Category Manager

Al Awsat Distribution; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the FMCG sector is seeking a Category Manager to drive growth and market share of product categories. The successful candidate will develop strategies, manage supplier relationships, and analyze market trends. This role requires strong analytical skills, excellent negotiation abilities, and fluency in Arabic and English. Join a dynamic team to enhance product performance and profitability.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in FMCG category management or sales management.
• Strong knowledge of market research and category performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category plans aligned with overall business strategy.
• Analyze market trends and customer insights to identify opportunities.
• Manage category budgets related to trade spend and promotions.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Strategic Thinking

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Master’s degree

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Microsoft Office Suite

ERP systems

Job description

Role Overview:

The Category Manager is responsible for driving the growth, profitability, and market share of assigned product categories. They act as a key link between suppliers, internal teams (sales, trade marketing, logistics), and customers to ensure effective assortment, pricing, promotion, and distribution strategies are executed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Category Strategy Development:
• Develop and implement category plans aligned with the company’s overall business strategy.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activity, and customer insights to identify opportunities and threats.
• Assortment and Portfolio Management:
• Define the product assortment strategy for each channel/customer type.
• Recommend SKU rationalization, new product introductions, and discontinuations based on performance and market needs.
• Pricing and Margin Management:
• Develop pricing strategies that maximize profitability while remaining competitive.
• Monitor margins, recommend adjustments, and ensure compliance with agreed targets.
• Promotion and Trade Marketing Coordination:
• Plan and execute category-specific promotions in collaboration with the Trade Marketing team.
• Ensure promotional activities are aligned with brand and sales strategies and deliver measurable results.
• Supplier and Principal Management:
• Act as the main point of contact between the company and suppliers for the assigned categories.
• Negotiate commercial terms (rebates, discounts, promotional support) in collaboration with procurement and finance teams.
• Sales Support and Field Activation:
• Work closely with the sales team to set category priorities, provide training, and ensure field execution excellence.
• Track and optimize planogram implementation, shelf-share, and in-store visibility.
• Data Analysis and Reporting:
• Analyze sell-in, sell-out, and inventory data to track performance against KPIs.
• Provide regular reports and actionable insights to management and key stakeholders.
• Inventory and Supply Chain Coordination:
• Coordinate with supply chain teams to ensure optimal stock levels and minimize out-of-stocks.
• Budget Management:
• Manage category budgets related to trade spend, promotions, and marketing initiatives.
• Ensure maximum return on investment for all activities.

Key Competencies and Skills:

• Strong analytical and commercial skills.
• Excellent negotiation and communication abilities.
• Strategic thinking with operational execution capability.
• Solid understanding of FMCG distribution dynamics (retail, wholesale, e-commerce).
• Proficiency in BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent) and advanced Excel skills.
• Strong skills in dashboard creation, data visualization, and reporting.
• Team collaboration and project management skills.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Sales, or a related field (Master’s degree is a plus).
• 5+ years of experience in FMCG category management, trade marketing, or sales management.
• Proven track record of delivering category growth and managing product portfolios.
• Strong knowledge of market research, data analysis, and category performance metrics.
• Practical experience with Business Intelligence (BI) tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or QlikView.
• Experience working with key retailers, wholesalers, and modern trade.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English (speaking, reading, and writing) is mandatory.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.).