Category Manager - Food and FMCG

GMG Gulf; Dubai; Presencial; AED 350.000 - 500.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

GMG Dubai is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead the commercial development and strategic planning for a key FMCG category within its Everyday Goods division. The role focuses on building category strategy, drive growth, manage P&L and strengthen brand presence across trade channels, reporting to senior leadership on performance and opportunities.

You will lead cross-functional teams, build annual business plans, and develop channel and go-to-market strategies that maximize

Formación

• 10 years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in FMCG category management.
• Strong understanding of the food business and FMCG distribution landscape.
• Experience managing revenue, profitability and category financial performance.
• Experience leading category teams and developing KPIs.

Responsabilidades

• Develop and implement annual business plans for assigned food and FMCG categories.
• Drive revenue growth, market share and profitability targets.
• Lead channel strategies and distribution plans across trade channels.
• Manage relationships with principals and customers; conduct regular business reviews.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to align category strategies with commercial objectives.
• Monitor category performance and adjust plans to achieve ROI.

Conocimientos

Category management

Go-to-market planning

P&L accountability

Channel management

Brand development

Descripción del empleo

Category Manager - Food and FMCG Job Snapshot - Role: Category Manager - Food and FMCG - Company: GMG - Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Industry: Food and Beverages - Function: Business Unit Management - Experience: 10 years of relevant experience, including 3 years in an FMCG category management role - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

GMG is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead the commercial development, strategic planning and overall business performance of an assigned category within its Everyday Goods - Food division in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Category Manager will be responsible for developing and executing category business plans that drive revenue growth, improve market share, strengthen brand distribution and maximise profitability across FMCG trade channels. Working closely with the General Manager, Head of Category, GM National Sales and cross‑functional teams, the role will focus on category strategy, go‑to‑market planning, principal relationships, product development, sales performance, demand forecasting and inventory management. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the food and FMCG distribution landscape, proven experience managing category profitability, and the commercial expertise to develop effective channel strategies and strengthen brand presence. The position also involves managing category teams, developing key performance indicators, building relationships with principals and customers, and identifying opportunities for sustainable business growth.

Job Details – Country: United Arab Emirates – City: Dubai – Industry: Food and Beverages – Function: Business Unit Management – Salary: Not disclosed – Gender: No Preference – Candidate Nationality: Not specified – Job Type: Full Time – Work Arrangement: On‑site

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy and Business Planning

• Develop and implement annual business plans for assigned food and FMCG categories.
• Establish category volume and value targets in coordination with the Head of Category and GM National Sales.
• Prepare sales projections aligned with business objectives and market opportunities.
• Translate category strategies into clearly defined channel objectives and go‑to‑market plans.
• Identify strategic priorities that support category development and profitable growth.
• Develop short‑term and long‑term business plans for assigned brands.
• Provide management with recommendations concerning brand planning and development.
• Ensure category strategies remain aligned with the company 's commercial objectives.
• Monitor the implementation of approved business plans and recommend corrective actions where necessary.

Category Profitability and P&L Management

• Take accountability for the profit and loss performance of assigned categories.
• Drive achievement of revenue, market share and profitability targets.
• Monitor category performance against revenue, gross profit and real margin objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve commercial margins and financial returns.
• Develop effective investment and spending plans to maximise return on investment.
• Evaluate category performance against approved financial targets.
• Recommend commercial actions to address profitability challenges.
• Ensure category decisions support sustainable revenue growth and financial performance.

FMCG Channel Strategy and Distribution Development

• Develop channel strategies to improve category penetration and market coverage.
• Identify category performance gaps based on sales results and shopper behaviour.
• Prepare numeric and weighted distribution plans.
• Develop strategies to expand distribution coverage across the relevant market universe.
• Coordinate the implementation of distribution plans across trade channels.
• Evaluate channel‑specific opportunities to improve sales and product availability.
• Align category strategies with the requirements of different FMCG trade channels.
• Monitor distribution performance and identify corrective actions to strengthen market presence.

Pricing, Promotions and Merchandising

• Develop pricing strategies appropriate to each category and trade channel.
• Coordinate promotional planning to support revenue and market share objectives.
• Work with relevant teams to implement merchandising strategies.
• Evaluate promotional investments and their contribution to category performance.
• Ensure commercial activities align with brand positioning and business priorities.
• Monitor the execution of approved pricing and promotional plans.
• Identify opportunities to improve promotional effectiveness and customer penetration.
• Coordinate corrective actions when commercial performance falls below expectations.

