Brand & Category Manager - ID

Job Purpose
To drive the growth of the National brand along with individual Condiments & Culinary categories by developing and executing robust marketing and category strategies across Ethnic, Mainstream, and Food Service channels. This role ensures brand-building excellence, consumer-centric initiatives, and data-driven decision-making to enhance market penetration and profitability.

Job Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Brand Management:

• Develops and executes brand equity & category-level marketing strategies for Condiments & Culinary portfolios.

• Leads Integrated Marketing Campaigns to achieve business objectives.
• Ensures all category marketing activities align with the central brand strategy and positioning.

Category Performance & MEX Management

• Tracks category performance across countries and distributors, identifying opportunities for growth.
• Analyzes Primary & Secondary data to detect gaps and deploy turnaround strategies.
• Manages and tracks global marketing expenditure (MEX), ensuring effective allocation of resources.
• Oversees category-level profitability and deploys initiatives to drive sustainable growth.

Research & Development

• Leads category and brand research initiatives to inform strategy and campaign development.
• Collaborates with the Innovations & Insights Manager to drive NPD readiness.
• Oversees packaging renovation projects to maintain brand relevance and competitiveness.

Collateral Development & Launches

• Manages the development of brand collateral across all consumer touchpoints, ensuring consistency.
• Leads product launch planning and monitors execution in collaboration with the Marketing Services Manager.

Team & Agency Management

• Provides guidance and support to Assistant Brand & Category Managers.
• Manages relationships with creative and digital agencies
• Ensures seamless collaboration between internal teams, distributors, and external partners.

Skills

• Strategic thinking with strong business acumen
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellence in oral, written, and electronic communication.
• Strong planning & project management
• Data driven approach with analytical capabilities (proficient in Excel & PowerPoint)
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to handle multiple stakeholders and agencies
• Financial and commercial acumen.
• Creative problem solving and adaptability in dynamic market conditions

Experience Required & Background Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in brand and/or category management within the FMCG sector, ideally with exposure to international and cross-cultural markets Proven track record of developing and executing successful brand strategies and product launches, with demonstrable impact on market share and revenue growth.
• Strong experience in managing marketing budgets, with the ability to optimize spend and maximize ROI
• Proficient in analyzing brand performance metrics, consumer insights, and competitive landscapes to drive strategic decision-making
• Hands-on experience in working with cross-functional teams including sales, supply chain, IRD, Innovations, agency partners to develop integrated go-to-market plans Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, data deficient environment with a high level of autonomy and accountability

We at National Foods are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment that values and supports diversity. We believe that a diverse workforce drives innovation and creativity. Hence, we encourage and actively seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, religions, and abilities, to contribute to our mission of driving positive change in the world. If you require any additional support, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application for us to better support your recruitment journey.