Job Description

Category Manager (JHB (EE) Media/Marketing/Sales
Johannesburg - Gauteng - South AfricaENVIRONMENT:A prominent retail and wholesale company specializing in office and school supplies in South Africa is seeking a Category Manager to oversee the full management of the Back to School department. This includes responsibility for staff, sales, finance, administration, stock management, and other related functions. Please note this is an Employment Equity role.DUTIES:

• Management of the Back to School department. End to end. (Includes, Staff, sales, finance, admin, stock management etc.).
• Manage income and expenses of department.
• Defining departmental roles and responsibilities.
• Staff training and development.
• Effectively Manage regional anomalies within BTS department.
• Price and margin management for schools category.
• Management and creation of school supply agreements etc.
• Stock management and ability to plan and order stock, accordingly, including forecasting.
• Strong understanding of Axapta and the BTS business model.
• Regional marketing.
• Continuous communication with distribution centres, finance, retail stores and other internal departments.
• Manage School relationships (teachers and school bodies).
• Extensive experience in the management of a large Sales portfolio.
• Strategic Planning and ability to translate such into operational plans.
• Ability to analyse market and develop focused practical strategies.
• Practical day to day, hands on experience in supporting internal and external sales staff.
• Ability to train staff for their roles.
• Understanding and ability to manage a call centre dealing with calls, emails, customer care.
• Proven track record in achieving budgets.
• Attend new product launches.
• Organise BTS events.
• Develop sales strategy for your category in line with the national strategy for the category.
• Analyse school business and initiate corrective and improvement plans.
• Project manage all regional annual BTS launches and make sure they are all successful.
• Relationship with the reps to promote buy in to the BTS category.
• Regular interaction with customers and calling with sales force.
• Educate reps and make them comfortable to sell the BTS concept and product.
• Ensure achievement of regional BTS GP budget.
• Develop, monitor and maintain call cycles for yourself and sales staff.
• Identify sales by product category/customer.
• Utilise and monitor sales reporting tools
• Familiarity with price lists/own products/competitor products.
• Working relationship with BTS supplier base.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Degree/Diploma in Business studies or sales and marketing management will be advantageous.
• Advanced Computer Literacy in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid Drivers Licence and own reliable vehicle.
• Excellent management skills.
• Prior experience in a similar environment would be an advantage.
• Appreciates systems and technology.
• Strong affinity to process and systems implementation.
• Exceptional organisational skills.
• Superior ability to organize, plan and manage deadlines in an extremely high paced environment.
• Strong Decision making skills.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of stationery products, specifically BTS items.
• Knowledge of sources of supply.
• Numerical skills and an aptitude for numbers.
• Inter personal and social skills. Ability to deal with people at all levels in a professional, polite and enthusiastic manner, always presenting themselves and the company professionally.
• Assertive personality with excellent communication skills.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, efficiency, and speed.
• Superior administrative skills and abilities.
• The ability to interrogate data electronically and produce spread sheets for analysis, interpretation and interrogation.
• Aptitude and understanding of general business and commercial principles.
• The applicant should be professional, willing to learn, flexible, and responsive to change.
• Energetic, creative, innovative and enthusiastic individual who has a passion for sales.
• The candidate should be strong on business development by sourcing new sales opportunities,
• Proven track record of over-achieving deliverables.
• Appropriate technical expertise, sound sales background and ability to provide product support and customer service.
• The candidate should be a consultative seller, maintain and grow the portfolio.
• Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• At least 10 years of experience in a management role or similar.

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