Senior Category Manager

Solaris Paper; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sorbent Paper Company, a trusted household paper products business since 1952, is expanding its Consumer division with Carefree & Stayfree. We seek a Senior Category Manager to lead growth, strategy, and performance across Australia, leveraging shopper and retailer insights to drive market share and profitable outcomes.

You will work with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain and retail partners to shape long-term success, while collaborating with global leadership on category growth

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience in FMCG Category Management, Category Development or Category Leadership roles.
• Experience within Feminine Care, Personal Care, Women's Health, Baby Care or Health & Wellness categories.
• Strong understanding of grocery, pharmacy and retail environments.
• Proven success developing category growth strategies and influencing retailer decision-making.
• Experience working with major retailers including Coles, Woolworths, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver commercial outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute long-term category growth strategies for Carefree and Stayfree.
• Identify market opportunities, consumer trends and competitive threats.
• Lead annual category planning and category vision development.
• Translate shopper and consumer insights into actionable commercial strategies.
• Analyse market performance using NielsenIQ, Circana, Quantium and retailer data platforms.
• Deliver compelling category reviews and retailer presentations.
• Lead category reviews and range recommendations across grocery, pharmacy and mass retail channels.
• Develop assortment, pricing, merchandising and promotional strategies.
• Identify future category and innovation opportunities.
• Support new product development and launch strategies.
• Partner with Sales and Finance teams to optimise category profitability.
• Provide recommendations on pricing, promotions, investment and revenue growth opportunities.
• Support planning, forecasting and budget development processes.
• Monitor category performance and identify opportunities to improve ROI.

Skills

FMCG Category Management

Category Development

Category Leadership

Feminine Care

Personal Care

Women’s Health

Baby Care

Health & Wellness

Retail Partnerships

Data Analysis

Stakeholder Influence

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Embark on an exciting opportunity with The Sorbent Paper Company, Australia's trusted household paper products business since 1952. As we continue to grow and evolve, we are expanding our Consumer division through the acquisition of two iconic feminine care brands, Carefree and Stayfree.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of renowned brands that have supported Australian consumers for generations. Through innovation, category leadership, and a deep understanding of shopper needs, we are committed to driving growth in the feminine care category while improving consumer experiences and outcomes.

When you join us, you become part of a team where collaboration, innovation and accountability are valued. You'll have the opportunity to influence strategic direction, work alongside talented commercial and marketing professionals, and play a critical role in building the next chapter of our consumer business.

Are you ready to make a difference?

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Marketing & Category, the Senior Category Manager – Carefree & Stayfree will lead the strategic development, growth and commercial performance of our newly acquired feminine care portfolio across Australia.

As the category expert, you will combine deep shopper, consumer, category and retailer insights to build and execute category growth strategies that deliver market share growth, innovation success, retailer engagement and profitable business outcomes.

This is a highly visible role, attracting significant attention from both local and global leadership teams as we establish and grow our position within the feminine care category. You will work closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain and key retail partners to shape the long-term success of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute long-term category growth strategies for Carefree and Stayfree.
• Identify market opportunities, consumer trends and competitive threats.
• Lead annual category planning and category vision development.
• Translate shopper and consumer insights into actionable commercial strategies.
• Analyse market performance using NielsenIQ, Circana, Quantium and retailer data platforms.
• Deliver compelling category reviews and retailer presentations.

Retail Category Development

• Lead category reviews and range recommendations across grocery, pharmacy and mass retail channels.
• Develop assortment, pricing, merchandising and promotional strategies.
• Identify future category and innovation opportunities.
• Support new product development and launch strategies.Partner with Sales and Finance teams to optimise category profitability.
• Provide recommendations on pricing, promotions, investment and revenue growth opportunities.
• Support planning, forecasting and budget development processes.
• Monitor category performance and identify opportunities to improve ROI.

What You'll Bring

Experience

• 8+ years' experience in FMCG Category Management, Category Development or Category Leadership roles.
• Experience within Feminine Care, Personal Care, Women's Health, Baby Care or Health & Wellness categories.
• Strong understanding of grocery, pharmacy and retail environments.
• Proven success developing category growth strategies and influencing retailer decision-making.
• Experience working with major retailers including Coles, Woolworths, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver commercial outcomes.

Technical Capability

• Strong knowledge of NielsenIQ, Circana (IRI), Quantium and retailer loyalty data platforms.
• Advanced analytical and commercial acumen.
• Experience with category management, space planning and shopper insights.
• Advanced Excel and Power BI capabilities preferred.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and commercially minded.
• Strong presenter and influencer.
• Customer and shopper focused.
• Naturally collaborative and relationship-driven.
• Confident leading projects and driving change.
• Passionate about building brands and delivering category growth.

Why Join Us?

• Lead two iconic and trusted feminine care brands.
• Opportunity to shape the future of a newly acquired category.
• High-profile role with exposure to senior leadership locally and globally.
• Collaborative and supportive culture.
• Join us and help write the next chapter for Carefree, Stayfree, and the future of feminine care at The Sorbent Paper Company.