National Category Manager - FMCG Dairy

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybride; ZAR 800 000 - 1 100 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Competitive salary

Medical aid and pension

Relocation assistance

Professional development

Hybrid work model

Exposure to leading FMCG

Travel opportunities

Résumé du poste

Placements24 in Mossel Bay is seeking a National Category Manager for the dairy portfolio to drive category growth, optimize assortment and pricing, and collaborate with sales, marketing, and finance to improve profitability across national retailers.

The role is hybrid with travel as needed, requiring strong analytical skills, experience with consumer insights, and a strategic mindset to lead lifecycle management and promotional effectiveness in a leading FMCG environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Admin, or related field.
• Postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Minimum 5 years in category/brand management in FMCG.
• Proven track record growing FMCG categories.
• Strong analytical skills with data tools and Excel.
• Understanding of retail dynamics and dairy market.
• Willingness to travel and work hybrid.

Responsabilités

• Lead national category strategies for the dairy portfolio.
• Analyze performance, market data, and trends to identify growth.
• Optimize assortment, pricing, and promotions.
• Collaborate with sales to execute plans in retail.
• Partner with marketing on brand strategies.
• Manage relationships with retail partners and present insights.
• Prepare category reports and forecasts for senior management.
• Oversee budget and ROI for the category.
• Lead product lifecycle and new introductions.
• Identify dairy category innovations with R&D.

Connaissances

Category management

Analytics

Nielsen/IRI

Excel

Negotiation

Presentation

Formation

Bachelor's degree in Marketing/Business Admin

Postgraduate qualification

Outils

Nielsen

IRI

CRM systems

Description du poste

About the Role

Our client, a significant player in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) market, is seeking a strategic and analytical National Category Manager to oversee their dairy product portfolio. This role, based in **Mossel Bay, Western Cape, ZA**, will be responsible for driving category growth, optimizing product assortments, and enhancing brand performance across all major retail channels nationwide. Operating on a hybrid model, this position balances crucial in-person collaboration with key stakeholders and strategic planning sessions with the flexibility of remote work. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of category management principles, consumer insights, and the competitive dynamics within the dairy sector. You will work closely with sales, marketing, supply chain, and finance teams to develop and execute category strategies that maximize profitability and market share. We are looking for a proactive individual who can identify market trends, leverage data analytics to drive decisions, and build strong relationships with retail partners. Your ability to develop compelling category plans, manage product lifecycles, and drive promotional effectiveness will be critical. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a key category within a leading FMCG organization and make a tangible impact on brand success. The role requires a strategic thinker with a passion for consumer goods and a proven ability to deliver results.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive national category strategies for the dairy portfolio to drive sales, volume, and profitability.
• Analyze category performance, market data, consumer trends, and competitor activities to identify growth opportunities.
• Optimize product assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies to enhance category performance and shopper engagement.
• Collaborate with the sales team to ensure effective execution of category plans in retail environments.
• Work closely with marketing to develop and implement brand strategies that support category objectives.
• Manage relationships with key retail partners, presenting category insights and proposing strategic initiatives.
• Develop and manage the category budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and ROI.
• Oversee product lifecycle management, including new product introductions and phase-outs.
• Identify opportunities for innovation within the dairy category, working with R&D and product development.
• Prepare regular category performance reports and forecasts for senior management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in category management, brand management, or a similar strategic role within the FMCG sector.
• Proven track record of successfully managing and growing FMCG categories.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Nielsen, IRI) and Excel.
• Excellent understanding of retail dynamics, shopper behavior, and the dairy market.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment and travel as needed.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to the **Mossel Bay, Western Cape, ZA** area.
• Strategic thinking and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus annual bonus potential.
• Comprehensive medical aid and pension fund benefits.
• Relocation assistance may be available.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• Hybrid work model providing flexibility.
• Exposure to a leading FMCG organization and its diverse product portfolio.