Category Manager

OmniRetail Africa

Marketing & Communications

The Category/Segment Manager is responsible for driving growth within a specific product segment by managing relationships with manufacturers, brands, and key stakeholders. The role involves developing joint business plans, managing margins, ensuring stock availability, executing marketing strategies, and expanding the footprint of the segment/category.

Responsibilities:

Manufacturer Relations:

• Build and maintain professional relationships with segment manufacturers and brands.

• Develop and manage joint business plans with segment-specific brands to drive mutual growth.

• Network and onboard new brands to expand the product offering within the segment.

Pricing and Margins:

• Own the pricing strategy by agreeing on backend margins and determining frontend margins across all categories in the segment and across all sales channels.

• Ensure consistent margin performance, adjusting as necessary to meet business objectives.

Profit & Loss (P&L) Management:

• Ensure the agreed margins for the segment are maintained across all sales channels (online, retail, and other distribution networks).

• Collaborate with Regional Business Managers to achieve projected segment revenue targets.

Stock Availability & Point Management:

• Monitor stock availability to ensure that each stock point specific to the segment is well-stocked and ready to meet demand.

• Ensure that stock points have allocated marketing budgets for brand visibility and sales activation.

Marketing & Sales Activation:

• Manage and allocate the segment-specific marketing budget to maximize visibility and performance.

• Plan and execute sales activation initiatives tailored to the segment to boost sales.

• Build and lead segment-specific sales teams when needed to drive product performance and category growth.
  

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree (e.g., MBA) is an added advantage.

Experience:

• 4–7 years of proven experience in category management, brand management, or merchandising—preferably within retail, FMCG, or e-commerce industries.
• Experience developing and executing joint business plans, pricing strategies, and marketing activations.

Skills:

• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial acumen and data-driven decision-making ability.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and relevant analytics tools.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.
Ability to manage P&L, pricing models, and margin optimization.

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