Job Description

Own the entire category management process identifying most valuable segments, understanding our offer, driving and positioning Innovation through insight and supporting Marketing teams in identifying targets for the working platform.

Role typically operates within a division or region.

About Us

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

About the role

We are currently looking for a Strategic Marketing Manager EMEA, who willdeliver growth through strategic planning, ABM planning, customer insights, and a strategic innovations pipeline, while ensuring marketing efforts are customer-centric and commercially impactful. This role supports the Annual Business Planning (ABP) process across two subregions and drives strategic category planning in collaboration with local teams. You will develop compelling value propositions with lead markets or customers and monitoring segment performance across EMEA. Additionally, you will co-lead research initiatives with the insights and foresights team, support sales enablement through category insights and customer presentations, and contribute to innovation planning by owning the desirability lens and guiding product development.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead ABP and category planning, ensure ABM planning is fully embedded in strategic marketing, with clearly defined objectives, precise targeting, and measurable growth KPIs

• Define and deliver segment-specific marketing strategies aligned with commercial growth objectives, developing compelling value propositions with lead markets/customers and translating them into actionable ABM plans, with a strong focus on Most Wanted opportunities and tender management excellence to drive commercial impact and customer relevance

• Strengthen our value proposition differentiation by identifying key points of difference versus competitors through competitor analysis, ensuring strategies and propositions are distinctive and impactful

• Monitor segment performance and optimise plans based on insights and KPIs. Co-lead research initiatives with the Insights & Foresights team to inform strategic decisions

• Provide relevant category insights to unlock customer opportunities and accelerate pipeline conversion. Support Account Managers with opportunity identification and ensure marketing deliverables (e.g., insights presentations, VP translation into sell-ins) are tailored to support growth targets and ABM activation

• Support Marketing Communications in development of perfect offer, ensuring marketing campaigns reflect strategic growth priorities and customer needs

• Lead the Exploration phase of the Innovation process, own the desirability lens through to product development, and define prioritisation and customisation by being the voice of the customer.

About You

• A Degree or professional qualification in Business administration, Sales, Marketing, or other relevant field of study

• Demonstrated expertise in marketing planning, value proposition development, customer insight, and sales enablement from previous marketing roles (ideally within E-commerce, Automotive, or other industrial environment).

• Proven success in partnering with senior stakeholders across complex organisations, negotiating and influencing effectively to achieve business goals

• Deep understanding of customer-centricity, with a track record of delivering tangible business impact.

• Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills.

• Commercial acumen with proven ability to grasp, analyse and initiate actions based on strong financial insights and understanding.

• Strategic mind set, result-oriented, accountable, energetic.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary

• Discretionary bonus

• Car allowance

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays

• Private Medical Insurance

• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Employee Discounts

• Cycle to work scheme

Location: UK/ London (Paddington) – hybrid

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.

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