Category Insights Manager

Joinimagine; Sydney; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Beiersdorf Australia Ltd. is seeking a Category Development Manager to lead Sales & Consumer Marketing initiatives for assigned categories in Australia.

You will drive category development, manage information flow across channels, and partner with Sales, Marketing, and NBMs to optimize assortment and launches. You will apply strong analytical skills to develop insights, influence planning, and support retail partners with data-driven strategies.

Qualifications

• Business degree (Marketing major preferred).
• 4–5 yrs in Category Management/Trade Marketing + Account Management, FMCG.

Responsibilities

• Focal point for Sales & Consumer Marketing on assigned categories; drives strategic/tactical category development.
• Manage information flow and cross-channel execution of category plans; prepare/present category concepts and data analysis.
• Develop and lead the assigned category portfolio; own product launch dates by channel; ensure alignment with brand strategy.
• Develop channel/retailer ranging strategies for NPD and core gaps; provide market info (IRI/Quantium) and shopper insights.
• Build shopper/category insights from scan/panel data; disseminate insights to Sales, Customer & Consumer Marketing; recommend activations.
• Deliver shelf management with planograms and compliant POS materials; manage inventory and stock turns.

Skills

Analytical ability

Prioritization

Communication

Negotiation

Attention to detail

Team orientation

Interpersonal skills

Autonomy

Education

Business degree (Marketing major preferred)

Job description

Job Details

• Contract Type: Unlimited / Full-Time
• Job Start Date: 9/23/2026
• Country / City: Australia / North Ryde
• Company: Beiersdorf Australia Ltd.
• Job Function: Marketing / Market Research

Your Tasks

Primary Objective

Focal point for Sales & Consumer Marketing on assigned categories; drives strategic/tactical category development. Two core functions: (1) manage information flow, cross-channel execution of category plans, prepare/present category concepts and data analysis; (2) manage, develop and lead the assigned category portfolio.

Category Management/Assortment

• Manages product development: liaises with Consumer/Customer Marketing for new product info; sends new/existing product material to Sales.
• For launches, provides market info (IRI/Quantium), competitor analysis (pricing, shelf, promo, brand strategy), and customer/shopper insights on buying behaviour.
• Develops/maintains optimum assortment per 4P mix, category/channel strategy & assortment principles.
• Owns product launch dates by channel (new products, job lines, variations).
• Creates/maintains Sales team resources: assortment & SKU hierarchy, distribution priorities/grading, product lifecycle, preferred layouts, pack shots/specs, trade paperwork, training decks.
• Develops channel/retailer ranging strategies for NPD and core gaps.
• Ensures TVC timing aligns with ≥80% distribution across major accounts before TVC starts.
• Partners with Category Business team on brand strategy from a category/shopper lens.
• Drives category development via category understanding & shopper insights.

Category Strategy Plan

• Builds Customer/Category alignment strategy across Grocery, Mass Merchant, Pharmacy — covering brand objectives/strategy, ad schedule, product info, promo strategy.

Category Reviews/New Line Process

• Runs category reviews for top accounts (Coles, Woolworths, Priceline, CWH, Countdown, Foodstuffs).
• Liaises with NBMs on review needs; conducts rigorous analysis for stakeholder-ready reviews (brand, shopper, retailer); presents to key customers.
• Ensures go-to-market readiness at launch: samples, shippers/SRTs, presentations, logistics paperwork, account-specific needs, availability.
• Monitors/evaluates NPD performance, reports results; follows NPD/category review process.

Category Analysis

• Analyses data to inform sales strategy and review effectiveness: category trends, competitor activity/strategy, automated reporting, underperformer identification; prepares/presents detailed analysis.

Shopper Insights

• Builds shopper/category insights via scan/panel data, global databases, bespoke research.
• Identifies knowledge gaps, proposes research to data providers.
• Disseminates insights to Sales, Customer & Consumer Marketing.
• Recommends brand activation strategies from insights.

Shelf Management

• Delivers shelf management for reviews: planograms with data/analysis; core ranging & preferred layouts distributed regularly to Sales.

Inventory

• Communicates product changeovers to Sales; updates Bluepoint.
• Manages 9+ months excess stock: liaises with NBM/Marketing on clearance strategy; reports updates.

Major Relationships: Sales & Marketing (Consumer/Customer), Revenue Growth Manager, Data Integrity Manager, National Pharmacy/Grocery/Mass Merchant Accounts, Consumer Insights Manager, Data Suppliers (IRI, IMS, Quantium, Shopper Tracker, Shelf Management).

Your Profile

Education & Experience: Business degree (Marketing major preferred); 4–5 yrs in Category Management/Trade Marketing + Account Management, FMCG.

Skills: Strong analytical ability, prioritization, communication (written/verbal/presentation), negotiation, attention to detail, team orientation, interpersonal skills, ability to work autonomously.

Category Development Manager Competencies:

1. Actionable Market Insights & Vision

• Category & Channel Expertise (Indispensable): Deep category understanding; builds plans on value contribution & growth drivers; understands channels, spots growth opportunities/risks; executes insight-to-action; understands competitors & their strategies.
• Product & Portfolio Knowledge (Indispensable): Knows products well, differentiates features vs. consumer benefits; strong portfolio knowledge leveraged for business results.
• Consumer/Shopper/Customer Understanding (Indispensable): Uses consumer behaviour to shape plans; leverages shopper insights to optimize path to purchase; builds plans around customer priorities/needs.

2. Value Creation & Capture

• Value Chain & Financial Rigor (Indispensable): Understands retailer financials/margins/forecasting and links to Beiersdorf's SOI risks/opportunities; uses RGM framework to build fact-based business cases (size of prize); builds commercial plans in customer language, aligns and delivers; follows net price corridors per RGM guidelines.
• Customer Planning & Monitoring (Preferable): Defines channel/customer/portfolio strategy for profitable growth (both sides); manages counter-performance to protect profitability; links sales drivers to NS, NSP, CC, TTC; identifies ways to reduce overdues/payment terms.

3. Selling & Negotiation

• Storytelling (Indispensable): Consistent, goal-driven communication; addresses customer-specific needs; builds compelling, customised sell-in stories; turns objections into opportunities; closes deals with discipline.
• Negotiation (Preferable): Builds negotiation strategy with cross-functional team; prepares with clear objectives; ensures pay-for-performance, resolves conflicts in company's interest; maximizes value for win‑win outcomes; fact‑based, financially disciplined; willing to walk away (BATNA).

4. Executional Excellence

• 4P Execution (Indispensable): Complies with brand/merchandising guidelines; ensures right product, place, price, promo; creates high‑impact POS drive plans; maintains ATL/POS consistency; crafts compelling POS messaging that engages shoppers.
• Operational Effectiveness (Indispensable): Sets/monitors priorities; manages internal/external partners to deliver KPIs; leads cross‑functional teams for alignment & growth; reviews processes for optimization; develops strong ways of working.
• Compliance & Continuous Improvement (Indispensable): Ensures team fully understands and follows local and corporate rules of engagement.