Category Manager

Job description / Role

The Category Manager is responsible for overseeing and developing the assigned product portfolio across all channels, including on-trade, off-trade, and retail. The role focuses on maximizing profitability and sales by curating a diverse, innovative, and market-leading product assortment. This includes managing premium offerings, core ranges, and emerging categories while driving consumer engagement through product launches, activations, education, and promotional initiatives. The Category Manager plays a key role in reinforcing the company’s reputation as a destination for well-curated, high-quality product selections.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities & Activities

Portfolio Management & Performance Analysis
* Own the category P&L, including pricing strategies, demand planning, and forecasting.
* Prepare and analyze monthly sales, depletion, and inventory reports to support strategic decision-making.
* Assess new product performance and generate insights to drive sustainable business growth.
* Conduct regular market and competitor analysis to identify opportunities, trends, and risks.
* Continuously review and refine the product portfolio based on market dynamics, consumer behavior, and sales data.
* Monitor slow-moving items and develop action plans for improved performance or delisting.
* Support pricing strategies to ensure competitive positioning while maintaining profitability.
* Recommend delisting of underperforming products and manage overstock challenges effectively.

Product Sourcing & Supplier Relations
* Identify, source, and evaluate new products aligned with category strategy, market trends, and customer demand.
* Request pricing, negotiate commercial terms, and manage supplier agreements.
* Maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure product availability, accuracy of information, and reliable supply.
* Evaluate new products for sustainability, authenticity, quality, and long-term commercial relevance.

Market & Customer Engagement
* Lead and organize product tastings, demonstrations, masterclasses, and promotional activations to enhance customer engagement.
* Develop and execute on-trade and off-trade initiatives to increase product visibility and sales.
* Support the creation and updating of product lists and educational materials.
* Organize and lead customer-facing events to promote offerings, build loyalty, and drive revenue.
* Engage directly with clients to address inquiries, gather feedback, and improve the overall customer experience.

Sales & Business Development Support
* Collaborate with Heads of Departments to integrate the category portfolio into sales and marketing strategies.
* Support sales teams with product lists, menu development, proposals, and presentations.
* Lead retail merchandising initiatives to optimize product placement, visibility, and conversion.

Training & Staff Development
* Deliver regular product and category training sessions to sales and retail teams.
* Ensure staff are equipped with strong product knowledge and effective selling techniques to engage customers confidently.

Reporting & Data Management
* Provide accurate and timely reporting through Salesforce/CRM and BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
* Track market, competitor, and category performance, delivering insights and strategic recommendations.
* Analyze sales, margin, and inventory data to continuously refine category strategies.

Other Responsibilities
* Undertake additional duties as required to support overall business objectives.
* Continuously evolve the category portfolio to stay ahead of industry trends and changing customer preferences.

Background, Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications & Experience
* 5+ years’ experience in category management, product management, or related commercial roles (regional experience preferred).
* Strong commercial understanding of pricing, margins, stock control, forecasting, and performance analysis.

Skills & Competencies
* Strong product and category knowledge, including premium and emerging segments.
* Confident presenter and trainer, capable of engaging internal teams and customers.
* Advanced proficiency in Excel and experience using Salesforce/CRM and BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
* Excellent analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights.
* Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

About the Company

Propel Consult delivers a service in step with the needs of both our client companies and candidates. Our ability to add value to all levels of recruitment stems from our wholehearted belief in providing a professional service to both parties.

We have built relationships with many leading indigenous and mulitnational organisations throughout the Middle East and internationally in countries such as UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt and many more.

Concentrating our resources has created 5 distinct specialist divisions:

• Banking & Finance
• Human Resources
• Oil & Gas
• Construction
• Architecture & Engineering