Principal and Brand Partner Management

• Develop and maintain strong commercial relationships with principals and brand partners.
• Conduct regular business reviews and partnership meetings.
• Lead joint business planning activities with principals.
• Align category development plans with principal expectations and commercial objectives.
• Coordinate initiatives that improve brand penetration and market performance.
• Maintain effective communication regarding sales results, distribution and promotional activities.
• Address business challenges through collaborative planning and regular performance reviews.
• Support high service standards and long‑term principal satisfaction.

New Product Development and Market Launches

• Identify opportunities for new product development based on consumer needs and market trends.
• Propose innovative product concepts that support category expansion.
• Coordinate the creation and launch of new products.
• Develop comprehensive go‑to‑market plans for new product introductions.
• Ensure product launches are executed within agreed timelines.
• Establish and monitor relevant new product performance indicators.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Operations and other stakeholders to support launch execution.
• Analyse customer feedback and sales results following product launches.
• Recommend improvements to product positioning, distribution and commercial performance.
• Ensure new product initiatives support overall category and business objectives.

Trade Marketing and Advertising Planning

• Coordinate with principals and Marketing teams to develop annual and quarterly advertising and promotion plans.
• Align advertising and promotional activities with customer penetration strategies.
• Support the development of trade marketing initiatives across relevant channels.
• Monitor promotional expenditure and commercial investment.
• Ensure appropriate financial documentation is maintained for trade activities.
• Review trade expenses, provisions and activity request forms.
• Verify the accuracy of relevant financial transactions.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of trade marketing investments.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Operations and Finance to execute integrated commercial campaigns.

Key Account and Customer Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and business decision‑makers.
• Conduct monthly and quarterly business reviews with major customers.
• Develop joint business growth plans with key accounts.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen customer relationships and expand category sales.
• Ensure customer requirements are considered in category and channel planning.
• Monitor distribution standards and service quality.
• Coordinate actions to address customer concerns and commercial challenges.
• Maintain customer satisfaction through effective business planning and service delivery.
• Support long‑term commercial partnerships with company clientele.

Sales Performance and Commercial Operations

• Monitor sales performance across assigned brands and categories.
• Analyse commercial information to identify opportunities for sales improvement.
• Evaluate category results against approved targets and business plans.
• Coordinate regular meetings with sales teams to review performance.
• Share market insights and commercial recommendations with sales functions.
• Establish action plans to address performance gaps.
• Ensure sales activities follow relevant brand guidelines.
• Monitor the execution of commercial initiatives across trade channels.
• Recommend corrective measures where sales performance or market coverage requires improvement.

Demand Planning and Inventory Management

• Coordinate demand planning activities through accurate sales forecasting.
• Work with relevant teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels.
• Monitor stock availability in relation to sales projections and customer demand.
• Identify opportunities to improve stock turnover.
• Support inventory control measures that minimise unnecessary stockholding.
• Monitor risks associated with excess inventory, markdowns and stock losses.
• Analyse sales and inventory trends to support category planning.
• Coordinate actions to improve stock efficiency and product availability.
• Ensure inventory decisions support category profitability and operational requirements.

Store Visits and Brand Standards

• Conduct regular store visits to evaluate sales performance and product results.
• Gather market and store‑level information relevant to category development.
• Review product availability, merchandising execution and customer‑facing brand presentation.
• Identify operational or commercial issues affecting brand performance.
• Recommend corrective actions based on store observations.
• Support consistent implementation of brand standards across retail operations.
• Coordinate with relevant teams on customer service, product presentation and visual merchandising requirements.
• Monitor compliance with applicable brand guidelines and commercial standards.

Market Research and Competitor Analysis

• Conduct regular market research to support category planning and development.
• Monitor consumer behaviour and emerging FMCG market trends.
• Analyse competitor activities, pricing strategies and distribution initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for category expansion and market share growth.
• Gather market intelligence from relevant commercial and industry sources.
• Evaluate category performance in relation to competitive developments.
• Use research findings to support strategic and commercial decisions.
• Recommend improvements to category positioning and market penetration.
• Maintain awareness of developments affecting the food and FMCG distribution sector.

Business Performance Reporting

• Monitor category revenue, gross profit and real margin performance.
• Track market share and distribution coverage indicators.
• Evaluate promotional expenditure and return on investment.
• Review category sales trends and customer performance.
• Analyse inventory levels, stock turnover and demand forecasts.
• Prepare commercial insights and recommendations for management.
• Highlight business risks, performance gaps and growth opportunities.
• Support management decision‑making through accurate business analysis and reporting.

