ORGANISATION
At Beiersdorf NV we are responsible for the marketing and sales results of international skin care brands like Hansaplast, Eucerin, NIVEA, Nivea for Men and Labello. Located in Amsterdam we employ approximately 80 driven and talented employees across (Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance and HR). Together we work hard, with speed and passion to realize our ambitious commercial targets.
That’s why we are currently looking for a:
CATEGORY MANAGER
POSITION
The Category Manager is responsible for all elements of Category Management, including the definition of future category management strategy for BDF brands, within assigned Category team. This job requires someone that can identify and leverage strategic and tactical business opportunities through interrogation and interpretation of sales, shopper and category information in order to gain competitive advantage through insights. Furthermore, it his or her job to co-lead the delivery of category business targets, by means of managing the internal P&L for the respective category.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for the development of strategic and business-oriented category vision and strategy plans. The category manager maximizes use of all relevant data and sources of information (ABP, market opportunities, shopper research, Nielsen, GFK, retailer data etc.) in order to define clear objectives and a relevant, long-term category strategy;
- Converts the strategy into strong concrete action plans, monitors progress of these plans and acts as the category expert both internally in the business and with the retailer in order to add maximum value to the BDF and the retailer’s business;
- Using data & insight, pro-actively optimize assortment ranging, distribution, shelving and go to market plans within BDF customers and report on performance of (retailer) categories (within the CAT team) to identify issues and opportunities and recommend subsequent actions to maximize category performance;
- Provide a thorough understanding of customers’ strategies, issues, needs and behaviors in order to support and influence BDF Sales Strategy Roadmap. To use shopper and sales insights to proactively influence category strategy within key accounts;
- Provide specific merchandising recommendations and conducting non promotional in-store initiatives which maximize sales performance for BDF brands and the category in line with agreed business objectives and category management objectives;
- To proactively identify new opportunities for category development projects with the aim of keeping BDF at the forefront of category thinking and regarded as “Category Management partner of choice in Personal / Skin Care Products;
- Through a thorough understanding of the local consumer and shopper needs and competitive context, exchange knowledge and perspectives with Global Shopper and Customer Marketing so as to facilitate the definition of global category management strategy to gain a local competitive advantage;
- Ensure that the impact of New Product Launches to the overall and category P&L is carefully, designed, evaluated and where needed – adapted;
- In line with the agreed customer strategy, develops meaningful relationships with BDF customers with a view to delivering mutually beneficial category opportunities;
- Presents the results of category projects and ad hoc pieces of work to retailers (in co-operation with National Account Managers) in a credible and authoritative way which achieves the project objectives, enhances customer relationships, and supports and enhances BDF’s credibility as a valued supplier.
PROFILE CANDIDATE
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Academic degree;
- Professional experience, preferably in FMCG;
- Professional experience in category management, marketing and/or sales.
RELEVANT COMPETENCES
- Strategic thinking;
- Strong data analysis skills;
- Team player;
- Ability to work cross functionally and across international affiliates;
- Excellent influencing, communication and presentation skills;
- Commercially minded;
- Strong project management skills;
- Performance driven, proactive and customer orientated;
- Good IT literacy.
