Customer Category Manager

We’re looking for a Regional Category Manager – Private Label to join the team and focus on growing our own Grocery Store “tMart”, which is the region’s first cloud store concept offering 30-minute delivery of groceries at hypermarket prices. The service has expanded rapidly across Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman and Iraq!
What’s On Your Plate?

• Managing PL portfolio at the regional level (responsibility for sales, profitability, availability, inventory, strong presence of the portfolio in the app)
• Leading countries in managing local PL suppliers, full responsibility over regional/international PL suppliers, sourcing new potential suppliers while extending the portfolios
• Leading private label development process for new items (assortment selection, suppliers sourcing, packaging creation and launch preparation): multiple projects in multiple countries at the same time
• Necessary skill set:
• Category Management
• Strong understanding of Commercial 4Ps (Pricing, Promotion, Presentation, Product)
• Strong analytical skills - monitoring of PL portfolio performance for the whole region (sales, profitability, availability, inventories etc.), extracting insights from the data to improve and optimize PL performance across the region (action plan recommendations for local markets)
• Easiness to work with the data & various data tools and easiness of presenting data in a compelling/concise way.
• Suppliers management (negotiations, on-boarding, maintaining good relations) - both local and international suppliers
• Brand Building
• Strong project management skills due to leading private label development process for new items
• Ability to work efficiently with external creative agency (packaging creation)
• Assuring maintenance of a consistent brand image of PL portfolio across the region (packaging standards, communication/promotional standards etc.), keeping local markets in line with regional guidelines
• Others
• Great eye for details while managing new PL items development processes (lots of steps, grasping knowledge from different areas like legal, quality, design)
• Impeccable time management skills in order to push all the projects efficiently and make sure that other stakeholders involved are following agreed timelines
• Arabic speaker would be a big help in checking Arabic language used on the labels of all PL items
• This role should:
• Based on sales data take actions to optimize/uplift the PL portfolio's performance in each of the local markets

1. Strategic Planning and Analysis

• Ability to define long-term strategies for the category that align with overall company goals.
• Analyzing market trends, customer needs, and competitor activities to guide decision-making.
• Forecasting demand and ensuring the category meets sales targets and profit goals.

2. Product Knowledge

• Deep understanding of the products within the category, including features, customer preferences, and market positioning.
• Collaborating with product development teams to ensure the right mix of products and introducing new products when necessary.
• Keeping up with industry trends and innovations to stay ahead of competitors.

3. Pricing and Profitability Management

• Setting pricing strategies that balance competitiveness and profitability, considering cost, demand, and competitor pricing.
• Monitoring the performance of products and adjusting pricing strategies accordingly.
• Conducting financial analysis to optimize profitability within the category.

4. Vendor and Supplier Management

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and negotiating terms, pricing, and delivery schedules.
• Managing supplier performance to ensure timely delivery, quality products, and cost-effective solutions.
• Sourcing new suppliers or products when necessary to fill gaps in the product portfolio.

5. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Working with sales, marketing, logistics, and inventory teams to align product strategies with marketing campaigns, inventory levels, and distribution channels.
• Collaborating with the sales team to ensure they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to sell the products effectively.
• Coordinating with the marketing team to ensure promotional activities align with product launches or key seasonal periods.

6. Market Research and Consumer Insights

• Conducting market research to understand customer needs, preferences, and purchasing behavior.
• Using consumer insights to inform product decisions, promotional strategies, and overall category performance.
• Evaluating competitors' strategies and adapting accordingly to maintain a competitive edge.

7. Project Management

• Overseeing product launches, promotional campaigns, and other initiatives within the category.
• Managing timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful execution of category initiatives.
• Leading cross-functional teams to bring projects to life efficiently.

8. Data Analysis and Reporting

• Using data analytics tools to track product performance, sales trends, and inventory levels.
• Regularly reporting on category performance, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Making data-driven recommendations for product development, pricing adjustments, or promotional campaigns.