Category Manager - Beverages FMCG

Placements24; United States; Hybrid; USD 43,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

retirement benefits

Hybrid work flexibility

Supportive team in Paarl

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a strategic Category Manager for Beverages in Paarl. You will analyze market trends, optimize assortment, pricing, and promotions to grow market share and profitability, while collaborating across sales, marketing, and supply chain to execute category plans.

The role demands strong analytical abilities, beverage FMCG experience, and the ability to develop and implement impactful category strategies that resonate with consumers and drive commercial outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field.
• 4–6 years in category/brand management within FMCG, beverages preferred.
• Strong analytical skills to translate data into actionable plans.
• Excellent negotiation and communication abilities.
• Experience with hybrid/remote collaboration tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive category strategies to drive sales, market share, and profitability for beverages.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of market trends, competitor activities, and consumer insights within the beverage category.
• Optimize product assortment, pricing, and promotional plans to maximize category performance.
• Manage relationships with key suppliers and negotiate favorable terms.
• Collaborate with the sales team to ensure effective in-store execution and merchandising.
• Work with the marketing team to develop and launch new products and campaigns.
• Monitor category performance against KPIs and provide regular reporting to senior management.
• Identify opportunities for category innovation and expansion.
• Ensure alignment of category strategies with overall business objectives.
• Maintain an understanding of the evolving FMCG beverage landscape.

Skills

Category strategy

Negotiation

Analytics

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Business Administration

Tools

Category management software

MS Office

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, is seeking a strategic and market-savvy Category Manager specializing in the Beverages category. Based in the heart of the winelands, Paarl, Western Cape , this role is crucial for driving category growth, optimizing product assortments, and developing compelling strategies that enhance market share and profitability. You will be responsible for analyzing market trends, understanding consumer behavior, managing supplier relationships, and working closely with internal teams, including sales, marketing, and supply chain, to ensure category success. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the FMCG beverage market, strong analytical skills, and a proven ability to develop and execute category strategies that resonate with consumers and drive commercial outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a key product category for a respected company.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive category strategies to drive sales volume, market share, and profitability for beverages.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of market trends, competitor activities, and consumer insights within the beverage category.
• Optimize product assortment, pricing, and promotional plans to maximize category performance.
• Manage relationships with key suppliers and negotiate favorable terms.
• Collaborate with the sales team to ensure effective in-store execution and merchandising.
• Work with the marketing team to develop and launch new products and campaigns.
• Monitor category performance against KPIs and provide regular reporting and recommendations to senior management.
• Identify opportunities for category innovation and expansion.
• Ensure alignment of category strategies with overall business objectives.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of the evolving FMCG beverage landscape.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4-6 years of experience in category management, brand management, or a related role within the FMCG sector, with a focus on beverages.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing category growth strategies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret market data and translate insights into actionable plans.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in category management software and MS Office Suite.
• A keen understanding of consumer behavior and market dynamics in the beverage sector.
• Ability to work collaboratively across different departments.
• Must be located in or willing to commute to Paarl, Western Cape .
• Experience with hybrid work models and remote collaboration tools is beneficial.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within the company.
• Chance to lead and innovate within a dynamic beverage category.
• Hybrid work flexibility to support work-life balance.
• A supportive team environment in the scenic Paarl region.
• Direct influence on product strategy and market success in the FMCG beverage space.