Category Manager - MENA Region

MBRF; Dubai; On-site; AED 320,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

MBRF, a global leader in food, is seeking a Category Manager for Processed Food in the MENA region. You will own the category vision, set growth priorities, and drive end-to-end innovation from concept to launch, coordinating with Marketing, Supply, Finance and R&D to build a competitive portfolio.

You will lead cross-functional teams, manage the P&L, translate consumer insights into opportunities, and ensure disciplined execution across channels, price tiers and formats, while developing talent

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Marketing, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 6 years FMCG experience with category ownership.
• Experience in Category Management, Marketing, Business Planning, or Commercial functions.
• Proven track record of managing category performance and cross-functional projects.
• Fluent in English; Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Own category vision and strategy for Processed Food across MENA.
• Define growth priorities, portfolio choices, financial targets and regional action plans.
• Manage category performance and P&L; connect volume, revenue, share, pricing and margins.
• Build consumer/market insights and translate into opportunities across segments and channels.
• Lead end-to-end innovation from concept to launch and post-launch review.
• Mobilize cross-functional teams around aligned plans and milestones.
• Influence senior stakeholders and navigate trade-offs to accelerate decisions.
• Develop the category team's ownership, focus and accountability.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Business acumen

Analytical skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing

MBA or Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Job Description:

How about building your career at one of the world’s largest food companies?

Come work at MBRF, a company present in the lives of thousands of families around the world. From the simplest moments to the most special ones, we nourish life through quality, innovation, and the people who make everything happen.

What will you be doing at MBRF?

• The Category Manager is the business owner for the Processed Food categories across MENA, accountable for defining the category vision and delivering sustainable, profitable growth. The role combines strategic leadership, strong business and consumer understanding, end-to-end innovation management and disciplined execution to build a competitive portfolio and deliver measurable business results.

Working across regional and local teams, the Category Manager sets priorities, makes clear choices and mobilizes stakeholders from strategy through market execution. The position also supports the development of the category team, creating ownership, focus and accountability behind the agenda.

• Define the category vision and strategy, translating business ambitions into clear growth priorities, portfolio choices, financial targets and regional action plans.
• Own category performance and P&L management, connecting volume, revenue, market share, pricing, mix, margin, distribution, inventory and trade investment to identify risks, root causes and value-creation opportunities.
• Build a fact-based understanding of consumers, shoppers, customers, competitors and market dynamics, converting insights into actionable opportunities across segments, channels, occasions, price tiers and pack formats.
• Shape and optimize the portfolio architecture, defining the role of products and leading decisions on assortment, distribution priorities, renovation and rationalization.
• Lead innovation projects end to end, from opportunity identification and concept development through business case approval, product and packaging development, supply readiness, commercialization, launch and post-launch performance review.
• Mobilize Marketing, R&D, Trade Marketing, Commercial, Finance, Supply, Procurement, Quality and other partners around aligned plans, clear milestones, timely decisions and accountable execution.
• Influence senior stakeholders with clear recommendations, robust analysis and a total-business perspective, constructively challenging assumptions and navigating trade-offs to accelerate decisions.
• Contribute to the engagement and development of the broader category team, including peers and the direct report, by promoting collaboration, sharing knowledge, providing coaching and feedback, and fostering ownership and high performance.

What kind of profile are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Marketing, or a related field. An MBA or Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum 6 years of progressive FMCG experience, including ownership of a category, portfolio, or business agenda.
• Previous experience within Category Management, Marketing, Business Planning, or Commercial functions.
• Proven track record of managing category performance, business growth initiatives, and cross-functional projects.
• Experience leading or developing team members is preferred.
• Fluent in English; Arabic is considered an advantage.
• Strong experience in FMCG category management, innovation, business analytics, and commercial decision-making

What competencies are key to this role?

• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect category performance to overall business results.
• Advanced analytical skills, including P&L management and market intelligence analysis.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across cross-functional teams.
• Excellent project management and execution skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership skills, including coaching, delegation, prioritization, and team development.
• Willingness to travel as required.

What can you expect from MBRF?

• Being part of a global, collaborative and dynamic working environment.
• Strong corporate culture with commitments to customers, employees and the communities we serve.
• Vertical, horizontal and cross-functional growth opportunities.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.