Category Manager - Beverages

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid and retirement fund

Professional development opportunities

Dynamic FMCG environment

Generous leave and product benefits

Job summary

Placements24 in Port Elizabeth is seeking a strategic Category Manager to lead the beverage division, shaping category strategy to drive sales, profitability, and market share.

You will analyze trends, manage assortment, pricing and promotions, build supplier relationships, and collaborate with sales, marketing and operations to execute category plans across the beverage portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in category management or FMCG.
• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills.
• Experience in product assortment planning, pricing and promotions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives, focusing on profitable growth.
• Analyse market trends, competitor activities and consumer behavior to identify opportunities and challenges.
• Manage product assortment, pricing, promotions, and planograms to maximize sales and category performance.
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders (sales, marketing, operations).
• Monitor category performance against key metrics and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with marketing to develop brand and promotional plans for the beverage category.

Skills

Category management

Analytics

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Marketing or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a significant player in the FMCG market, is seeking a strategic and analytical Category Manager to lead their beverage division, based in Port Elizabeth. This role involves developing and implementing category strategies to drive sales volume, profitability, and market share for their diverse range of beverage products. You will be responsible for understanding consumer trends, managing supplier relationships, and collaborating with internal teams to ensure successful category execution. This is a vital position for shaping the future of our beverage portfolio within the competitive FMCG landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with overall business objectives, focusing on driving profitable growth.
• Analyse market trends, competitor activities, and consumer behaviour to identify opportunities and challenges.
• Manage product assortment, pricing, promotions, and planograms to maximize sales and category performance.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders, including sales, marketing, and operations.
• Monitor category performance against key metrics (sales, market share, profitability) and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop effective brand and promotional plans for the beverage category.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field; relevant certifications are a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in category management or a similar role within the FMCG industry.
• Proven experience in product assortment planning, pricing strategies, and promotional management.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and market insights.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• Reside in or be willing to relocate to Port Elizabeth and demonstrate commitment to the local operations.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-driven bonus structure.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• Dynamic work environment within a growing FMCG company.
• Generous leave allocation and product benefits.