Remote Senior FMCG Category Manager - Sourcing & Strategy

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Competitive salary

Medical and retirement benefits

Professional development

Career progression

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Category Manager for a leading national FMCG retailer. This fully remote role lets you shape strategic sourcing, manage a large supplier portfolio, and drive cost optimization across key product groups while ensuring product availability and supplier innovation.

You will lead category strategies, negotiate with national and international suppliers, mentor junior team members, and collaborate with marketing, sales and supply chain to optimize assortment,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management.
• MBA or relevant Master's degree is a strong advantage.
• 7–10 years in category management or strategic sourcing in FMCG.
• Proven record of managing large supplier portfolios and complex contracts.
• Deep FMCG market understanding including consumer behaviour and retail dynamics.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and commercial thinking.
• Excellent leadership and stakeholder management; remote work experience.
• Strong negotiation and understanding of commercial levers.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for key FMCG product groups.
• Lead negotiations with national and international suppliers.
• Nurture strategic supplier relationships to drive innovation and quality.
• Conduct market analysis, benchmarking, and trend forecasting.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales and supply chain to optimize assortment and inventory.
• Oversee lifecycle from sourcing to shelf, ensuring quality and regulatory compliance.
• Drive cost optimization and maximize margins for assigned categories.
• Monitor performance with KPIs and provide insights to senior management.
• Identify and implement new product development opportunities with suppliers.
• Mentor junior procurement team members and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Supplier management

Data analysis

Remote teamwork

Leadership

Stakeholder management

FMCG knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, or a related field

MBA or Master's degree

Tools

Excel

IRI

Nielsen

Data analytics tools

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Category Manager for a leading national FMCG retailer. This fully remote role lets you shape strategic sourcing, manage a large supplier portfolio, and drive cost optimization across key product groups while ensuring product availability and supplier innovation.

You will lead category strategies, negotiate with national and international suppliers, mentor junior team members, and collaborate with marketing, sales and supply chain to optimize assortment,