Space Manager Food Benelux

Overview

At PepsiCo, we’re more than just iconic brands — we’re a team of 2,000+ passionate people across 11 countries, working together to deliver great-tasting products that consumers enjoy every day. With over 70 years in the region, we operate from 7 key locations — including 4 headquarters and 4 production sites — and offer a portfolio of 16 brands, from global icons like Pepsi and Lay’s to local favorites like Duyvis and Schwip Schwap. We’re committed to sustainability, innovation, and community impact. If you’re looking to grow your career with purpose, we’d love to hear from you.

 

The Space Manager plays a critical role in translating category, shopper and retailer insights into winning shelf solutions across the Benelux market.

 

As the central point of contact for all Retail, Discount and Away-from-home channels, this role ensures that the category vision, innovation pipeline and commercial ambitions are effectively brought to life at shelf level.

By combining analytical expertise, category thinking and stakeholder management, the Space Management Lead delivers data-driven shelf recommendations that drive category growth, improve shopper experience and strengthen PepsiCo's position as a trusted category partner.

 

In addition, the role acts as the Benelux project lead for space management activities, coordinating planogram development, workload prioritization and collaboration with the Global Capability Centre (GCC).

Responsibilities

Project management:

• Lead all Benelux space management projects in collaboration with GCC.
• Manage planning, prioritization and workload allocation across the Benelux Space Management team.
• Ensure timely delivery of planograms, range reviews and strategic initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvements in space management processes, tools and ways of working.

 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the first point of contact for brand marketing regarding product dimensions, packaging changes and visual assets.
• Advise internal stakeholders on the potential shelf impact of portfolio, packaging and innovation decisions.
• Collaborate closely with Category Management, Sales, Marketing and the wider DX organization on growth projects.

Planogram Excellence

• Own the development and quality of planogram recommendations for priority Benelux customers.
• Translate assortment optimization outputs and rankings into effective shelf solutions.
• Continuously improve planogram proposals based on retailer feedback and market learnings.
• Ensure data accuracy through ongoing database maintenance within Nielsen and Spaceman.

Category & Space Strategy

• Develop and execute a future-focused Space Management Vision for the Food categories across Benelux.
• Translate category, shopper and retailer insights into actionable shelf recommendations.
• Identify category growth opportunities through advanced space and assortment analysis.
• Ensure marketing innovations, portfolio changes and packaging developments are optimally represented on shelf.
• Provide strategic recommendations on assortment, shelf allocation, facings and merchandising principles.

Retail Partnership

• Acts as a credible counterpart to priority retailer Space Management, Merchandising and Category teams during shelf reset projects and range reviews (incl. live building sessions).
• Understands retailer shelf planning processes, constraints and objectives, and can      translate these into commercially relevant recommendations.
• Confidently presents planogram proposals, assortment recommendations and category insights to both customers and internal stakeholders.
• Builds strong relationships with (top 3) customer Space Management teams to ensure successful implementation of shelf recommendations.

Qualifications

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Commercial Economics or related field.
• 2-5 years of experience in FMCG or retail, preferably within Space Management,
• Category Management or Merchandising.
• Experience working with retailers and translating insights into commercial recommendations.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to convert data into actionable recommendations.
• Experience with Nielsen Discover, GfK and Space Management software (Spaceman or equivalent).
• Understanding of assortment optimization, category management and shelf productivity principles.
• Advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Strong project management capabilities with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to influence and challenge stakeholders across functions and seniority levels.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and experience working within cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable operating in an international environment and collaborating with global teams.

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial and proactive mindset.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Curious, collaborative and eager to continuously improve ways of working.
• Passion for understanding shoppers, categories and retail dynamics.

Languages

• Fluent in English and Dutch, French is a pre.