Beverage Category Leader — Growth, Strategy & Global Travel

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Health plan

Retirement plan

Staff discounts

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead the beverage portfolio within the FMCG sector. You will drive category growth, optimize product assortment, and manage supplier relationships to ensure profitable performance.

This strategic role collaborates with sales, marketing, and operations to shape beverage offerings. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in category or brand management, strong analytical and negotiation skills, and a deep

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in category management, brand management, or strategic sourcing in FMCG beverages.
• Proven track record of driving category growth and profitability through strategic initiatives.
• Strong analytical, financial, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent understanding of the Western Cape retail/wholesale landscape.
• Experience managing complex projects and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies to drive sales, volume, and profitability for the beverage portfolio.
• Analyze market trends, consumer insights, and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities and gaps.
• Manage supplier relationships including contracts, pricing, and promotional terms.
• Optimize product assortment, planograms, and inventory levels to maximize sales and minimize waste.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales to develop and execute integrated GTM plans and promotions.
• Monitor KPI performance and provide regular reports and recommendations to senior leadership.

Skills

Category management

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Brand management

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA (advantage)

Job description

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead the beverage portfolio within the FMCG sector. You will drive category growth, optimize product assortment, and manage supplier relationships to ensure profitable performance.

This strategic role collaborates with sales, marketing, and operations to shape beverage offerings. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in category or brand management, strong analytical and negotiation skills, and a deep