Career on the Next Level
In today’s fast-moving global business, leadership isn’t just about managing a team—it’s about connecting knowledge, insights, and people across functions and countries. That’s why we’re launching Elevator, an 18-month, career accelerator designed to prepare top-talent managers for the next level of leadership.
Who we’re Looking For: Ready to Rise
- Mobility and openness to international rotations as an integral part of the development path
- Proficient in English
- A fast-learning manager with high motivation to work in various areas of Żabka Group and readiness for international development
- Leadership potential and strong competencies in project and change management
- Graduates with min. 3-4 years of professional experience
- Experience in retail, FMCG, or consulting
- An international mindset
Your exemplary career way up
4 stages of your journey:
-
01Onboarding
(3 months)Get a 360° view of our business through rotations across stores, logistics, and field sales in Poland and Romania. Build hands-on experience and cross-functional insight to start your ascent. -
02Developing
(6 months)Lead strategic projects, manage dispersed teams, and deliver measurable impact while being mentored by top managers. Solve complex challenges and expand your network across the business. -
03Delivering
(9 months)Step into senior leader responsibilities, shadow senior leaders, and engage with the board. Sharpen leadership skills, drive results, and prepare to take the next floor. -
04Leading
(ongoing)Apply broad capabilities to deliver across functions and geographies. Become a role model, change initiator, and a proven driver of results.
Recruitment designed to lift potential
Aiming for a Job? Check the details and apply!
Commercial Development Senior Manager
Position Overview
The Commercial Development Senior Manager is a high-impact role designed to prepare for leaders' role within Zabka Group commercial organization, primarily in Category Management, Buying, and Pricing. Over an 18-month+ development horizon, the role combines analytical depth, commercial acumen, and exposure to how assortment, pricing, and supplier partnerships shape the company’s market performance.
This position provides hands-on experience in managing categories, optimizing product mix, and building supplier relationships, while developing the strategic mindset needed for roles such as Category Director.
Ideal for someone with strong business sense, data-driven decision-making skills, and the ambition to lead commercial strategies that influence millions of customers every day.
Key Responsibilities:
18-Month Development Path
During the program, the Commercial Development Senior Manager will:
- Rotate through key commercial teams (Category Management, Buying, Pricing, Promotions).
- Lead selected projects focused on category management, assortment optimization, margin improvement and customer insights.
- Collaborate with marketing, supply chain and finance to deliver end-to-end commercial initiatives.
- Develop leadership and negotiation skills essential for future director-level roles.
Target outcome after 18 months:
Readiness to take a senior management role in category leadership or commercial strategy, driving profitable growth and innovation across product portfolios.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Marketing or a related field.
- 4–6 years of experience in category management, buying, or commercial analytics.
- Proven success in managing categories, supplier negotiations or pricing strategies.
Skills and Competencies:
- Adaptability and curiosity to explore new business models and categories.
- Mobile and open to international assignments
- Fluent in English, min. C1
- Agile learner with drive and openness to multifunctional and international career paths
- Strong commercial and analytical thinking.
- Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills.
- Ability to translate customer insights into actionable business plans.
- Leadership potential and ability to manage cross-functional initiatives.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Financial acumen and understanding of P&L drivers.
Category & Supplier Management Senior Manager
Position Overview
The Category & Supplier Management Senior Manager is a high-impact role designed as a launchpad for future leaders within Żabka Group. Over an 18-month+ development horizon, the role blends hands-on category and supplier management with deep immersion in how the company builds supplier partnerships, manages categories, and drives business results across multiple markets. This position is intentionally structured to accelerate readiness for director-level roles connected with international expansion, new business lines, or strategic transformations after the initial 18-month period.
Ideal for someone with strong potential, deep expertise in supplier management and category leadership, and the ambition to take end-to-end responsibility for shaping the company’s commercial future across Central Europe.
Key Responsibilities:
18-Month Development Path
During the program, the Category & Supplier Management Lead will:
- Rotate through key commercial teams (eg. Category Management, Supplier Management, International Expansion) to build end-to-end business understanding.
- Lead selected high-visibility projects with executive sponsors, focusing on supplier negotiations, category strategy, and cross-market initiatives.
- Gain exposure to new business models, supplier ecosystems, and international best practices.
- Build capabilities required for future director-level roles in multi-country environments.
Target outcome after 18 months: Readiness to take a senior manager role in new markets, new business lines, or major growth initiatives, focused on business impact and commercial excellence.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 5–8 years of experience in supplier management, category management, or commercial leadership within retail, FMCG, or related sectors.
- Proven track record of successfully leading and executing supplier and category initiatives in complex, multi-country environments.
Skills and Competencies:
- Mobile and open to international assignments
- Fluent in English, min. C1, knowledge of Central European languages (Polish, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian) is an advantage.
- Agile learner with drive and openness to multifunctional and international career paths
- Supplier Management Expertise: Deep knowledge and hands-on experience in supplier relationship management, negotiations, and partnership building.
- Category Leadership: Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies that drive sales, profitability, and market share.
- Business Orientation: Strong focus on achieving objectives and delivering measurable results.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build partnership-based relationships and present complex data persuasively.
- Interpersonal Skills: Highly developed skills in negotiation, influence, and collaboration across diverse teams and cultures.
- Analytical Thinking: Ability to interpret data, draw actionable conclusions, and visualize insights for stakeholders.
- Mobility & Openness: Willingness and ability to work across Poland, Romania and other markets as needed.
- Adaptability: Able to manage ambiguity, respond quickly to changes, and thrive in dynamic environments.
Technology Office Senior Manager
Position Overview
The Technology Office Senior Manager is a pivotal role within Żabka’s Elevator – from Manager to Leader, designed to accelerate the development of future technology executives. Acting as the right hand to the Chief Technology Officer, you will drive strategic technology initiatives, oversee IT architecture and governance, and ensure alignment of technology activities across the organization. This role blends operational, strategic, and communication responsibilities, offering broad exposure to business and technology leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
18-Month Development Path
During the program, you will:
- Support the management of the entire technology domain, including setting priorities, roadmaps, strategic decisions, and standards.
- Independently represent the technology function in meetings, committees, project reviews, and sessions with business leaders.
- Oversee enterprise architecture, technology standards, and solution consistency across retail (POS, ERP, e-commerce, WMS, OMS, store infrastructure).
- Collaborate with and manage the Technology Office: governance, project portfolio, decision-making processes, and oversight of transformation initiatives.
- Coordinate strategic initiatives such as e.g. store and logistics digitalization.
- Ensure effective collaboration between technology and business areas.
- Build standards and processes that enhance the efficiency of the entire technology organization.
- Identify strategic and operational risks and recommend solutions.
- Monitor technology trends and recommend development directions for the entire network.
- Mentor technology leaders and experts.
Target outcome after 18 months: Readiness to step into a senior technology leadership role, equipped with a generalist profile, advanced strategic and operational skills, and a proven track record of delivering technology-driven business impact.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
- Solid experience in technology management within retail, FMCG, e-commerce, or multi-site/international environments.
- Proven ability to think strategically and lead cross-organizational initiatives.
- Experience advising and acting as a sparring partner for C-level executives.
- Familiarity with IT/retail solutions and processes.
Skills and Competencies:
- Mobile and open to international assignments
- Fluent in English, min. C1
- Agile learner with drive and openness to multifunctional and international career paths
- Strong leadership, communication, and authority-building skills.
- Ability to coordinate multiple streams and manage complex projects.
- Strategic mindset and business acumen.
- High mobility, willingness to learn, and openness to new experiences.
Strategy & Investment Senior Manager
Position Overview
The Strategy & Investment Senior Manager is a high-impact role designed as the launchpad for future senior leaders within Zabka Group. Over an 18-month+ development horizon, the role blends hands-on strategic work with deep immersion in how the company grows, enters new markets, makes decisions and shapes its long-term direction.
During the initial 18-month period, the person in this role works across strategic streams such as Strategy, Value Creation, M&A, joint ventures, international expansion and strategic finance. This position is intentionally structured to accelerate readiness for director-level roles connected with new businesses, new markets, or strategic transformations after the initial 18-month period.
Ideal for someone with strong potential, natural curiosity and sharp problem-solving skills -a hands-on builder who thrives on assembling and developing teams, and who has the ambition to take end-to-end responsibility for shaping the company’s future.
Key Responsibilities:
18-Month Development Path
During the program Strategy & Investment Senior Manager will:
- Rotate through key strategic teams (Strategy, Value Creation, M&A, joint ventures, international expansion and strategic finance) to build end-to-end business understanding.
- Lead selected high-visibility projects with executive sponsors.
- Gain exposure to new business models, strategic investments, partnerships, and cross-market opportunities.
- Build capabilities required for future director-level roles.
Target outcome after 18 months:
Readiness to take a senior manager/ director role in new markets, new businesses, or major growth initiatives, focused on the business impact.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 5-8 years of experience in management consulting, private equity, strategic planning or a related field.
- Proven track record of successfully leading and executing strategic initiatives within a complex organizational environment.
Skills and Competencies:
- Mobile and open to international assignments
- Fluent in English, min. C1
- Agile learner with drive and openness to multifunctional and international career paths
- Strategic thinking: Ability to think critically and develop long-term plans that align with business goals.
- Analytical skills: Strong ability to analyze data, trends, and financial metrics to inform decision-making.
- Leadership: Proven experience in leading teams and initiatives across various functions within an organization.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to senior leadership clearly and persuasively.
- Project management: Strong project management skills to ensure that strategic initiatives are delivered on time and within budget.
- Financial acumen: Solid understanding of financial principles and how strategic decisions impact the financial performance of the organization.
- Collaboration: Ability to work cross-functionally and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
- Adaptability: Able to manage ambiguity and respond quickly to changes in the business environment.
- Flexibility: Desire to work in new areas of the business (e.g. new market, new business)
How we’ll lift you up
Competency diagnosis and developmental feedback
Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Mentoring and leadership support
Leadership competency development program
Execution of strategic business projects
International cross-area experience
Comprehensive onboarding and business immersion
Regular performance reviews and feedback
Action Learning and networking
Paweł Grabowski
Director of digital B2B Żabka Polska
Paweł Grabowski is an experienced manager with over 15 years of expertise across various industries, ranging from technology to consulting.
He currently serves as Director of Digital B2B at Żabka Group. His work has contributed significantly to the digital transformation of the Group’s companies, as well as the implementation of innovative technologies that unlock new growth opportunities.
Under his leadership, the team is shaping the future of autonomous retail through the Żabka Nano project and driving strategic, innovative initiatives such as Żabka Ads within the Retail Media Network—a modern platform for customer communication integrated into Żabka’s ecosystem. These efforts provide the Group with new tools for precise consumer targeting and value creation for business partners.
What brought you to this place and role?
As a seasoned VP, I was consciously looking for a new industry that would challenge my existing thinking. I have always gravitated towards interdisciplinary environments, where strategy, technology, operations and people come together. Żabka Group represents retail not as a traditional format, but as a scalable platform built on data, franchising and daily customer experience.
Joining the Zabka Group gave me the opportunity to apply my leadership background while learning fast in a highly dynamic business that is actively shaping the future of convenience retail. I was looking for real complexity — and found it here.
What do you think is most important in the development of managers and future leaders?
Judgement and self-awareness. Tools and methodologies evolve, but the ability to take responsibility, make decisions under uncertainty and learn from failure remains critical. In retail especially, future leaders must stay close to customers and teams, even as the organisation grows. Losing that connection is often the first sign of leadership drift.
What do you think is the biggest benefit of participating in this programme?
Perspective. The programme creates space to step back from day-to-day pressure and reflect on real challenges with someone who has been through similar situations.
That perspective often accelerates growth more than any formal training or framework.
Who do you think this programme is for? What kind of profile is Żabka Group and you as a mentor looking for?
It is for people who combine ambition with humility. Individuals who are curious, open to feedback and willing to take ownership beyond their formal role.
Żabka Group looks for leaders who are comfortable with complexity, can navigate change and want to build scalable solutions. As a mentor, I value mindset and integrity more than perfet career paths.
Why did you decide to be a mentor in this programme?
Because leadership comes with the obligation to share experience. I have benefited greatly from candid conversations with senior leaders who were willing to challenge my thinking. Mentoring allows me to give back, while also staying connected to new perspectives and emerging talent within the organisation.
