You will translate consumer insights, market trends and commercial opportunities into successful products and concepts that create value for both consumers and retail partners. This is a role for someone who enjoys building, improving and challenging the status quo. Beyond shaping individual products, you will help drive Brendz' retail expansion strategy and contribute to the continued development of Category Management within CEBON. You will report to the Head of Marketing & E-commerce and work closely with Sales, Marketing, Digital, Product Design, Sourcing and international suppliers, while maintaining ownership of the portfolio and commercial agenda. In this role you will: Own and develop the Brendz portfolio, assortment strategy and product roadmap across Europe. Drive growth across retail and D2C channels by developing products, ranges and commercial concepts that strengthen the Brendz proposition across Europe. Identify market opportunities and translate insights into successful product and category strategies, with a focus on solar and rechargeable lighting. Manage products throughout their lifecycle, from concept and business case to launch, optimisation and phase-out. Drive commercial performance through effective cost, pricing and margin management. Work closely with suppliers and development partners, negotiating pricing and commercial conditions, challenging specifications and helping to turn ideas into distinctive and commercially viable products. Stay close to customers and the market through retailer visits, customer meetings, market research and trade fairs, and turn those insights into portfolio decisions. Act as a senior sparring partner within Category Management, helping to strengthen processes, collaboration and professional development across the team. We believe you will succeed if you: Have at least 5 years of experience in Category Management, Product Management or commercial product development, with a proven track record of building and growing consumer product portfolios. Combine entrepreneurial thinking with strong commercial judgement and enjoy turning market opportunities into commercially successful products and propositions. Have experience managing products throughout their lifecycle, from concept and business case to launch and optimisation. Are equally comfortable analysing commercial data, visiting retailers, discussing technical specifications with suppliers and challenging new product concepts with designers. Possess strong commercial insight in pricing, costs, margins and business case development. Demonstrate excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence others without formal authority. Communicate confidently in English. Additional language skills are considered an advantage. It would be a plus if you: Have experience within lighting, solar, consumer electronics or another product-driven consumer category. Have developed products and propositions for European retail markets, including experience with retail-ready concepts, packaging development and shelf presentation. What we offer Significant ownership and the freedom to shape the Brendz portfolio, product roadmap and future growth across Europe. Close collaboration with experienced specialists, international suppliers and external partners in a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment. A competitive salary aligned with your experience and local market conditions. Attractive annual leave, pension and employee benefit arrangements in line with local legislation and employment practices. A home working allowance, mobility support, laptop and mobile phone. Professional development opportunities and a dedicated learning budget. A flexible hybrid working model. Practical information This is a full-time position (40 hours per week). The role can be based in Deurne, the Netherlands, or Gothenburg, Sweden. You will be employed locally in either the Netherlands or Sweden. Regular travel between our Dutch and Swedish operations is part of the role. You will spend time in the market across Europe, visiting customers, prospects, retailers and industry trade fairs. International travel will also be required to visit suppliers and key trade fairs, including in Asia. Our values – the way we work At Cebon, our three core values shape the way we work and if you recognize yourself in them, you are likely a great fit for our team and culture > Three values are central to how we work. If they resonate with you, you'll likely feel at home at CEBON. BRAVE – You ask bold questions, explore new ways and challenge assumptions. You dare to take space and drive things forward > You challenge assumptions, explore new opportunities and drive improvement. OWNERSHIP – You take initiative, deliver on your responsibilities and act with integrity. You are proactive and value-creating in everything you do > You take responsibility, show initiative and focus on creating value. CONNECTED – You listen, collaborate across countries and teams, stay close to customers and understand the market > You collaborate across teams and countries while staying close to customers and the market. Ready to build with us? If you enjoy turning opportunities into successful products and taking ownership of results, we'd love to hear from you. Join us in shaping the next phase of growth for Brendz across Europe and the future of Category Management within CEBON. We review applications on an ongoing basis. Please send your CV or LinkedIn profile, together with a short motivation, to [email protected]. Questions? Contact Natalie van den Berkmortel (HR Manager) at [email protected] or Bart den Hertog (Head of Marketing & E-commerce) at [email protected]. By applying, you allow us to process your personal data for recruitment purposes. About Cebon We empower people and ideas so that they can shape a better tomorrow. At Cebon, we strive to create an environment where individuals and innovative ideas thrive. Cebon Group was founded in 1986 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and is today a dynamic group of companies managing brands and businesses within safety and energy solutions. Our portfolio includes well-known brands such as GP Batteries, Housegard, Aqiila, Brentz and Sparq, among others. In addition, we offer digital e-commerce services and operate an Incubator division that serves as investor and initiator for new business ventures. Over the years, we have gained a strong position in both the consumer and industrial markets and are present across Europe, including the Nordic region (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland), Italy, France, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), and DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Our headquarters and central warehouse are in Gothenburg and we also operate a warehouse in the Netherlands. The group has an annual turnover of approximately SEK 1 billion, created by a team of over 170 employees, driven by our core values: Brave, Ownership, Connected. For more information about the group, please visit: www.cebon.com

Core Responsibilities

Own Brendz's European portfolio strategy, assortment, product roadmap, and commercial performance across retail and D2C, managing products from concept and business case through launch, optimisation, and phase-out. Identify market opportunities, manage costs, pricing, and margins, negotiate with suppliers, and contribute to retail expansion and the development of Category Management processes.

Requirements

Candidates need at least five years of experience in Category Management, Product Management, or commercial product development, with a track record of building and growing consumer product portfolios. They should have strong commercial judgement and analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills, experience across the product lifecycle, and confidence working with retailers, suppliers, and designers; fluent English is required.

Benefits

• Annual Leave
• Pension
• Employee Benefits
• Home Working Allowance
• Mobility Support
• Laptop
• Mobile Phone
• Professional Development
• Learning Budget