National Category Manager

SUMMARY:
Our client seeks a Category Manager to provide strategic direction through effective leadership of the Category and build strategic partnerships with key national suppliers to deliver competitive trade terms and category market share growth in Southern Africa. This role will be responsible for the Hardware and DIY category.

POSITION INFO:
The Person:

• Degree in Marketing or Supply Chain
• Minimum 10 years’ experience working in category procurement and trading across the hardware, tools, plumbware, electrical and DIY categories
• Deep knowledge and understanding of the retail supply and demand dynamics in the applicable sub-categories
• Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies and plans that drive category and retailer profitability growth
• High degree of confidentiality, emotional maturity, ethical values and integrity
• Strong supplier partnership skills and customer orientation
• Excellent coordination and team skills to support effective execution and market share growth
• Proven problem-solving capability in a fast-moving and dynamic setting, apply good judgement and responsiveness to emergent challenges
• Strong presentation skills
• Strong negotiation skills
• Sound business and financial acumen
• Quality orientated and self-driven to achieve results

• Develop and implement a comprehensive category strategy that aligns with the overall Merchandise strategy and Group business goals
• Establish category growth priorities and determine private label opportunities and targets with the category
• Work with Data Insights specialists to establish competitive market trends, performance gaps and opportunities
• Foster strong, collaborative, and strategic partnerships with key national suppliers based on clear category growth strategies and plans
• Work closely with suppliers in joint business planning processes that review key performance indicators and agree actions
• Identify and address potential risks such as supply chain disruptions, quality issues, and capacity constraints
• Pricing policy leadership for the category
• Develop a category promotional strategy and plan to drive sales and increase market share
• Engage with Regional Merchandise Teams, Operations and Sales Teams on category strategies and plans, confirming regional focus
• Responsible for Regional and National Supplier Trade Agreements and approvals
• Visit national suppliers’ factories to ensure the capability of providing the right quality products and effective services levels to retailers
• Negotiate and achieve budgeted dropshipment and retail gross profits
• Build high performance, professional category communities with regular reviews and input to support execution on agreed actions
• Analyse sales data and market trends plus retailer and customer feedback to assess category performance on an ongoing basis
• Initiate “killer deals” to improve volumes and show leadership to retailers regarding preferred suppliers
• Provide product ranging leadership for existing and new stores
• Investigate and provide competitive international supplier solutions