Cape Town Region: Shopper and Category Manager – FMCG Retail – Cape Town (Foreshore) posted by Service Solutions Staffing

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Category Manager with a strong background in shopper insights and FMCG retail to lead our Shopper and Category Insights team in Cape Town. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of driving category growth, leading cross-functional projects, and collaborating with internal stakeholders to drive business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives from development to completion, aligning with category vision and driving shopper conversion.
• Lead Category Vision & Drivers to influence retail partners.
• Develop category & shopper insights for GPD planning and segment challenges.
• Lead workshops to align Marketing, Customer Marketing, and Sales teams on seasonal plans.
• Elevate retail influence by leveraging research and insights.
• Manage research and insights for category development.
• Collaborate on in-store activation initiatives with customer marketing.
• Provide shopper insights for new product strategies and long-term planning.
• Support Marketing with strategies for new products and brand initiatives.
• Ensure strategies are integrated into long-term category and brand plans.
• Develop category & shopper insights for SPD planning and segment challenges.
• Execute pricing strategies to optimize revenue, profitability, and market share.
• Conduct regular reviews of price elasticity, competitive pricing, and customer segmentation.
• Collaborate on OBPPC and continuously refine pricing strategies through innovation.
• Optimize promotional strategies and ensure alignment with cross-functional teams.
• Develop optimal promotion strategies for key customers/channels.
• Align with sales, marketing, and finance on promotion KPIs.
• Conduct post-promotion analysis and refine plans using a test-and-learn approach.
• Guide RGM analysts in tracking trade promotion policies and evaluating event ROI.
• Provide guidance on trade spend evaluations and help project sales trade spend liability at key milestones.
• Optimize shelving initiatives through planograms, guidelines, and training.
• Oversee space management, product image libraries, and Circana data updates.
• Work closely with field sales, marketing, and finance to ensure cohesive strategy execution.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration and data system training to drive category growth.
• Build effective relationships with Sales and Marketing teams.
• Lead team alignment to business objectives and streamline processes.

Requirements

• Proven expertise in Category Management and shopper/consumer/market insights.
• Strong financial acumen and data interpretation skills.
• Revenue Growth Management (RGM) experience within the CPG industry (advantageous).
• Deep understanding of competitor dynamics, brand strategies, and category growth drivers.
• Demonstrated leadership with a results-driven approach.
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence at all levels, internally and externally.
• Ability to inspire change and create a new vision within the sales organization.
• Lead complex quantitative analyses to drive decision-making.
• Ability to develop customized category plans and evaluate them in-store.
• Strong time management and organizational skills to manage competing priorities.
• Proven ability to work across departments and collaborate effectively.
• Self-starter with high initiative, able to drive projects independently under pressure.

Qualifications

• BComm Degree or suitable tertiary qualification
• Previous experience in a customer-facing Category Management role, FMCG environment (minimum 5 years)
• Advanced skills & working knowledge of external market data software and space planning software (DotActiv)
• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel, Power BI, Circana, and Nielsen