Category Manager - FMCG Beverages

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Fuel card for business travel

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Annual leave entitlement

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a strategic Category Manager for Bloemfontein to drive beverage category growth and profitability. You will craft and execute category strategies, work with sales, marketing, procurement and retail partners, and translate market insights into actionable plans that optimize assortment, pricing and promotions.

The role emphasizes strong analytical prowess, stakeholder management, and a proven track record in FMCG beverages, with SA market experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field.
• 6–8 years of category/brand management in FMCG beverages.
• Strong analytical skills with data interpretation ability.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Understanding of retail operations and trade marketing.
• Experience in the South African beverage market is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies to drive volume, market share and profit.
• Analyze category performance, market trends, consumer insights and competition.
• Collaborate with sales to craft effective sales plans and trade marketing.
• Coordinate with marketing on brand alignment, innovation and launches.
• Optimize assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies within the category.
• Manage relationships with key retail partners and present insights.
• Identify new business opportunities and category threats.
• Monitor category P&L and ensure financial targets are met.
• Oversee POS materials and merchandising plans.
• Stay informed on industry best practices in category management.

Skills

FMCG category management

Analytical skills

Retail operations knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication & presentation

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing/Business Admin

MBA (bonus)

Tools

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading name in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector with a strong portfolio of beverage brands, is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Category Manager to join their team in Bloemfontein, Free State. This role is responsible for driving the growth and profitability of specific beverage categories by developing and executing comprehensive category strategies. You will work closely with sales, marketing, procurement, and retail partners to understand market dynamics, identify consumer needs, and optimize product assortment, pricing, and promotions. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of category management principles, strong analytical skills, and a passion for the dynamic beverage market within South Africa. This is a key position that offers significant influence over brand performance and market strategy, based at our client's Bloemfontein office. We are looking for a strategic thinker who can translate market insights into actionable plans that drive commercial success.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies to achieve volume, market share, and profitability objectives.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of category performance, market trends, consumer insights, and competitive activity.
• Collaborate with the sales team to develop and execute effective sales plans and trade marketing initiatives.
• Work with marketing teams to ensure alignment between brand strategy and category plans, including product innovation and launch support.
• Optimize product assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies within the category.
• Manage relationships with key retail partners, presenting category insights and plans to drive mutual growth.
• Identify new business opportunities and threats within the category.
• Monitor and manage the category P&L, ensuring financial targets are met.
• Oversee the development and execution of point-of-sale materials and merchandising plans.
• Stay abreast of industry best practices and emerging trends in category management and the beverage sector.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• An MBA is a plus.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience in category management, brand management, or a related role within the FMCG industry, with a focus on beverages.
• Proven track record of successfully managing and growing FMCG categories.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable insights.
• Excellent understanding of retail operations, category management principles, and trade marketing.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and build strong relationships with retail partners.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strategic thinking and a results-oriented approach.
• Experience in the South African beverage market is highly advantageous.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary of R .
• Performance-based bonuses and incentives.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund benefits.
• Significant annual leave entitlement.
• Opportunities for extensive professional development and career advancement.
• Chance to manage a key category within a leading FMCG organization in Bloemfontein .
• Supportive and dynamic work environment.
• Car allowance and fuel card for business travel.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Product discounts and other company perks.