Category Insights Manager - FMCG (Remote)

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Advanced training and workshops

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly analytical Category Insights Manager for a fully remote role serving the South Africa market. You will harness Nielsen/IRI data, shopper trends, and sales performance to uncover category opportunities and support product and marketing decisions.

You will build dashboards, present to leadership, guide assortment optimization, and collaborate with agencies. A strong analytics background, FMCG experience, and superb storytelling are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Statistics, Economics, Business Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
• Master's degree is a plus.
• 6-8 years' experience in category/market/consumer insights within FMCG.
• Experience analyzing datasets (Nielsen, IRI, sales data) and generating strategic insights.
• Proficiency in Excel, SPSS, R, Python, or similar tools.
• Strong communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive analysis of market data, sales performance, consumer behavior, and competitor activities to identify key category insights.
• Develop and maintain reporting dashboards to track category performance and identify trends.
• Translate data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for category management, marketing, and sales.
• Lead category reviews and present findings to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for new product development and assortment optimization based on consumer insights.
• Collaborate with marketing to integrate insights into brand strategies and activation plans.
• Manage relationships with external research agencies and data providers.
• Stay abreast of the latest analytical tools and industry best practices in consumer and market insights.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Communication & storytelling

Remote work autonomy

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Statistics, Economics, Business Analytics

Master's degree

Tools

Excel

SPSS

R

Python

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, is seeking a highly analytical and strategic Category Insights Manager to join their team in a fully remote capacity. This critical role focuses on leveraging data and consumer research to uncover actionable insights that drive category growth, inform product development, and shape marketing strategies. You will be responsible for analyzing market trends, shopper behavior, sales data, and competitive intelligence to provide deep understanding of category dynamics and consumer needs. The ideal candidate is passionate about data-driven decision-making and excels at translating complex information into clear, compelling recommendations for the business. This remote position offers the opportunity to impact brand strategy on a national scale from anywhere within the country.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive analysis of market data, sales performance, consumer behavior, and competitor activities to identify key category insights.
• Develop and maintain robust reporting dashboards to track category performance and identify trends.
• Translate data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for category management, marketing, and sales teams.
• Lead category reviews and present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for new product development and assortment optimization based on consumer insights and market trends.
• Collaborate with marketing teams to ensure insights are integrated into brand strategies and activation plans.
• Manage relationships with external research agencies and data providers.
• Stay abreast of the latest analytical tools, methodologies, and industry best practices in consumer and market insights.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Statistics, Economics, Business Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
• A Master's degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience in category insights, market research, or consumer insights, with a strong focus on the FMCG industry .
• Proven ability to analyze complex datasets (e.g., Nielsen, IRI, internal sales data) and generate strategic, data-driven insights.
• Expertise in statistical analysis, modeling, and data visualization techniques.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as Excel, SPSS, R, Python, or similar.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics, consumer behavior, and the retail landscape in South Africa .
• Self-motivated, highly organized, and capable of working independently in a remote environment.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience, including performance bonuses and comprehensive benefits such as medical aid and a retirement fund. This fully remote role provides exceptional flexibility and the opportunity to work from anywhere. Our client is committed to employee development, offering access to advanced training, workshops, and professional growth opportunities. This is a unique opportunity to shape category strategy and drive brand growth for a leading FMCG company across South Africa , leveraging your analytical prowess and insights expertise in a rewarding remote setting.