Our client a leading retailer requires the services of a Category Specialist to deliver the most appealing Customer experience through various baby product alternatives across categories. 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.

Key performance areas:

? Relationship management
? People management
? Sales and profit optimisation
? Facilitate customer understanding
? Internal stakeholder management
? Planning to ensure category performance
? Execution of category plan
? Compliance assurance

The successful candidate must have:

? Matric with a National Diploma / Degree in Business Administration / Sales / Marketing / Supply Chain / Related Field
? Excellent written & verbal communication skills
? 3 - 5 years' experience in buying and /or category management within a retail environment 5+ years’ experience in buying in a retail environment
? Data analysis and interpretation
? Supplier negotiation skills
? Strategic Marketing skills
? Presentation skills (verbal & written)
? Budget planning and control
? 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 customer-science models
? 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

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.