Category Manager

Job description / Role

Responsibilities:
• Achieve overall category performances vs budget (value, volume & margin)
• Analyze performances to boost short term growth.
• Maintain innovation/renovation pipeline to secure mid to long term growth.
• Reinforce (or reach) leadership position by staying ahead of competition.

Category segmentation & positioning:
• Estimate market size & segmentation by sub-category & packaging
• Assess competitors’ portfolio &positioning by category & territory (product, packaging, price)
• Recommend most relevant & efficient positioning by category & territory

Category performance:
• Monthly category KPI, analysis & recommendations (value, volume, margin and market share)
• Highlight top & low performances to trade marketing &sales teams (category, sub-category, product group, top 10, top 50%, top 80%, packaging, promotion, channel, territory, chain...)
• Compare Category performance with trade marketing reports to identify business opportunities (numerical & value distribution, linear share, share of gondola, share of leaflet)

Channel animation;
• Propose range & planogram per channel & sub-channel.
• Build BTL plan with trade marketing team to reach sales target, maximize range awareness and recruit new shoppers/consumers (promo mechanics & sampling)
• Support trade marketing team in the development of store communication tools and
• POSM
• Inform communication team about BTL plan & product USP to maximize sales performance.

Range Management & Innovation:
• Lead category innovation, renovation & extension (market potential, brief, USP, retro plan, business plan, specifications, costing, packaging design, launch plan, activation tracker)
• Identify product, packaging & price opportunities with operation team.
• Develop exit strategy for unsuccessful products (value/volume/margin)

Forecasting:
• Verify consolidated category forecast vs budget & volume trends (regular & promo)
• Propose forecast for new product launch & range improvements.
• Monitor sales vs forecast for new product launch & range improvements.

Market Knowledge:
• Perform monthly market visit to stay aware of competition activities, launch, packaging & POSM
• Stay updated on last industry trends & customer insights to drive category’s future (product trends, packaging trends, shopping habits...)
• Understand specific customer requirements and propose rapid & efficient solutions

Salary:
AED 15,000 per month inclusive of fixed allowances.

Requirements

• Arab Nationals

Education:
• Master’s degree in marketing/Category Management

Experience:
• Min 2 Years’ experience in category management

Technical Skills:
• Category Management
• Analytical skills
• Presentation skills (written & spoken)
• Project management
• IT/Computer: MS OFFICE, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Catman software

Other skills:
• Category Management
• Analytical skills
• Presentation skills (written & spoken)
• Project management
• FMCG / Consumer Goods (Modern Trade, Lower Trade, Wholesale, Export)
• Food Service (Hotels, Restaurants, Catering)
• Essentials Foods (Raw Nuts, Dry Fruits, Dates, Spices, Pulses, Olives, Spreads…)
• Impulse Foods (Roasted Nuts, Mixes, Confectionary)

About the Company

PARKER CONNECT is the fastest growing Management Consultancy in the Middle East. We provide world class services such as Executive Search and Consultancy through our centrally located office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Ever since starting operations, the organization has witnessed rapid growth purely achieved through firm business relations and quality service delivery. Our market knowledge in the region put together with quality consultants and excellent infrastructure has enabled us to build a strong portfolio of clients which include MNC’s and local firms.