Category Manager - FMCG Products

Placements24; Soweto; Hybrid; ZAR 800,000 - 1,050,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Competitive salary and bonus structure

Comprehensive health and wellness

Professional development and career路径

Strategic influence on product offers

Job summary

Placements24 in Soweto seeks a strategic Category Manager to drive growth across key FMCG categories from our local office. You will shape assortment, pricing, and promotions to maximize market share and profitability.

You will partner with sales, marketing, and operations, analyze trends, manage supplier relationships, and deliver regular performance insights to guide decision-making. This role offers a hybrid work arrangement with strong career progression.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Commerce, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in category management, merchandising, or product management with FMCG background.
• Proven track record of driving category growth and profitability.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate into strategies.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in category management software and MS Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies to achieve sales volume, market share, and profitability targets.
• Analyze market trends, competitor performance, and consumer insights to identify growth opportunities.
• Manage product assortment, pricing, promotions, and planograms for assigned categories.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, negotiating favorable terms and ensuring product availability.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and operations teams to ensure alignment with overall business objectives.
• Monitor category performance and prepare regular reports with strategic recommendations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Commerce, or related field

Tools

Category management software

MS Office Suite

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading entity in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, is seeking a strategic and analytical Category Manager to oversee key product categories from their offices supporting the Soweto region. This role is vital for driving category growth, profitability, and market share through effective assortment planning, pricing strategies, and promotional activities. You will be responsible for understanding consumer behavior, market dynamics, and supplier relationships to optimize the product offering and deliver exceptional value to customers. This is a significant opportunity for a commercially astute professional within the FMCG landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies to achieve sales volume, market share, and profitability targets.


• Analyze market trends, competitor performance, and consumer insights to identify growth opportunities.


• Manage product assortment, pricing, promotions, and planograms for assigned categories.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, negotiating favorable terms and ensuring product availability.


• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and operations teams to ensure alignment with overall business objectives.


• Monitor category performance and prepare regular reports with strategic recommendations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Commerce, or a related field.


• Minimum of 5 years of experience in category management , merchandising, or product management, with a strong FMCG background.


• Proven track record of driving category growth and profitability.


• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable strategies.


• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.


• Proficiency in category management software and MS Office Suite.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus structure reflective of experience and performance.


• Hybrid work arrangement for enhanced flexibility.


• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.


• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement within FMCG.


• Strategic role with significant influence on product offerings and market success.