Category Manager

The job holder will use ongoing strategic analyses, planning, execution and reporting via a 360 approach (Trade & Marketing), including Category and Brand Plans, Channel Plans, Customer Plans etc to meet objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute Marketing Plans for assigned Brands. ·
• Develop and maintain the Brand Guidelines, Retail Selling Story, Retail Look of Success, Retail and Merchandising Brand related KPIs 
• Develop, within guidelines, all Trade and Events materials for marketing and communicating our Brands 
• Partner with Sponsorship & Events team to ensure the alignment of Brands with partners, events, and activations
• Partner with Sponsorship & Events to develop and execute Sampling and Trial goals to achieve awareness, purchase and repurchase 
• Provide reports on Channel Plans and KPIs highlighting GAPs and make recommendations to close gaps 
• Partner with Sales Team to drive KPIs on Numeric Distribution, Trade Penetration and Volumes targets
• Develop the Retail Look of Success for assigned Brands (including KPIs) in conjunction with the Sales Team to have an aligned approach. 
• Develop Brand Academies for assigned Brands used in training for Sales, Marketing and Merchandising Team on Retail ‘Look of Success’. 
• Monitor and audit the Retail ‘Look of Success’ through market visits to the Trade. 
• Monitor and report on competitive action, promotions, and activations 
• Complete post evaluations for all projects with ROIs or Specific KPIs for measurement.
• Develop Brand Plans to meet the strategic needs of the business 
• Develop customer specific plans in accordance with their calendar of activities and in order to achieve/exceed company targets 
• Work with National Sales Manager to develop channel specific plans based on channel strategies, best practices and GAP closing initiatives to achieve company targets 
• Prepare a full year Activity Plan including Brand, Customer and Channel plans to be presented and finalized according to Strategic Planning guidelines 
• Review Brand plans monthly and present updated Brand Plans to Team at the start of every quarter