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JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Category Manager
KEY OBJECTIVES:
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To achieve Bridgethorne and the client’s budget targets
Drive listings and distribution of client’s range
Drive the profile of the client portfolio aligned to the relevant channel strategy
Gain competitive advantage through insightful category recommendations and
solutions for sales team / distributors / customers to grow category and the client
portfolio
Adopt the role of category expert, including understanding shopper behaviour,
category role and optimum category strategy, category dynamics and levers and
the positioning of the client’s products within the trade
Support and work with the sales and marketing team to achieve commercial
objectives
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Client Management:
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Develop positive working relationship with client which enables delivery of agreed
Bridgethorne/Client objectives.
Category Development:
Strategy & Planning:
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Input into the Category Vision process to ensure that strategies and tactics are
relevant and aligned to the channel and customer
Leading through insight, shopper initiatives across channels to develop base
category sales within store formats
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Implement a category & point of purchase vision tailored to the channel and the
customer
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Develop a joint action plan for the category with key accounts
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Define promotional strategy and tailor to customer
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Input into business plans, both internal and external
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Input into customer range reviews / space planning and consumer point of
purchase merchandising solutions
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Constantly look for POP solutions to drive value and volume for the brand
ensuring a return on investment
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Project lead NPD launches across the channels
Analysis & Reporting:
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Proactively monitor category data to provide growth opportunities to sales,
marketing and to the trade
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Report achievement progress weekly and budgets monthly
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Ensure all information is correctly defined and presented, to best practice, to
deliver distribution objectives
Stakeholder Management:
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Act as the conduit between Brand Marketing and Account Management to
ensure brand activity is relevant to the needs of each channel and specific
customers and vice versa
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Build and manage strong workings relationships externally with marketing
support agencies, data providers, distributors and both buyers and
merchandisers within key accounts
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
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Demonstrable skills and experience within a Trade Marketing / Category
Marketing role within an FMCG, blue chip environment
COMPETENCIES:
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Excellent communicator – demonstrating a high level of competence with
o Presentations
o Written reports
o Correspondence
o Persuasiveness
o Listening skills
o Negotiation skills
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Good time management skills
Project management skills
Budget management skills
Strategic awareness
Networking skills at a senior level
Analytical – data manipulation
Creative
Personable
Professional demeanour
Flexibility
Good IT office skills e.g. Microsoft – Word, Excel and Powerpoint