Category Manager

Reporting to the Director of Commercial Strategy, the Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing strategies to optimize product category performance within customer accounts (retailers, distributors, etc.). He/she acts as a strategic partner for both internal and external clients by providing analyses, recommendations, and solutions that maximize sales, market share, and profitability, while meeting consumer expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

Category Management

• Develop and implement plans for the categories under their responsibility.
• Conduct market analysis, consumer trends, and competitive data to identify growth opportunities.
• Define and monitor performance objectives (sales, margins, market share).

Product Management

• Select, launch, and phase out products based on performance and category strategy.
• Oversee product assortment to ensure an attractive and competitive offering.

Performance Analysis and Monitoring

• Analyze sales data, margins, and KPIs to evaluate category performance.
• Identify improvement opportunities and propose corrective actions.
• Prepare regular reports for management and stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Support the sales team by providing relevant insights on products and categories; attend client meetings to present business reviews or recommendations.
• Work closely with the marketing team to develop promotional campaigns, merchandising initiatives, and product launches.
• Collaborate with supply chain teams to ensure effective inventory management and avoid stockouts.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Identify and introduce product innovations or emerging trends in the category.
• Stay current with industry best practices and suggest improvements to existing processes.

Job Requirements:

Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Management, or a related field.

Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in category management, purchasing, or product management.

Strong analytical skills and proficiency with data management tools (Nielsen, Circana, Dunnhumby, ERP software, etc.).

Project management abilities.

Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset.

Knowledge of the food industry (dairy industry experience is an asset).

Key Competencies:

Results-oriented with strategic thinking.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Leadership and initiative.

Effective priority and deadline management.

Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.