Grocery Category Lead – Sandton, Drive Growth

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive annual salary

Performance-based bonus

Medical aid and retirement fund

Employee discount

Professional development

Dynamic work environment

Annual leave and statutory benefits

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a strategic and analytical Category Manager to oversee the grocery category in Sandton, Gauteng. You will drive sales performance, optimize assortment, manage supplier relationships, and develop category strategies aligned with business goals.

The role requires a strong knowledge of the grocery retail landscape, excellent negotiation and data-driven decision making, and a track record of growing profitability in a complex portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field; 7+ years in category management preferred.
• Proven track record in FMCG retail growth and profitability.
• Strong negotiation, analytics, and strategic planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic category plans, including assortment optimization, pricing, and promotion strategies for the grocery category.
• Analyze sales data, market trends, and competitor activities to identify opportunities and drive growth.
• Manage supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure optimal terms.
• Oversee inventory management to ensure product availability and minimize stockouts and waste.
• Develop and execute in-store merchandising and promotional programs.
• Monitor category performance against KPIs and provide regular reports to senior management.
• Collaborate with marketing, operations, and finance teams to align category strategies with overall business objectives.
• Identify and source new products and suppliers to enhance the category offering.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and quality standards.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Category management

Retail analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Retail management degree

Tools

Excel

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a strategic and analytical Category Manager to oversee the grocery category in Sandton, Gauteng. You will drive sales performance, optimize assortment, manage supplier relationships, and develop category strategies aligned with business goals.

The role requires a strong knowledge of the grocery retail landscape, excellent negotiation and data-driven decision making, and a track record of growing profitability in a complex portfolio.