One employer, endless challenges
At The Category & Trade Company (CTC), you don’t work for a single organization, but for multiple leading suppliers and retailers in FMCG, food, non-food, and e-commerce. That variety makes your role dynamic, educational, and impactful. You’ll be deployed as a full-fledged Space Manager at our clients’ sites and will be directly involved in the business. No advice from the sidelines—instead, you’ll conduct analyses, create layouts, and drive impact on the store floor. What makes this role unique is the combination of data, shopper behavior, and practical execution. You translate insights into concrete shelf plans and ensure they actually contribute to better performance on the shop floor. You’ll also benefit from a flying start thanks to our guidance and expertise.
The context in which
you work
You operate in an environment with a wide variety of clients, categories, and organizational maturity levels.
Some clients already have a strong foundation in category and space management, and you help them optimize it. Other organizations are just getting started, and you help them establish structure and gain insight.
Projects range from building and adjusting shelf plans to supporting larger category initiatives. You’ll work partly at the client’s site, partly from home or the office, and will regularly have multiple projects running concurrently.
The role requires precision, flexibility, and the ability to adapt quickly.
What you’ll be doing
- You’ll work on space management and floor planning projects at leading organizations in retail and FMCG, Food, Non-Food, Drug, DIY, and e-commerce
- You’ll analyze data related to shelf layout, rotation, sales, and shopper behavior and translate this into concrete recommendations
- You will develop and optimize shelf plans and ensure a logical and commercially sound layout
- You work with tools such as Spaceman, JDA, or other space management systems
- You support category reviews and help improve category performance
- You ensure that plans not only look good on paper but are also feasible in practice
- You coordinate with various stakeholders, such as category managers, retailers, and suppliers
- You often work on multiple projects simultaneously and switch seamlessly between different environments
Who you are
- You have 0 to 2 years of experience in retail, category management, space management, or a similar role
- You have an affinity for data and enjoy working with it
- You have strong analytical skills and work with precision
- You are eager to learn and want to develop yourself within the field
- You have strong communication skills and can collaborate effectively with various stakeholders
- You are proactive and take ownership of your work
- You are flexible and can easily switch between different projects
- You are available 32–40 hours per week
- Preference for living in the central part of the country and owning a car. Additionally, you must be willing to travel by car to various clients.
What we have to offer
- Maximum variety: You’ll get the chance to gain insight into various top companies and take on challenging roles.
- A steep learning curve: You’ll develop quickly through on-the-job coaching and training
- Personal growth: coaching from experienced professionals and participation in Expert Days
- Opportunities to further specialize in space management and category management
- Want more time off during school breaks? You can easily purchase extra vacation days from us to supplement your leave.
About us
The Category & Trade Company is the leading consulting firm for retail and suppliers in the fields of (omnichannel) Category Management, Trade Marketing, Space Management, Formula Management, and Floor Planning.
We are the authors of various handbooks, including the Category Management Handbook and the Formula Management Handbook.
We work with top professionals who have proven themselves in the field at leading companies. This enables us to help suppliers and retailers grow by Our mission? There are always opportunities for healthy growth.
Our vision? We believe that true growth comes from developing people
Ready to make an impact?
"*" indicates required fields
