Our client a leading retailer requires the services of a Category Specialist to deliver the most appealing Customer experience in a merchandise category. 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.

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 category management
? 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.