Category Manager

Role Profile: Category Manager
Reports to: Manager- Convenience (Sales & Operations)
Department: Retail
Location: Ellesmere Port, UK
Industry Background : Retail
Purpose of the Role:
Responsible for assisting in the development and execution of the country’s convenience store strategic plan. Main focus on designing the category management plan, price and margin strategy, promotional plan, planogram design and execution and market assessment.
Key Interfaces:
Internal: close relationship with CR Manager, Pricing Coordinator, Head of Operations, Head of Retail and various Operations team members
External: Operators, dealers, suppliers and additional commercial partners.
Primary Accountabilities
Category Management:
Develop and execute the Category Management Strategic Plan (floor plan, price positioning, category roles and planograms).
Develop plan and analyze sales, costs and margins of products.
Analyze prices by channels and competitors in collaboration with pricing coordinator.
Execute planogram optimization plan.
Analyze market research information.
Category Information Systems:
Management of spaceman and similar software.
Analysis of category KPI’s.
Category Promotional Plan:
Develop an annual competitive promotional plan based on category management analysis.
Negotiate and implement promotions with vendors.
Develop POP material according to execution guidelines.
Evaluate promotional plan performance.
Category Profitability:
Analyze performance reports (sales + margins) for categories and subcategories.
Develop and execute specific plans to ensure continuous CR performance improvement.
Negotiate vendor rebates in collaboration with CR Manager.
Optimize vendor supply chain agreement.
Follow up vendor rebates and additional services agreements.
Projects:
Provide support to CR Manager with additional projects relating to continuous improvement of the area.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Qualifications
Preferred: - Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Management or related areas.
Experience
Extensive experience in category management and merchandising.
Understanding of marketing principles and retail merchandising fundamentals.
Knowledge of market trends and consumer behaviour.
Extensive knowledge and experience of retail operations and sales.
Skills and Attributes
Computer (MS Office)
Vendor management
Planogram design
Strategy design and execution
Project management
Data analysis
Self-motivated
Ability to follow both written and verbal instruction with great attention to detail.
Effective communication
Professionalism
Negotiation
Organization