Category Manager - Kids (10-20 yrs)

#Non-negotiable:

We need a mother of 8+ years old kid/kids.

1. Consumer-Centric Approach:

- Be the advocate for our consumers, ensuring their needs, pain points, and aspirations are reflected in all strategies.

- Lead extensive and ongoing consumer research to understand evolving preferences, challenges, and opportunities in the kids' food space.

- Drive initiatives to create direct lines of feedback through focus groups, surveys, and other tools to refine offerings continuously.

2. Market and Competitive Analysis:

- Lead deep-dive market analysis across all 6Ps (Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, and Process) to stay ahead of competition.

- Track emerging trends in kids' nutrition, packaging, and lifestyle shifts, and translate these insights into actionable business strategies.

- Regularly benchmark competitors and conduct category audits to maintain a competitive edge.

3. Product Innovation and Development:

- Collaborate with the new product development (NPD) team to design and launch innovative products that meet the needs of children and parents.

- Own the product roadmap for the category, ensuring alignment with broader company objectives and category goals.

- Use insights from consumer research to inform product improvements and next-gen offerings.

4. Strategic Channel Management:

- Partner closely with sales, marketing, and distribution channels to optimize product placement and promotions across all retail and digital touchpoints.

- Develop tailored strategies for different sales channels, including D2C, modern trade, and e-commerce.

- Maximize category growth through creative, high-impact campaigns, activations, and partnerships.

5. Community Building & Engagement:

- Spearhead the creation and management of a robust mom community, serving as a platform for feedback, brand advocacy, and organic engagement.

- Design and execute affiliate programs, sampling initiatives, and grassroots activations to drive product trials and awareness among parents and caregivers.

- Leverage social and offline events to build meaningful connections with key consumer segments.

6. Financial and Performance Tracking:

- Own and manage the P&L for the Kids Packaged Food category, ensuring profitability while meeting growth targets.

- Set and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure category success, ensuring proactive course correction when necessary.

- Provide regular updates to leadership on category performance, strategies, and future growth plans.

7. Cross-Functional Leadership:

- Act as the central point of contact for all initiatives related to the category, coordinating with marketing, supply chain, finance, and product teams.

- Foster a collaborative and results-oriented environment that drives category growth across all functions.

- Mentor and guide teams working on category-specific projects to ensure alignment with overall business objectives.

Key Competencies

- Understanding consumer and mining insights

- Network and stake holder management

- Brand activation

- Excel

- Negotiation