Job description

1.  Job Purpose

Category Manager is responsible for developing and implementing the product Category strategy for all categories of products to ensure that our brand, culture, essence, and uniqueness is clearly communicated, understood and consistent across all activities through Brand Category Engagement and promotion activities.

The incumbent will also take ownership of the Brand, managing it from both a customer and an internal perspective. In addition, the incumbent will act as the Brand Champion to ensure that the brand is represented in the correct way across the business visually, verbally, and attitudinally.

2.   Main Tasks & Accountabilities

Category Management 

• Representing Product Category by demonstrating passion and an in-depth knowledge of the product Categories and the business.
• Providing outstanding customer service for category and other areas.
• Creating a strong visual impact for the Brand by creating displays, whilst maintaining the Brand’s image and style.
• Actioning instructions from the Branding Manager, for example floor layout changes and promotions, and keeping up to date via newsletters and emails.
• Keeping the Management informed about Brand communications.
• Understand how to maximize sales and profit on the Brand.
• Maintaining the Brand high retail standards to model store standards and implement an effective replenishing system.
• Developing the Brand support team to their full potential with the use of competency guidelines.
• Maintaining a positive business partner relationship with the Brand contacts.
• May gain key holding and duty management responsibilities.

Marketing Plan

• Assist in Internal Control Evaluations and Internal/External Audits by preparing required information/documentation.
• Assisting Branding Manager in developing a master marketing plan for category annually and quarterly. 
• Work closely with sales and appointed agency in developing a master marketing plan for Dairy Category including for communication, advertisement, and promotional events.

Branding and Marketing Support 

• Managing, supporting, and supervising sales dept. and PR agency with all needed information.
• Assisting Branding Manager in the category’s day-to-day marketing tasks.

PR Agency 

• Ensure quality and on-time support given from PR Agency to Sales Dept.
• Work closely with Sales Department appointed PR Agency and suppliers to ensure proper alignment.

Promotional Content & Monthly Calendar 

• Proposing a mix of informative, engagement, enhancement, and promotional content.
• Developing monthly category communication calendar for social media platforms and printed media.

Marketing Mix 

• Working closely with Sales team in developing a mix of store-level category communication across the markets.
• Ensure proper execution of trade marketing activities such as POSM, Sampling, Visibility Initiatives… etc.

Monthly Reporting

• Develop plans to ensure market share sensibility and growth.
• Run category monthly market share analyses for the category on monthly basis.

Launching of Products 

• Assisting Products Development Department. in products name, label concept, taste, …etc.
• Executing launching plan in coordination with Sales Dept.
• Leading launching of new products within the category.
• Performs all other tasks and activities as assigned.

People management and reporting responsibilities    

•    Produce end of month departmental report, on time, and as required by the management.
•    Ensure accurate and up to date, daily, weekly, monthly records for accounts payable as required by the management. 
•    Help others in the team if needed; Support relief staff in their duties 
 

Quality, Health, Safety, Security & Environment    

•    Responsible and be in alignment with the safety rules and procedures as per MAZOON QHSE Policy.
•    Ensure all relevant quality, health, security, safety, and environmental policies, procedures and controls are adhered to so that employee safety, legislative compliance, delivery of high-quality service and a responsible environmental attitude can be guaranteed.
•    Ensure that incidents and hazards are reported in a timely manner and reduce consumption of natural resources to assist in protecting the environment and ensuring a healthy and safe work environment.

Be a Team Player    

•    Effective communication within and outside the team.
•    Create a supportive environment for the team members.
•    Contribute to the team, letting others know information that may be useful or important.
•    Help to create a fun, supportive work environment.

3.  Main Contacts and Working Relationships
Internal     All Department Heads and Line Managers.
External    Stakeholders, customers, agencies etc.

4.   Person Specification  (Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience)  
Education Level –    Minimum Requirement  

Bachelor’s degree in (Sales/Marketing/Advertising.

Professional    Qualifications

• CIM Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (DipM) or other qualifications from internationally recognized institutions like Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM), Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM), Communication Advertising and Marketing Education Foundation (CAM).
• Possess a valid driver’s license

Work Experience    

• 10 years' experience in similer industry 
• Strong understanding of the Middle East and African markets

Job Specific Skills    

• Excellent understanding of the full marketing mix with proven ability to develop brand and marketing strategies.
• Ability to design and run complete marketing campaigns, excellent presentation skills.
• Experience in identifying target audiences and devising campaigns that engage, inform, and motivate.
• Highly creative with instinctive feeling about future product concepts; Up to date with latest trends and marketing best practices.
• Energetic and passionate about one’s line of work (branding) with ability to work cohesively with a wide range of people from different parts of the business and external partners.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven thinking.
• Financial awareness to understand and interpret numbers.
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills, Team builder with excellent motivational skills to inspire others.

Generic Skills
•    Must be alert, strive for accuracy, and have ability to exercise independent thinking and judgment, be a self- motivator, and attention to detail
•    Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
•    Integrity, discretion and loyalty
 

5.   Position Location  

To be based in Muscat Office and travelling to all depots in Oman