Category Lead - VMS

Welcome to Haleon. We’re a purpose-driven, world-class consumer company putting everyday health in the hands of millions. In just three years since our launch, we’ve grown, evolved and are now entering an exciting new chapter – one filled with bold ambitions and enormous opportunity.

Our trusted portfolio of brands – including Sensodyne®, Panadol®, Advil®, Voltaren®, Theraflu®, Otrivin®, and Centrum® – lead in resilient and growing categories. What sets us apart is our unique blend of deep human understanding and trusted science.

Now it’s time to fully realise the full potential of our business and our people. We do this through our Win as One strategy. It puts our purpose – to deliver better everyday health with humanity – at the heart of everything we do. It unites us, inspires us, and challenges us to be better every day, driven by our agile, performance-focused culture.

About the role

Category Lead is a marketing leadership role that plays a pivotal role in driving growth and profitability within the assigned product category by developing and executing effective strategies to meet consumer needs and achieve business objectives.

The incumbent will be responsible for Strategic Planning, P&L Management, Pricing Strategy, Growth Strategy, Revenue Strategy, Brand profitability, Marketing Analysis to increase the growth & profitability of the Haleon Brand/s in the Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) category.

The incumbent will lead a team of 5 team members including 3 Sr / Brand Managers. Key VMS brands include Centrum MVM, Ostocalcium, Centrum Recharge.

Role Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a clear VMS category growth strategy for India, anchored in consumer insight, trusted science, market trends, competitive intelligence and Haleon’s broader commercial objectives.

• Build Centrum as a new-age, consumer-relevant wellness brand in India by sharpening the brand proposition, driving distinctive communication, strengthening brand assets and increasing relevance across life stages and need states.

• Drive the financial performance of the assigned product category through end-to-end P&L ownership, including revenue growth, pricing, gross margin, marketing investment, promotional strategy, portfolio mix and overall brand profitability.

• Determine the product assortment within the category, including which propositions to introduce, expand, renovate, discontinue or modify based on consumer need, market demand and company objectives.

• Partner with Insights, Medical, Regulatory, R&D and regional / global teams to identify innovation opportunities and translate science-backed benefits into simple, compelling consumer propositions.

• Work with marketing teams and agency partners to develop high-impact campaigns, advertising, content, media and brand activation plans that drive awareness, consideration, trial and repeat for the category.

• Deliver digital-first growth with strong thought leadership on high-ROI digital programs, D2C, eCommerce, performance marketing, consumer journeys and always-on engagement for a modern supplement brand.

• Collaborate with Sales, Customer Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain and Commercial Excellence to ensure category strategy translates into strong in-market execution across general trade, modern trade, pharmacy, eCommerce and emerging channels.

• Conduct regular market analysis and research to stay updated on industry trends, consumer preferences, competitive landscape, growth opportunities and risks within the category.

• Combine foresight with commercial planning and action to unlock high-growth opportunities and build long-term category leadership for Haleon India.

• Drive best practices in analysis, action planning and execution to deliver high double-digit growth, strong ROI and sustainable profitability.

• Lead and inspire the VMS marketing team, building clarity, ownership, capability and a culture of collaboration in a fast-evolving category.

Why you?

Preferred Qualifications:

• ·Requires deep knowledge and experience of consumer insights, brand strategy, communication, innovation and design, ideally in categories where consumer education and trust-building are critical.
• ·Best-in-class knowledge of insights, innovation, P&L management, digital marketing, eCommerce / D2C and executional excellence.
• ·Requires exceptional ability to work within the matrix, internally and with agencies, to leverage iconic brand assets, inspire teams, use high-quality research, manage alignment and sell in plans that drive executional rigour.
• ·Requires in-depth expertise to lead work on the brands and build a category that is still evolving in India, with the ability to balance global brand strengths with local consumer realities.
• ·Knowledge of the Marketing Process, from strategy and insight to communication, innovation, media, execution and measurement.
• ·Strategic thinking for alignment with Haleon’s longer-term objectives and India growth ambition.
• ·Comfort with ambiguity and building capabilities, operating rhythms and growth models in a category with significant headroom.

Basic Qualifications:

• ·MBA / Master’s in Marketing from institute of repute.
• ·12+ years of experience in category management, brand management or related roles within FMCG / consumer healthcare / OTC / nutrition / wellness, with a strong track record of success in driving growth and profitability.
• ·Proven leadership experience, with the ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
• ·Strong commercial acumen, consumer orientation and ability to translate category opportunity into clear business outcomes.

Location – this role is based in: Gurgaon

 

 

 

 Job Posting End Date

 

 

2026-08-07

 

 

 

Equal Opportunities

Haleon are committed to mobilising our purpose in a way that represents the diverse consumers and communities who rely on our brands every day. It guides us in creating an inclusive culture, where different backgrounds and views are valued and respected – all in support of understanding and best serving the needs of our consumers and unleashing the full potential of our people. It’s important to us that Haleon is a place where all our employees feel they truly belong.

During the application process, we may ask you to share some personal information, which is entirely voluntary. This information ensures we meet certain regulatory and reporting obligations and supports the development, refinement, and execution of our inclusion and belonging programmes that are open to all Haleon employees. 

The personal information you provide will be kept confidential, used only for legitimate business purposes, and will never be used in making any employment decisions, including hiring decisions.

 

 

 

Adjustment or Accommodations Request

If you require a reasonable adjustment or accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at Haleon at any stage of the application process, please let your recruiter know by providing them with a description of specific adjustments you are requesting. We’ll provide all reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process and treat all information you provide us in confidence. 

 

 

 

Note to candidates

The Haleon recruitment team will contact you using a Haleon email account (@haleon.com). If you are not sure whether the email you received is from Haleon, please get in touch.