Category Manager

Position Title: Category Manager

Company Overview:

Our client is a holding group in Kuwait with several business divisions. They are currently looking to hire an experienced Category manager to join their team in Kuwait.

The Category Manager is responsible for developing the overall strategy for a product category.

This position focuses on analyzing market trends and driving sales to achieve predetermined

targets.

Responsibilities:

1. CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

• Developing and implementing strategies to maximize the sale of stock and ensure
• optimal management of inventory.
• Devising long-term development strategies for product categories based on market trend
• analysis.
• Formulating optimal pricing strategy for category products based on competitive
• analysis.
• Executing sales / commercial plans to meet predetermined sales targets.
• Monitoring the competitive landscape to identify flash sales and competitor prices and recommending appropriate courses of action.
• Recommending pricing decisions for all category products based on variations in competitors pricing strategies.
• Managing budgetary development and revenue targets for the category.
• Collaborating with Buying and Visual Merchandising teams to develop and manage product launch calendar.
• Collaborating with the Buying team to track incoming inventory and manage delays.
• Collaborating with the IT team to ensure all products have been onboarded successfully and validated in the sales platform.
• Driving category promotions in alignment with marketing and merchandising teams to ensure sales targets are met.
• Allocating marketing budget for promotional events/activities.
• Providing the marketing team with an annual marketing plan per category based on the allocated budget.
• Developing smooth exit strategies for unsuccessful products.
• Planning and monitoring the execution of advertising events to attract targeted customers.
• Maximizing product visibility by strategically positioning each category based on market demand.
• Monitoring online product reviews/customer feedback to be alerted of any product callouts and recommend the appropriate course of action to maintain a positive service experience.

2. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Conducting competitive analysis to support pricing decisions.
• Analyzing data to determine customer trends and competitors prices.
• Recommending fast-selling products to the Buying team based on industry analysis.
• Forecasting product demand to ensure the sustainability of inventory.
• Conducting risk and market assessment of existing products.
• Monitor conversion rates and average transaction values and recommend appropriate courses of action, when and if required.

3. REPORTING, FORECASTING AND DATA ANALYTICS:

• Oversee the development of sales analysis reports to assess product category performance and recommend optimal course of action.
• Reporting marketing event performance outcomes.
• Providing market intelligence reports (sales trends, competitor activities, conversion rates, etc.) to the Buying team and relevant internal stakeholders
• Monitoring and assessing customer feedback/complaints on product categories and recommending appropriate course of action

4. PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

• Linking and cascading Key Performance Indicators of the department to subordinates in a fair and transparent manner.

• Monitoring and conducting annual performance reviews of subordinates and providing periodic performance feedback when required.

• Identifying the training/development needs of subordinates and collaborating with the Learning & Development team in developing the L&D requirements of the department.

• Collaborating with the Recruitment team in the candidate selection and interview process and provide support in other recruitment activities when and if required.

Requirements:

• Proven Experience in Retail or Distribution
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
• Strong experience in delicatessen (meat, cheese, and dairy)