Assistant Category Manager Toys Hardlines - France Benelux

The Assistant Category Manager Toys & Hardlines France & Benelux role will be based in Paris within our Universal Products & Experiences team (formerly Consumer Products).

You will support the Senior Category Manager Toys and Hardlines France & Benelux in the development of category strategies to deliver against targets and fill market gaps in the countries. You will also be involved in the management of strategic global & regional Best in Class Partners to grow the business as well as developing innovative and quality product lines and/or promoting retail sell-in of product ranges. The role will require nurturing deep relationships with your licensee base, gaining understanding of their corporate strategies, identifying and implementing solid growth plans accordingly aligned to Universal franchise category and consumer priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop category strategies in conjunction with the Senior Category Manager Toys and Hardlines by identifying opportunities and filling gaps by product subcategory, age segment, market channel, and franchise.
• Assist the commercial management of local and regional partners by collating and/or creating business presentations, line plans, and partner pitches, subcategory segmentation plans, and post-campaign reports.
• Liaise with the purchasing departments of our main retailers to maximize product listing and exposure.
• Coordinate the milestone planning of top to tops, QBR, and JBP process with key licensees and retailers to deliver plans and grow the hardlines business in line with divisional strategies.
• Support category analysis and performance via data insights (POS and Circana) and analytics, industry trends, competitors, business opportunities, threats, and dynamics for category.
• Partner with the PD team to drive quality and champion innovation in local product development. Ensure timely product approvals.
• Assist with the annual budget planning and quarterly revenue forecasting for strategic accounts.
• Maintain knowledge of key seasonality and buying cycles of retailers to support planning and product implementation.
• Partner with Franchise & Retail team to ensure the approval process of partner marketing collateral.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and UP&E teams: Legal, Finance, Compliance, Creative.

Qualifications:

• Toys and Hardlines background in either buying, sales, or business development (licensing, retail, or industry).
• A passion for toy and hardlines categories and ideally in-depth knowledge.
• Strong understanding of the French, Belgium, and Dutch markets from a cultural, commercial, retail, and brand and property positioning perspective.
• Current network of strong relationships with licensees, distributors, and retailers within the territory.
• Proven track record delivering growth and solid analytical/financial skills.
• Self-motivated professional with the ability to work independently and take charge.
• Relationship builder.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong sales and negotiation skills.
• Able to work in a matrix organization.
• A brand builder and commercial thinker.
• Proven track record of hitting targets and delivering growth.
• Fluent in French and English; Dutch a plus.

About You

• Entrepreneurial, a self-starter who is tenacious, independent, driven, and proactive.
• Global & holistic thinker; understands the wider context.
• Results-driven; own the numbers, be invested, and be hungry to grow the business.
• Resilient; not afraid to fail, getting back up and keep putting in the effort.
• Confident; being self brings full personality and interests to work.
• Lighthearted; a sense of humor dealing patiently with frustrations.
• Passionate, energetic, engaged, positive, and desiring to make a difference.
• Adaptable, agile & flexible; able to pivot quickly, adapt strategies, and deal with change.
• Good communicator; honest, transparent, and flexible depending on the audience. The ability to influence stakeholders.
• Willing to get stuck in; hard worker who is not rigid with the ability to prioritize, manage own time, and respond quickly and efficiently.
• Sociable; actively develops relationships, making time to get to know people. Easygoing and fun.

Additional Information:

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation.