Category Manager at Grand Oak Limited

Purpose of Job 

• The Category manager is responsible for overall Portfolio strategy and is tasked with leading the Brand Business Managers in the execution of all business activities as per Plan in defining and executing the strategic direction on the business of tomorrow with close collaboration with other cross functional teams.

Functionally reports to: Director, Prime SBU

Administratively reports to: Director Prime, SBU

Duties & Responsibilities

• Create and lead strategic long-term plan for the development and growth of the category
• Analyze data or insights to determine industry, competitor and consumer trends regarding the brands and category
• Own the P&L of the brands within the categories
• Own program optimization across brands to drive best in class execution and brand growths
• Lead the integration of brand PR in the marketing communication mix
• Manage and develop brand managers
• Lead the innovation pipeline in collaboration with the Innovation Team
• Lead the renovation projects in collaboration with the Renovation Team
• Lead material planning in partnership with Supply Chain
• Lead production planning in partnership with the production Team
• Develop exit strategy for unsuccessful brands/SKUs
• Build and drive relationships with key suppliers and support agencies to improve pricing, quality brands, and executions
• Lead category pricing, benchmarking, and promotions across channels
• Manage stock and material relationship with Supply chain to ensure product availability meets demand
• Create forecasts for brand demand to ensure sustainability of inventory/materials
• Manage budget development and revenue for the category

Job Requirements & Person Specifications

• Bachelors degree in Data Analytics, Statistics, Marketing or Related Social Sciences
• 8 + years’ experience within Brand Marketing (FMCG preferred)
• MSc in Statistics, Data Analytics or an MBA in Marketing or Business Administration would be an advantage
• Self-motivated and able to work to own initiative and be hands on
• High level of personal organization and attention to detail
• Autonomy and ability to drive own agenda
• A positive ‘can-do’ attitude with creative flair
• Results driven with strong commercial awareness, including full budget management
• Capable of problem solving in fast-paced environment
• Good strategic thinker with desire to make an impact
• Lots of passion for developing brands and ability to influence stakeholders with confidence
• Team leader with ability to build strong relationships
• Strong analytical skills (IRI/Nielsen/IWSR)
• Strong experience in creative/production processes, design and implementation, research and development
• A good understanding of advertising agencies and the ability to plan, measure and execute marketing campaigns and strategies
• Strong understanding of product marketing and good experience in managing the marketing of a product and liaising within teams and external agencies ATL/BTL
• Strong decision-making ability, both in tactical and strategic situations
• Comfortable to adapt to change
• Strong experience in creative/production & marketing processes

Key Performance Indicators

• Category Sales Performance: Analysing sales data and trends within the category to drive revenue growth, achieve sales targets, and optimize product assortment.
• Inventory Management: Efficiently managing inventory levels, turnover rates, and SKU rationalization within the category to minimize stockouts and excess stock.
• Margin Improvement: Maximizing category profitability through effective pricing strategies, promotion planning, and negotiation with suppliers.
• Market Share Growth: Working on initiatives to increase the category’s market share through innovative marketing campaigns, product placement strategies, and customer engagement.
• Assortment Optimization: Evaluating and optimizing the assortment mix within the category based on consumer preferences, market trends, and profitability metrics.
• Supplier Relationships: Managing and enhancing relationships with suppliers to ensure reliable and cost-effective supply chains for the category’s products.

Key Competency Requirements

• Creative and innovative thinking.
• Strong business acumen with appreciation for commerciality
• Solid analytical and influencing skills.
• Thorough and creative problem-solving abilities, strong verbal, and written presentation skills.
• Must be able to manage multiple initiatives with strong execution orientation and proper project management abilities.
• Previous brand marketing experience in an FMCG