Category Manager

Clicks Group; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the retail sector is seeking a Category Manager for Colour Cosmetics to join their Beauty Division. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing category strategies to enhance profitability, drive innovation, and manage vendor relationships. This role requires strong financial acumen, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess a B Degree or Diploma in Retail or Purchasing Management and have substantial experience in category management.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years Category Management experience.
• 2-3 years People Management experience.
• Experience with local and global supplier networks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategy to exceed financial targets.
• Negotiate favorable trading terms and maintain vendor relationships.
• Conduct range reviews and analyze consumer buying patterns.

Skills

Financial acumen

Negotiation skills

Planning and organisational skills

Supplier relationship management

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Project management

Education

B Degree or Diploma in Retail, Purchasing Management or similar

Tools

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

Introduction

We are looking to recruit a Category Manager for Colour Cosmetics to join the Beauty Division within Clicks. The successful candidate will will be based at Clicks Head Office in Cape Town and report to the Portfolio Manager.

Job description

Job Purpose:

To develop and execute the category strategy in order to achieve and exceed the category financial targets through rapidly accelerating category depth, strengthen pricing strategy and driving private label and exclusive Brands thereby creating product differentiation and innovation to increase market share and profitability.

Job Objectives:

• To develop and implement a category plan for specific product ranges to ensure reduced cost of goods, optimise contract terms and increase income, assume responsibility of budget and revenue for category.
• To negotiate favourable trading terms and promotional spend (co-op), actively cultivate, develop and maintain vendor relationships and partnerships to ensure vendor performance and first to market with new product launches.
• To maintain relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers for future products lines.
• To implement a plan that will achieve the Clicks' value proposition through price and promotion whilst achieving promotional sales targets.
• To translate the operating and financial plans into a balanced product assortment and visual on-shelf display to meet the customer’s needs
• To support the sourcing and development of private label products and exclusive brands thereby creating product differentiation, innovation and brand loyalty that will increase market share and profitability.
• To regularly review performance indicators, such as sales, margin and promo quantification, keeping the business updated on financial performance versus market and plan.
• To conduct range reviews, analyse consumer buying patterns, predict future trends and stay abreast with competitor activity.
• To work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including marketing and Clubcard to ensure effective delivery of the operating plan.
• To support both the Merchandise and Graduate Development Programme by playing an active role in facilitating training sessions to embed sound procurement principles and commercial awareness.

Minimum requirements

Job Related Knowledge:

• Operating plan development
• Supplier relationship management
• Procurement and Supply Chain
• Business Objectives and Strategies
• Business Processes
• Retail Management
• Market trends and competitor analysis
• Understanding of supplier co-op negotiations and trading terms
• Financial planning and budgets
• Relevant legislation
• Sales Margin Management

Job Related Skills

• Strong Financial/Business acumen with a merchant mindset
• Strong negotiation skills
• Planning and organisational skills
• Ability to build strong supplier relationships
• Competency in all computer packages, i.e. Outlook,Excel, PowerPoint
• Verbal and written communication
• Problem solving and analytical thinking
• Strategic thinking and decision making
• Attention to detail
• Project management
• Training facilitation

Job Experience

• 4-6 years Category Management experience
• 2-3 years People Management experience
• Managing objectives
• Experience with local and global supplier networks

Education

• B Degree or Diploma in Retail, Purchasing Management or similar (Essential)

Competencies

• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Working with People
• Persuading and Influencing
• Analysing
• Learning and Researching
• Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations
• Achieving Personal Work Goals and Objectives
• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking