Category Development Manager

About the Company

We are a dynamic organization devoted to excellence in category management, expanding market presence, and maximizing customer value through data-centric commercial tactics. Our diverse teams work collaboratively across multiple functions such as Category Management, Marketing, Sales, Procurement, Supply Chain, Product Management, Consumer Insights, Finance, Analytics, Operations, and Executive Leadership to craft effective category strategies, enhance product portfolios, and foster lasting business growth.

Role Overview

The Category Development Manager will spearhead category strategy formulation, market evaluations, portfolio enhancement, and commercial growth activities. This role requires oversight of category planning, consumer insights integration, assortment and supplier strategy, performance assessment, and cross-departmental execution to ensure achievement of revenue, profitability, and elevated customer experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute category development plans, growth strategies, and commercial models in line with company goals and market prospects.
• Lead market research, category assessments, assortment and pricing strategies, promotional schemes, and portfolio management.
• Coordinate with Sales, Marketing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Product Management, Consumer Insights, Finance, Operations, Data Analytics, and Leadership to optimize category results.
• Evaluate market trends, customer preferences, competitor behavior, industry shifts, and consumer data to uncover new growth avenues.
• Establish category strategies based on customer insights, market conditions, sales trends, profitability analysis, and strategic objectives.
• Oversee product mix decisions, regular range evaluations, lifecycle management, demand analytics, and category expansion projects.
• Develop and nurture strategic partnerships with suppliers, vendors, brand collaborators, distributors, and internal teams.
• Manage category performance appraisals, business planning, supplier negotiations, promotion assessments, and commercial strategy sessions.
• Create category dashboards, forecasting tools, performance reports, profitability reviews, and strategic action plans.
• Collaborate with marketing to devise category campaigns, customer engagement programs, merchandising approaches, and market launch plans.
• Support supplier and partner negotiations to improve product availability, pricing, margins, innovation, and competitiveness.
• Track key indicators such as revenue growth, market share, profitability, sales efficacy, customer engagement, inventory usage, promotional success, supplier efficiency, and market penetration.
• Conduct audits, competitive benchmarking, market evaluations, customer research, trend monitoring, and continuous improvement actions.
• Ensure compliance with commercial policies, supplier standards, product specifications, pricing frameworks, ethical sourcing, and organizational protocols.
• Administer category development budgets, analytics tools, research collaborations, supplier relations, market intelligence, and strategic initiatives.
• Drive digital transformation by applying AI-driven category analytics, demand forecasting, customer insight extraction, automated reporting, predictive sales models, workflow tools, and business intelligence platforms.
• Utilize software and platforms such as Salesforce, SAP, Oracle Retail, Microsoft Dynamics 365, NielsenIQ, Circana, Power BI, Tableau, Google Analytics, Excel, SQL, CRM, ERP systems, and category management applications to enhance insights and operational efficiency.
• Draft executive-level presentations, strategy documents, market opportunity analyses, performance reviews, business proposals, and strategic advisories.
• Lead, coach, and develop category analysts, commercial experts, product coordinators, and cross-functional teams fostering innovation, collaboration, customer centricity, accountability, and ongoing enhancement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Retail Management, Supply Chain, Economics, Commerce, Product Management, or related disciplines.
• Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) in Business, Marketing, Strategic Management, or Retail Management is preferred.
• Relevant certifications in Category Management, Marketing, Retail, Data Analytics, Project Management (e.g., PMP) are beneficial.
• At least five years’ experience in category management, development, product management, retail strategy, commercial planning, sales, marketing, or procurement roles.
• Minimum two years in managing category strategies, product portfolios, supplier relationships, or commercial growth projects is advantageous.
• Deep knowledge of category management fundamentals, market research, consumer insights, assortment and pricing strategies, retail analytics, supplier oversight, and commercial performance enhancement.
• Experience working with technology platforms including Salesforce, SAP, Oracle Retail, Microsoft Dynamics 365, NielsenIQ, Circana, Power BI, Tableau, Google Analytics, SQL, Excel, CRM, ERP, and category management software.
• Familiarity with AI-driven category intelligence, predictive analytics, automated merchandising solutions, customer segmentation, digital commerce analysis, and advanced commercial insight tools is highly valuable.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, analytical reasoning, commercial acumen, project management, budgeting, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to juggle multiple category development projects considering customer requirements, market trends, supplier dynamics, profitability targets, budgets, deadlines, and organizational goals.
• Capable of thriving in a remote, distributed environment with diverse teams, suppliers, partners, leadership, and occasional travel for supplier meetings, market visits, business reviews, conferences, and strategic gatherings.

What is Offered

• Flexible, fully remote work setting with global team collaboration.
• Attractive pay with performance-related incentives.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership within category development.
• Access to cutting-edge AI-based category intelligence and advanced analytics and digital commerce tools.
• A culture centered on innovation, customer focus, growth, responsibility, and continuous progress.
• Chance to influence leading market categories by crafting strategies enhancing customer experience, reinforcing partnerships, and accelerating sustainable business expansion.