Job Details
- Contract Type:
- Unlimited / Full-Time
- Job Start Date:
- 9/23/2026
- Country / City:
- Australia / North Ryde
- Company:
- Beiersdorf Australia Ltd.
- Job Function:
- Marketing / Market Research
Your Tasks
Primary Objective
Focal point for Sales & Consumer Marketing on assigned categories; drives strategic/tactical category development. Two core functions: (1) manage information flow, cross-channel execution of category plans, prepare/present category concepts and data analysis; (2) manage, develop and lead the assigned category portfolio.
Category Management/Assortment
- Manages product development: liaises with Consumer/Customer Marketing for new product info; sends new/existing product material to Sales.
- For launches, provides market info (IRI/Quantium), competitor analysis (pricing, shelf, promo, brand strategy), and customer/shopper insights on buying behaviour.
- Develops/maintains optimum assortment per 4P mix, category/channel strategy & assortment principles.
- Owns product launch dates by channel (new products, job lines, variations).
- Creates/maintains Sales team resources: assortment & SKU hierarchy, distribution priorities/grading, product lifecycle, preferred layouts, pack shots/specs, trade paperwork, training decks.
- Develops channel/retailer ranging strategies for NPD and core gaps.
- Ensures TVC timing aligns with ≥80% distribution across major accounts before TVC starts.
- Partners with Category Business team on brand strategy from a category/shopper lens.
- Drives category development via category understanding & shopper insights.
Category Strategy Plan
- Builds Customer/Category alignment strategy across Grocery, Mass Merchant, Pharmacy — covering brand objectives/strategy, ad schedule, product info, promo strategy.
Category Reviews/New Line Process
- Runs category reviews for top accounts (Coles, Woolworths, Priceline, CWH, Countdown, Foodstuffs).
- Liaises with NBMs on review needs; conducts rigorous analysis for stakeholder-ready reviews (brand, shopper, retailer); presents to key customers.
- Ensures go-to-market readiness at launch: samples, shippers/SRTs, presentations, logistics paperwork, account-specific needs, availability.
- Monitors/evaluates NPD performance, reports results; follows NPD/category review process.
Category Analysis
- Analyses data to inform sales strategy and review effectiveness: category trends, competitor activity/strategy, automated reporting, underperformer identification; prepares/presents detailed analysis.
Shopper Insights
- Builds shopper/category insights via scan/panel data, global databases, bespoke research.
- Identifies knowledge gaps, proposes research to data providers.
- Disseminates insights to Sales, Customer & Consumer Marketing.
- Recommends brand activation strategies from insights.
Shelf Management
- Delivers shelf management for reviews: planograms with data/analysis; core ranging & preferred layouts distributed regularly to Sales.
Inventory
- Communicates product changeovers to Sales; updates Bluepoint.
- Manages 9+ months excess stock: liaises with NBM/Marketing on clearance strategy; reports updates.
Major Relationships: Sales & Marketing (Consumer/Customer), Revenue Growth Manager, Data Integrity Manager, National Pharmacy/Grocery/Mass Merchant Accounts, Consumer Insights Manager, Data Suppliers (IRI, IMS, Quantium, Shopper Tracker, Shelf Management).
Your Profile
Education & Experience: Business degree (Marketing major preferred); 4–5 yrs in Category Management/Trade Marketing + Account Management, FMCG.
Skills: Strong analytical ability, prioritization, communication (written/verbal/presentation), negotiation, attention to detail, team orientation, interpersonal skills, ability to work autonomously.
Category Development Manager Competencies:
1. Actionable Market Insights & Vision
- Category & Channel Expertise (Indispensable): Deep category understanding; builds plans on value contribution & growth drivers; understands channels, spots growth opportunities/risks; executes insight-to-action; understands competitors & their strategies.
- Product & Portfolio Knowledge (Indispensable): Knows products well, differentiates features vs. consumer benefits; strong portfolio knowledge leveraged for business results.
- Consumer/Shopper/Customer Understanding (Indispensable): Uses consumer behaviour to shape plans; leverages shopper insights to optimize path to purchase; builds plans around customer priorities/needs.
2. Value Creation & Capture
- Value Chain & Financial Rigor (Indispensable): Understands retailer financials/margins/forecasting and links to Beiersdorf's SOI risks/opportunities; uses RGM framework to build fact-based business cases (size of prize); builds commercial plans in customer language, aligns and delivers; follows net price corridors per RGM guidelines.
- Customer Planning & Monitoring (Preferable): Defines channel/customer/portfolio strategy for profitable growth (both sides); manages counter-performance to protect profitability; links sales drivers to NS, NSP, CC, TTC; identifies ways to reduce overdues/payment terms.
3. Selling & Negotiation
- Storytelling (Indispensable): Consistent, goal-driven communication; addresses customer-specific needs; builds compelling, customised sell-in stories; turns objections into opportunities; closes deals with discipline.
- Negotiation (Preferable): Builds negotiation strategy with cross-functional team; prepares with clear objectives; ensures pay-for-performance, resolves conflicts in company's interest; maximizes value for win-win outcomes; fact-based, financially disciplined; willing to walk away (BATNA).
4. Executional Excellence
- 4P Execution (Indispensable): Complies with brand/merchandising guidelines; ensures right product, place, price, promo; creates high-impact POS drive plans; maintains ATL/POS consistency; crafts compelling POS messaging that engages shoppers.
- Operational Effectiveness (Indispensable): Sets/monitors priorities; manages internal/external partners to deliver KPIs; leads cross-functional teams for alignment & growth; reviews processes for optimization; develops strong ways of working.
- Compliance & Continuous Improvement (Indispensable): Ensures team fully understands and follows local and corporate rules of engagement.
Additional information
If you have any questions, please contact our recruiter Surya Debnath (surya.debnath@beiersdorf.com).
