Introduction

• Responsible for leading the co-ordination of the end-to-end category strategy by inspiring the team in the co-creation and execution of the long-term strategy to ensure the delivery of sustainable profit growth and operational excellence.

Job description

• Interprets and translates strategy into commercially viable operating plans to ensure delivery of operational excellence
• Lead the co-creation of the strategy by gathering input from the teams
• Interprets market reports to identify opportunities and viability
• Establish long-term objectives across commercial, customer and supplier strategy
• Integrates and aligns category assessments with the WCellar strategy to create and deliver 3-year operating plans
• Understands market share and supplier inputs to create leading industry operating plans
• Co-ordinate category assessment program across the Matrix Team

Drive and enable profitable growth of the Category

• Conducts analysis and tracking of management accounts
• Accountable for the oversight and management of KPIs to ensure maximum sales, profitability and market share accretion at a product group level
• Deploy tactical strategies to manage monthly performance against KPI’s at product group level
• Monitors financial performance of the business/ department and identifies implications for business performance

Lead, mentor and support the matrix team to deliver on strategic outcomes

• Effective management and co-ordination team engagements
• Manage and co-ordinate rhythm and pace of category by inspiring a culture within the teams to create and sustain momentum
• Ability to effectively communicate and make decisions taking into consideration multiple, diverse viewpoints 
• Identify possible issues and mitigate by having difficult conversations in order to ensure the delivery of business standards and values
• Manages mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships and ensures stakeholders execute and deliver on strategy
• Supports the team in negotiating contracts and agreements with suppliers to secure favorable terms and conditions. 
• Facilitates a cross functional supplier base including other stakeholders to plot path to objectives
• Manage various stakeholders towards the execution and delivery of business projects and initiatives
• Ensures gathering and consolidation of pertinent information from various stakeholders within reasonable timeframes
• Creates well defined and articulated supplier strategy with clear objectives and transformation plans
• Identifies suppliers that are aligned to the business’ values and can fulfill current gaps

Minimum requirements

• Formal Qualification needed/ Relevant diploma/degree
• Buying experience required
• Demonstrated ability in Category Management, preferably in the FMCG industry, with 8 years of experience
• Experience in liquor (across categories: Wine, spirits, beers & RTD’s) & adjacent categories is advantageous.
• 3-5 years’ experience managing a team/leading people is required
• Additional knowledge/ experience needed to fulfill role; work conditions (such as shift work, international travel required)
• Strong ability to interpret data into actionable recommendations to drive top-line and bottom-line growth.
• Ability to articulate complex concepts in clear, simple & logical terms & build compelling presentations & professional communications
• Stakeholder Management: Understand complex business context; Ability to influence internal / external partners at all levels, with various backgrounds and expertise
• Strong resilience and an ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
• Exceptional problem-solving ability and strong solution orientation
• Highly entrepreneurial and passionate about the Liquor category
• Advanced MS suite proficiency (Excel & PPT) and data visualization tools (e.g., Qliksense or QlikView, etc.)