What will be most important to you as a mentor?
Trust and relevance. I want the relationship to be open, practical and grounded in real business situations, not theory.
My role is to help mentees sharpen their judgement, see trade-offs and gain confidence in their own decisions — even when the answer is not obviuos.
Aleksander Tzanov
Strategy Manager Żabka Polska
Aleksander Tzanov is a Strategy Manager, supporting the company’s long-term strategic ambitions.
He brings over six years of consulting experience from Kearney and PwC Strategy&, spanning M&A, commercial strategy, and business transformation across retail, FMCG, and digital. At Shopee, he helped building Poland’s market presence from scratch to 10 million users in under a year.
What brought you to this place and role?
Curiosity about what happens after the strategy deck gets delivered. During my strategy consulting period, I worked on dozens of transformation projects but I always wondered: what does it actually take to execute these strategies at scale? My time at Shopee, where I helped build Poland's market presence from zero to 10 million users, gave me a taste of that operational reality. At Żabka, I found the rare combination: a company ambitious enough to double its scale, complex enough to require real strategic thinking, and fast-moving enough that you see your impact within months, not years. It's strategy with real ownership and real consequences.
What do you think is most important in the development of managers and future leaders?
Learning to operate in ambiguity while still delivering results. Consulting teaches you structured problem-solving; corporate leadership requires you to make decisions with incomplete information, navigate competing stakeholder interests, and own outcomes you can't fully control. The best leaders I've observed combine analytical rigor with the courage to commit, and the humility to course-correct quickly when wrong.
What do you think is the biggest benefit of participating in this programme?
Accelerated learning through real ownership. In consulting, you advise; here, you decide. The programme compresses years of corporate learning into a structured path where you're exposed to cross-functional complexity, executive stakeholders, and genuine accountability for outcomes. You'll make mistakes faster and learn faster because of it.
Who do you think this programme is for? What kind of profile is Żabka Group and you as a mentor looking for?
People who've mastered the "how to think" and now want to master the "how to do". Ideally, you've spent 3-5 years building analytical foundations in consulting, finance, or a specialized function - and you're feeling the pull toward building something rather than advising on it. We're looking for intellectual curiosity paired with execution drive: people who ask "why" but also roll up their sleeves for "how." The environment here moves fast and rarely offers perfect information—if that sounds more exciting than daunting, we'd love to hear from you.
Why did you decide to be a mentor in this programme?
Because someone at Shopee took a bet on a consultant with no operational experience and that changed my career trajectory. I want to pay that forward. I also genuinely believe Żabka's transformation requires diverse thinking, and ex-consultants bring a problem-structuring discipline that's valuable here.
What will be most important to you as a mentor?
Honest, two-way dialogue. I'm not interested in being a cheerleader - I'll challenge your thinking and expect you to challenge mine. What matters most is that you're genuinely curious, willing to be uncomfortable, and committed to learning from both wins and failures. I'll invest my time in people who show up prepared and bring their authentic questions, not the questions they think I want to hear.
Joanna Simonowicz
General Manager Froo Romania
Joanna Simonowicz is a business leader with over 25 years of experience in value creation, investment management, and business development across Poland and the CEE region.
She currently serves as General Manager and Management Board Member of Froo Romania Retail (Żabka Group), where she is responsible for the development and expansion of Froo network on the Romanian market. For many years, she was associated with the private equity sector, delivering investment projects in Poland and Romania — from deal sourcing and execution, through value creation, building effective management teams, to successful exits. Since joining the Żabka Group in 2021, she has been a co-creator of the Group’s growth strategy, international expansion, and entry into new business areas, initially as Head of M&A, and later as Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Since 2019, she has served on supervisory boards of companies in sectors including retail, e-commerce, logistics, and healthcare in both Poland and Romania. Previously, she was a Partner at PwC and a Managing Director at Innova Capital.
What brought you to this place and role?
What brought me here was a mix of courage and curiosity. I’ve always tried to follow my interests and look for roles that feel exciting, even if they come with additional risk. I’m not afraid of change — I see new opportunities as doors that don’t always open twice, so when they do, it’s important to have the courage to step in. I’m also naturally optimistic and confident that I can handle difficult situations as they come. I strongly believe in a growth mindset — I don’t need to have all the skills on day one, as long as I’m willing and able to learn. And finally, I wouldn’t be here without the people around me who believed in me and invested their time and energy in my development.
