Strategic Marketing Manager – E-commerce, Industrial

DS Smith

Strategic Marketing Manager responsible for category management and customer-centric marketing at DS Smith, a leader in sustainable packaging solutions. Collaborating with teams across EMEA to drive growth and innovation.

Posted 7/1/2026full-timeLondon • 🇬🇧 United KingdomMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

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.
Develop compelling value propositions with lead markets or customers and monitoring segment performance across EMEA.
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.
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.
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.

Requirements

What you’ll need

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

Comp & perks

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

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Marketing PlanningValue Proposition DevelopmentCustomer InsightSales EnablementCompetitor AnalysisABM PlanningKPI MonitoringSegment Performance OptimizationInnovation Process ManagementFinancial Analysis

Soft Skills

Excellent CommunicationStorytellingPresentation SkillsNegotiationInfluencing

Certifications

Degree in Business AdministrationDegree in MarketingDegree in Sales