Team Leadership and People Management

• Lead, organise and motivate the assigned category and brand team.
• Establish clear objectives and performance expectations in collaboration with team members.
• Align individual performance targets with departmental and organisational goals.
• Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time‑bound (SMART) performance indicators.
• Monitor team performance against agreed objectives and periodic KPIs.
• Provide regular coaching, mentoring and professional guidance.
• Identify employee development needs and support appropriate improvement plans.
• Conduct periodic performance reviews and appraisals.
• Address operational challenges and support effective problem resolution.
• Encourage teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Support employee retention and succession planning.
• Develop team capabilities and working processes that improve productivity and commercial performance.
• Foster a results‑oriented environment that supports individual and collective achievement.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the General Manager and Head of Category on commercial strategy.
• Coordinate category planning with the GM National Sales and sales functions.
• Collaborate with Marketing on promotional campaigns and brand development.
• Work with Operations teams to support distribution and service requirements.
• Coordinate with Finance on budgets, trade expenditure and profitability.
• Engage relevant stakeholders in new product development and go‑to‑market execution.
• Promote effective communication between category management and supporting functions.
• Ensure cross‑functional activities remain aligned with approved business objectives.

Performance Management and Professional Development

• Define annual performance objectives in consultation with the Head of Category.
• Monitor progress towards agreed commercial and operational goals.
• Identify personal development needs in consultation with the General Manager.
• Establish an individual development plan that supports professional growth.
• Maintain awareness of emerging industry practices and category management techniques.
• Continue developing knowledge of FMCG markets, commercial strategies and management practices.
• Apply relevant learning to improve category performance and leadership effectiveness.

Professional Experience

• 10 years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in a relevant category management role within the FMCG industry.
• Proven experience in category management and commercial business planning.
• Strong understanding of the food business and FMCG distribution landscape.
• In‑depth knowledge of sales processes across FMCG trade channels.
• Experience developing category strategies, distribution plans and go‑to‑market initiatives.
• Experience managing revenue, profitability and category financial performance.
• Experience building relationships with principals, customers and commercial stakeholders.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to motivate and develop teams.

Educational Qualifications

Specific educational qualifications are not stated by the employer.

Required Technical Skills

Category and Business Management

• FMCG category management.
• Food business and distribution knowledge.
• Annual business planning.
• Category strategy development.
• Go‑to‑market planning.
• Category revenue and profitability management.
• Profit and loss accountability.
• Commercial target setting.
• Brand development and market penetration.

Sales and Channel Management

• FMCG trade channel management.
• Sales operations and performance monitoring.
• Numeric and weighted distribution planning.
• Channel development and market coverage.
• Key account and customer relationship management.
• Joint business planning.
• Sales forecasting and target management.
• Trade channel performance analysis.

Marketing and Product Development

• Brand management and positioning.
• Trade marketing and promotional planning.
• Pricing strategy development.
• New product development and launch planning.
• Consumer behaviour analysis.
• Competitor and market research.
• Advertising and promotion planning.
• Merchandising and brand standards.

Financial and Inventory Management

• Category budgeting and financial analysis.
• Revenue, gross profit and real margin monitoring.
• Return on investment analysis.
• Trade expense and provision management.
• Demand planning and sales forecasting.
• Inventory control and stock management.
• Stock turnover improvement.
• Commercial reporting and data interpretation.

Leadership and Professional Competencies

• Strong leadership and team motivation skills.
• Effective people management and mentoring.
• Performance management and KPI development.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution abilities.
• Principal and stakeholder relationship management.
• Analytical thinking and commercial decision‑making.
• Business planning and forecasting capabilities.
• Teamwork and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Ability to manage competing commercial priorities.
• Strong organisational and problem‑solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

About GMG

GMG is a global well‑being company involved in the retail, distribution and manufacturing of international and home‑grown brands across sports, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties and logistics. Under the ownership and management of the Baker family for more than 45 years, GMG has developed partnerships with established international brands and expanded its operations across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. The company has introduced more than 120 brands across 12 countries, including Sun and Sand Sports, Dropkick, Supercare Pharmacy, Farm Fresh, Klassic, Nike, Columbia, Converse, Timberland, Vans, Mama Sita 's and McCain. Through its Everyday Goods business and wider distribution activities, GMG operates across consumer product categories, supporting brand development, distribution and commercial growth in its markets.