National Category Manager - FMCG Groceries

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Performance bonuses

Medical aid

Pension fund

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a National Category Manager to lead the grocery category within South Africa, based in Sandton, Gauteng. You will drive growth, profitability, and market share by developing assortment plans, pricing strategies, promotions, and merchandising in collaboration with sales, marketing, and supply chain teams.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years in category or brand management within FMCG, with deep knowledge of groceries, shopper insights, and SA retail dynamics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Commerce, or related field.
• MBA is a plus.
• Minimum 5–7 years in category/brand management within FMCG, groceries.
• Proven track record of growth and profitability in retail.
• Strong understanding of SA retail dynamics and shopper insights.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies to grow sales, market share and profitability in groceries.
• Analyze market data, shopper insights and trends to identify growth opportunities.
• Manage product assortment, portfolio optimization and pricing strategies.
• Create promotional plans and merchandising strategies with sales and marketing.
• Build relationships with key retail partners and act as category lead contact.
• Monitor competitor activity and retail execution.
• Collaborate with supply chain to ensure stock availability.
• Present category reviews and business plans to stakeholders and accounts.
• Lead or coordinate cross-functional category teams to meet objectives.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Strategic planning

Negotiation and communication

Presentation skills

Data analysis tools

Excel

Stakeholder management

Education

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

MBA (advantage)

Tools

Nielsen

IRI

MS Office (Excel)

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent player in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, is seeking a strategic and analytical National Category Manager to lead their grocery category. This role, based in the vibrant business hub of Sandton, Gauteng , is responsible for driving category growth, profitability, and market share within major retail chains across South Africa. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the grocery market, consumer behavior, and category management principles, coupled with strong commercial acumen. You will work closely with sales, marketing, and supply chain teams to develop and implement effective category strategies, including assortment planning, pricing, promotions, and merchandising. This is a pivotal role for a commercially astute individual looking to make a significant impact on a key category within a leading FMCG organization.

Key Responsibilities

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


• Analyze market data, consumer insights, and shopper behavior to identify growth opportunities and category trends.


• Manage product assortment, portfolio optimization, and pricing strategies for the category.


• Develop and implement effective promotional plans and merchandising strategies in collaboration with sales and marketing teams.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with key retail partners, acting as the primary point of contact for category matters.


• Monitor competitor activities, market dynamics, and retail execution performance.


• Collaborate with supply chain to ensure optimal stock levels and product availability within the category.


• Prepare and present category reviews and business plans to internal stakeholders and key retail accounts.


• Lead and develop a high-performing category team or work closely with cross-functional teams to achieve category objectives.

Requirements

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


• An MBA is a plus.


• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in category management, brand management, or a related commercial role within the FMCG sector, with a strong focus on groceries.


• Proven track record of driving category growth and profitability in a competitive retail environment.


• In-depth understanding of category management principles, shopper insights, and retail dynamics in South Africa.


• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.


• Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation abilities.


• Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Nielsen, IRI) and MS Office Suite, especially Excel.


• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.


• Experience working with major national grocery retailers is highly advantageous.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive remuneration package, including a substantial base salary, performance bonuses, medical aid, and pension fund benefits. This role provides an excellent platform for career progression, professional development, and the opportunity to influence category strategy within a leading FMCG company. Join our dynamic team in Sandton and contribute to the success of iconic grocery brands.