What do you think is most important in the development of managers and future leaders?
Real growth happens outside the comfort zone. Managers need exposure to challenges where they are not experts and have to stretch themselves. Just as important is access to senior leaders who are willing to invest time, share experience and genuinely support development.
What do you think is the biggest benefit of participating in this programme?
The biggest benefit is acceleration. The programme allows much faster development than a traditional path, while giving space to explore different career directions. It also offers real exposure to senior leaders and meaningful work in a fast-growing business with European ambitions.
Who do you think this programme is for? What kind of profile are Żabka Group and you as a mentor looking for?
It’s for people who are curious, ambitious and open to change. For those who are willing to take some risk in exchange for growth and learning. We look for high potential, resilience, openness to new cultures, flexibility, mobility and a genuine desire to learn from different experiences.
Why did you decide to be a mentor in this programme?
No one succeeds alone. Throughout my career, I was supported by people who believed in me and helped me grow - now it’s time to give something back. As one of the leaders involved in Żabka’s international expansion, I truly believe in this programme as a powerful source of talent for our international growth.
What will be most important to you as a mentor?
I’ve been a mentor multiple times in different programmes, and the best mentor–mentee relationships were always built on trust, honesty and vulnerability. It works best when mentees are not afraid to open up and have real, honest conversations. If mentoring becomes just a formality or a box to tick, it simply doesn’t work. For me, authenticity and mutual trust are absolutely key.
Maciej Hodowany
Chief Operating Officer and Management Board Member of Froo Romania
Maciej Hodowany has over 20 years of experience in the retail sector.
He has a strong track record in leading large-scale organizational structures comprising several thousand employees, as well as in delivering complex programs focused on improving business efficiency and operational excellence. His expertise includes building effective operating models, leading change, and developing managerial capabilities across both field and headquarters teams.Currently, as Chief Operating Officer and Management Board Member of Froo Romania, he is responsible for the development of the retail store network, operational strategy, and oversight of expansion, adaptation, retail growth and sales teams. He focuses on scaling the organization, building high-performing multicultural teams, and fostering a culture of accountability and operational excellence.
He joined Żabka Polska on October 1, 2021, as Sales Director responsible for the Southern region. In the following years, his responsibilities expanded to include market development projects and building local operational structures from the ground up, supporting the company’s dynamic growth and business transformation.
What brought you to this place and role?
I was driven by an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse. I enjoy change, new challenges, and continuous growth. Taking on a senior leadership role while building something from the ground up in a new international market felt like the perfect combination - being a pioneer, learning fast, and having a real impact.
What do you think is most important in the development of managers and future leaders?
The most important factors are a genuine desire for change and a strong learning mindset. Great leaders are curious, open to feedback, and willing to challenge themselves continuously. The ability to learn, adapt, and grow is far more critical than having all the answers from the start.
What do you think is the biggest benefit of participating in this programme?
The programme offers a unique combination of practical skills, new knowledge, and meaningful relationships. It creates space for personal growth, a sense of achievement, and the confidence that comes from stepping outside your comfort zone while learning together with others on a similar journey.
Who do you think this programme is for? What kind of profile are you looking for as a mentor?
This programme is for people who are curious, open to change, and eager to grow. We are looking for participants with a learning mindset, courage to challenge the status quo, and motivation to develop themselves as leaders — not only for today, but for the future.
Why did you decide to be a mentor in this programme?
I strongly believe in the power of sharing experience. This programme creates a great opportunity to do exactly that - to inspire others to learn, grow, and be brave in their decisions. If my story and experience can support colleagues on their journey, I’m happy to contribute.
What will be most important to you as a mentor?
For me, the foundation of mentorship is openness, fairness, and transparency. I want to create a safe space for honest conversations, mutual trust, and real development - where challenges can be discussed openly and growth comes from authentic exchange.
Awards
Żabka Group' s activities are recognized by industry organisations and business partners, expressed through numerous awards and distinctions.
