[ad_1]

For our client in Utrecht Harvey Nash is looking for a Category Manager

Startdate: asap

Duration: 2 months

Hours: 3 days per week

The Category Manager acts as an internal advisor and decision driver by turning category expertise into recommendations for the development of a specific category/brand and/or a specific group of customers.

Supports the Senior Category Lead on categories and/or accounts

The job holder is charged with translating the short term / long term category vision and strategy of the categories into Customer’s Category development projects. The Category Manager is the Category expert both internally and towards all customers. He/she is responsible to define customers category growth opportunities and to develop actions plans based on Category, Customer and Shopping Behavior knowledge, thorough understanding of channel structures and category dynamics.

He/She also developes opportunities by developing Promo strategies, Launch strategies, Business Cases and Pack/Price strategies for client and Customer to deliver AOP targets

He/she plays a business critical role with customers in securing flawless execution of the deducted category projects and action plans. When it comes to selling, he/she has to contribute to determining the category strategy, the rollout of the category driven concepts (related to demand or business drivers) and the selling story, whereas the account manager is responsible for the overall commercial relationships between PI and the customer.

Accountabilities:

Category expert (internal)

Category Commercial Development

Together with Sr Cat Manager develop Long term Category Vision / translation of WESA Category strategy (icw Marketing)

Define the category growth tasks which drive the direction (to be further developed by e.g. marketing & shopper: brand campaigns, NPD, shopper programs, spec. customer initiatives)

He/she is responsible for the category performance tracking (market data, financials on Vol/NR/MC) and defining corrective actions if necessary.

Category Insights:

Advises and makes recommendations based on category insights derived from analysis of different sources (e.g retailer trends, shopper and consumer trends, Nielsen, GFK)

Determines the relevant research question based on the connection of category/consumer-shopper insights, initiates further research i.c.w. Shopper Insights

The Category Manager participates in multidisciplinary Brand teams: detects issues, gives meaningful insights and advice, supports development of relevant NPD’s

Provides support for innovation opportunities and implementation strategies as part of annual operating plan (AOP) and strategic business plan (SBP) process

Develops the Assortment & Shelving strategy which gives clear proposals for SKU rationalization, #facings vs variety, OOS analysis, planograms, gameplanning, SRP, etc.

Collaborates with Space Management Teams to develop customer specific planograms (POGs)

Supports Retailer and Customer Teams by utilizing capabilities to deliver promotion, pricing, and basket building opportunities

Acts as the knowledge centre of a specific category within the organisation (Marketing, Sales) as well as at specific retailers.

Works closely together with Account Management to translate Category Plans towards strong Account Plans (AOP).

Reporting:

Executes analysis and delivers periodic reporting on the category/customer/brand performance and underlying drivers

Secures updating and implementation of category management tools/data.

Delivers a game plan for NPD

Expert Advisor role to Customers (external)

Develops and presents strong Selling Stories highlighting customer and market data as well as recent shopper or consumer insights to drive business results with retailers

Owns Customer Category Management engagement and/or Category Advisorship for specific categories developing mutually agreed upon goals and executing against goals utilizing Category fundamentals

Utilizes insights and analysis in Customer meetings to review fundamentals that identify opportunities to maximize sales and profits for Category and client brands

Start and lead Category management projects with the customer to realize growth possibilities and achieve concrete results, by improving assortment, shelf presentation and promotional effectiveness and by deliver actionable insights for Shopper Marketing

Provides, proactively and reactively, retail marketing mix solutions to the customer.

Works directly with customer or indirectly with sales partners to present category plans, reviews, and opportunities

Required Skills/Experience:

Strong Analytical & strategic skills

Understanding of Insights – information available, use of data to build a category vision, strategy and business case

Preferably category management experience

Knowledge of developing customer & category strategies

Leadership to set the agenda: make projects and visions happen, be able to run multifunctional projects, be able to demonstrate influential impact at various levels and functions in the organisation and with customers. Being well organised is a must.

Ability to engage , mobilize and inspire people and making decisions

Team Spirit both in Business development, Sales OT & marketing departments. Understand also finance, supply chain and field sales needs and drivers. Strong communicator, Flexible, Independent & Creative.

Excellent MS Office Knowledge, master ACN/Nitro & Answers and willingness to learn to use thoroughly other software applications like PI Web, JDA, Vendor Pulse, ….

[ad_2]

Source link