Category Manager - Spielzeug & Plüsch

Boost Collectibles is responsible for the development and execution of retail marketing campaigns, loyalty promotions for the world’s biggest retailers, especially international food-retailers.

We offer a wide range of short-term collectibles promotions and instant reward programs aimed at different groups of shoppers: Kids, adults and families and services such as: Kids Collectibles and Family and Lifestyle.

Our strength lies in our ability to produce multi-million unit volumes within the shortest possible timeframes, ensuring that our partners can rely on us for fast, high-quality execution at scale. At the same time, we continuously drive innovation, for example, by developing products made from recycled materials to meet the growing demand for sustainable solutions.A Category Manager brings together the responsibilities of managing a category of products and overseeing the development and lifecycle of specific products. This role requires strategic oversight of both the market positioning and performance of a category while also diving deep into the technical and business aspects of individual products. In addition, this role facilitates collaboration with cross-functional teams to bring products from concept to market successfully.

• Translate sales requests into structured briefings in collaboration with design , Quality ,SHO sourcing/supplier and other cross-functional teams 
• Consolidate all inputs from cross functional team in a structured way and Ensure all data is verified, up to date and complete before sending to PM/sales/logistics (offer sheet, retro planning, product specs ) 
• Regular contact with all sales to understand needs and upcoming pitches 
• Work with studio, quality and SHO sourcing/Supplier on the development of new carriers/concepts 
• Collect all legal wise input from QA and product specs from SHO sourcing/supplier for package development
• Lead the entire product lifecycle for specific products, from ideation and development to launch and ongoing management which includes IP validation to eliminate infringement risk 
• Manage timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful product development and launch 
• Coordinate with cross functional team in project to ensure approval of PPS sample for confirmed projects which supply from China and handover when
• Analyze market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities within the category toys and plush
• Manage the category’s P&L, ensuring cost-effective product development and pricing strategies that maximize profitability
• Identify and evaluate new opportunities for innovation or expansion within the product category
• Supplier visit when it is necessary and maintain relationships with existing suppliers and build relationship with new suppliers 
• Joint decision on supplier selection for confirmed projects by involving supplier qualification process
• Set up PO and launch via teams
• Overseeing all procurement activities, including price negotiations (for outside China supplier), terms of conditions, and competitive price benchmarking in order to get optimal supplier for confirmed project 
• Identify new product from your category and send request to sourcing to explore new suppliers 
• Enrich and maintain supplier date base for your category

• Working experience as a  Category Manager for at least 8-10 years in the plush or toy goods sector
• Affinity with purchasing
• Excellent project management abilities with a keen eye for details and deadlines
• Strong analytical skills with experience in cost analysis, market research, and trend forecasting
• Ability to work cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders
• Proactive, service oriented and is able to work under pressure on several projects simultaneously
• University degree 
• Excellent communication skills - Fluent in German and English. Dutch is a plus.
• Result-oriented and Problem-solving mindset 
• Teamplayer

• Dynamic and expanding international company with flat hierarchies, where you will be challenged and supported
• Varied range of tasks in a small team in an international environment
• Friendly and collegial cooperation 
• The opportunity to play an active role in shaping the company
• Start-up culture in an international organisation with a strong team spirit, guided by our corporate values of "Respect, Reliability, Flexibility, Passion, Innovation and Teamwork"
• You can expect progressive working conditions in an innovative and future-oriented company with a growth trajectory
• Hybrid working is possible
• Open corporate culture
• Many other benefits such as company events, etc.