Permanent - Category Manager - Cosmetics and Personal Care - Johannesburg South - South Africa

Job Description

Position Summary

• Responsible Reporting directly to the Head Of Merchandise, the Personal Care & Beauty Category Manager will be ultimately responsible for the sourcing, development and buying of Personal Care and Beauty Products and to build the Personal Care and Beauty Brands by increasing and maximising the value and performance of these Brands and products.
• Overall, the Personal Care & Beauty Category Manager is responsible for driving growth and profitability within their assigned categories by effectively managing product assortment, supplier relationships and inventory to meet the needs of our customers whilst aligning with the company’s strategic objectives

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Responsible for establishing the vision and developing strategic plans for the Personal Care & Beauty Categories by taking into consideration market trends, customer preferences, competitor activities, growth opportunities and pricing strategies and then implementing these strategies to achieve the vision and Category objectives. 
• Responsible for building the Personal Care and Beauty Brands by increasing and maximising the value and performance of these Brands and products. 
• Responsible for the sourcing, development and buying of Personal Care and Beauty products. Personal Care Category includes (but is not limited to) Body Care, Skin Care, Hair Care, Oral Care, Femcare and Personal Care Products for Baby/Kids. The Beauty Category includes (but is not limited to) Fragrances and related products as well as Cosmetics. 
• Responsible for developing a good understanding of our customers and their product needs and habits and to ensure that the products in these Categories resonate with our current and potential customers. 
• Responsible for regularly analysing market trends and the compilation of trend reports. 
• Responsible for regularly reviewing Competitor activity and positioning the Personal Care and Beauty Brands/products in relation to our competitors.

Assortment Planning

• Responsible for the Assortment Planning for Personal Care and Beauty by selecting the range of products that will appeal to these target markets while aligning with the company’s overall objectives. This involves identifying gaps in the assortment, adding new products, and discontinuing underperforming ones.
• Responsible for the full process of new Product development including the selection, innovation, Research and Development, Sample Approval/Retention, and the managing of the process to get the products in on time as per the Critical Path Schedule and in accordance with the required specifications.  Involvement with the packaging of new products in these Categories. 
• Responsible for the quality control of these products

Supplier Management

• Responsible for Supplier management including negotiating with suppliers to secure favourable terms, pricing, discounts, and promotional support as well as building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers to ensure a reliable supply chain and to leverage opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
• Responsible for finding new suppliers when/where necessary

Promotions and Marketing

• Responsible for developing promotional strategies to drive sales and increase brand visibility within these Categories. You will be required to co-ordinate with Marketing to execute these initiatives effectively. 
• Responsible for assisting the Campaign Manager with Campaign Planning for the Personal Care and Beauty Categories, with the objective of driving and growing sales in these Categories. 
• Responsible for providing training and marketing collateral for products in the Personal Care and Beauty Categories for Product Launches, Catalogues, Campaign Handouts, Product Information Brochures/Z-Folds etc. 
• Ensuring Samples are available on time for photography and assisting with photoshoots for the products in these Categories.

Inventory Management

• Responsible for monitoring inventory levels and for making recommendations with regards to replenishment of Products to avoid stockouts or excessive inventory.
• Responsible for working closely with inventory planners and logistics teams to optimize inventory turnover and minimize carrying costs (working capital).

Data Analysis

• Responsible for analysing sales data, market research and other relevant metrics to evaluate Category performance and to identify areas for improvement. This includes monitoring sales trends and tracking the success of Campaigns/Product Promotions as well as conducting post-mortem analyses to assess the effectiveness of strategies.
• Responsible for evaluating Personal Care and Beauty Products to identify unique selling propositions and competitive advantages.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Responsible for collaborating with various Departments in the Organisation including Sales, Marketing, Operations and Finance in an endeavor to ensure alignment with overall business goals.

Continuous Improvement

• Responsible for staying abreast of industry trends, consumer preference and emerging technologies to continuously improve Category performance. This may involve implementing new processes, exploring innovative solutions, and adapting strategies in response to changing market conditions.

Inherent Requirements

Education & Experience Requirements

• Essential: Matric
• Desirable: Relevant business/retail tertiary qualification
• Essential: 5-10 years related experience as a Category Manager/Buyer for personal Care and Beauty
• Essential: Valid driver’s license and own vehicle

Core Competencies

• Persuading and Influencing
• Analyzing.
• Deciding and initiating action.
• Planning and organizing.
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking.
• Presenting and Communicating Information.
• Strong analytical and excel skills.
• Must be able/available to travel overseas to attend Trade Fairs and to work with suppliers where required.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Negotiation skills.
• Communication skills.
• Commercial thinking.
• Presentation skills.
• Knowledge of IT systems and data analytics.
• Client account management.
• Knowledge of market trends and the retail landscape