My client, the largest Retailer in Africa, is looking to appoint a Pet Category Buyer/Category Manager to deliver the most appealing Customer experience within the Pet category. This will be achieved through developing a customer-centric national category strategy that incorporates Pricing, Promotions, Assortment and Ranging, Merchandising display, Private Label role, Stock planning and Innovation, as well as sourcing from key suppliers.

The successful candidate will furthermore be responsible to lead all aspects of execution emanating from national category strategy including informing marketing communications, buying, key merchandise suppliers and store operations. Sales and profitability, competitiveness and customer metrics are key to its performance

Essential requirements :

National Diploma/Degree in Business Administration/Sales/Marketing/Supply Chain/related field
3 to 5 years experience in buying and/or category management within a retail environment
SAP
FMCG experience

Key responsibilities :

Collaborate with suppliers, divisional buying and store operations teams, Private Label, General Merchandise, Fresh Department and Marketing teams
People Management
Sales and Profit Optimisation
Facilitate Customer Understanding
Internal stakeholder management
Planning to ensure category performance
Execution of category plan
Compliance Assurance

Knowledge :

Strategic sourcing and buying
Knowledge of the functions that support category management
Data analysis mechanisms (e.g. Nielsen, Aztec, Proclarity, SAP, Supplier customer insights, competitor range and price and promotion surveys)
Category expertise e.g., product knowledge, upstream supplier base, importance to banner
Knowledge of category customer- behaviour
Knowledge of SAP functionality supporting the category management process
Knowledge of banner strategies
Understanding of local competitor, customer and broader market insights
Knowledge of customer trends within respective product category
Data analysis and interpretation
Supplier negotiation skills
Strategic Marketing skills
Presentation skills (verbal and written)
Budget planning and control