Senior Manager, Category Planning

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Responsible for creating and delivering a category strategy across Pacific. Lead the product planning, pricing and end to end process for all channels in Pacific. Ensure profitable and sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with CTC Director to create category strategy
• Validate category range within the country RA based on the Emerging Markets proposal
• Understanding of the Pacific market landscape and specific target consumer
• Handover category range plan to CTC Assortment Planning Team
• One Direct report – Category Manager
• Build the strong relationship with Emerging Markets BU and education on market needs
• Perform Category analysis including sell-thru, forecasting, pricing corridor & segmentation compliance, etc.
• Work within E2E calendar timelines & deliverables
  • Propose Pacific prices in local currencies, ensuring pricing harmonization
  • Suggest and make inputs in volume forecast and define product mix to achieve margin & Net Sales targets and forecast accuracy
  • Sample set needs feedback and sample ordering (pre-sell / SMS)
  • Ensure global and local systems are up-to-date with country/cluster information, i.e. RMA / DMT /MDM
  • Local article management + SMUs briefs to APAC as needed/approved
  • Deliver on Common Range and review per segmentation guidelines
• Define customer segmentation; Ensure deviations approval on segmentation
• Gathering collation of market landscape and competition intelligence (category level)
• Deliver Category presentations at key GTM milestones as required
• Work with Brand Activation team on seasonal category brand calendar
• Prepare & execute key internal meetings such as; Pre-view, Monthly Category, Pre-Buy, Final Buy, Monthly Marketing Campaign, Sell Thru etc. based on the aligned deliverables
• Support in updating on 2025 category strategic plan, support IBP/ SBP process, review performance and ensure consistent evolution of quality of output

KPI’s:

• Category Net Sales
• Net and Gross Margin
• Sell-out
• Compliance to range segmentation
• Compliance to price corridor
• Market share

Key Relationships:

• Senior Brand Director
• Brand Team (D&A, MOPS, BA and Digital)
• Emerging Markets BU Team (Business Unit)
• Wholesale Channel Team
• Direct to Consumer Buying Team
• Finance/ Demand Planning, Business Development
• Planning
• Customer Service

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Marketing, merchandising, category management/planning, assortment planning and/or retail experience, with a distinct track record of success
• Exposure to other disciplines preferable, e.g. brand communication or sales experience
• Must have the ability to influence others within an organization
• Strong numerical / analytical skills
• Intermediate to advanced skills in MS Office – Excel and PowerPoint key
• Structured, organized and process orientated
• Ability to make fact-based decisions
• Exposure to other marketing disciplines preferable, e.g. merchandising, brand communication, or sales experience
• Ability to work effectively within a team environment under pressure

Industry: Preferably in retail/apparel/ FMCG

Exposure: Retail / FMCG / Fashion

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• University degree in Business or Marketing, MBA preferred.
• 7 Years relevant working experience
• Passion for Sports / Style

IT

• Outlook: Intermediate
• Word: Advanced
• Excel: Advanced
• Powerpoint: Advanced